Application Process

1. Applicants must meet the University of Utah criteria for residency eligibility as posted online: https://medicine.utah.edu/gme/information-for-gme-trainees/application.php
2. Before entering the addiction psychiatry (ADP) fellowship program, applicants must be board-eligible or board-certified in an American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) specialty. Applicants must submit an application through the ERAS system. The University of Utah GME office completes the credentialing process, including education and license verification, background checks, and a urine drug screen during the orientation process.
3. All applicants must have or be eligible to obtain a Utah medical license, Utah controlled substance license, and a DEA number. The Utah medical licensing boards (for MD’s or DO’s) require that all applicants for a Utah medical license complete the Federation of State Medical Boards’ (FSMB) Credential Verification System (CVS), which provides independent confirmation of credentials to practice in the state.
4. Applicants must follow the policies and procedures regarding eligibility and selection criteria for the ADP fellowship. All applicants must fill out a ERAS application for the University of Utah Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship and provide required documentation.
5. In addition, applicants must apply for a waiver from the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to prescribe buprenorphine or buprenorphine-naloxone for the treatment of opioid dependence. The waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for up to 100 patients and an X DEA number requires 8 hours of specialized training and must be obtained prior to the start of training. Allow at least 60 days for this process. See: https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/become-buprenorphine-waivered-practitioner for details about the process and requirements.
6. Internal applicants from the University of Utah Residency Programs may apply for early consideration and interview PRIOR to the year's ERAS season by providing the following documentation:
   1. Internal application, which can be obtained from the program coordinator. 
   2. Full residency training file, including Dean’s letter from medical school.
   3. Letter from Residency Program director covering: 1) A letter of reference reviewing the resident’s performance, and their professional behavior, 2) detailed information indicating the applicant will have met all training requirements by the end of the academic year (June 30) prior to the start of the fellowship.
   4. Letter of recommendation from a faculty member other than the residency program director (preferably an addiction psychiatry specialist).
7. External applicants from programs outside of the University of Utah, and applicants who have finished residency training one or more years prior to application must apply through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS), and submit the following:
   1. Two letters of reference, preferably one from an addiction psychiatry specialist.
   2. Letter from residency program director covering: 1) A letter of reference reviewing the fellow’s performance, and their professional behavior, 2) detailed information indicating the applicant will have met all training requirements by the end of the academic year (June 30) prior to the start of the fellowship.
   3. Dean’s letter from medical school.
   4. Release of information forms, signed by the applicant, allowing the ADP Program Director to communicate with the applicant’s current or past program director, and with current or past employers (if applicable).
8. In-training exam scores are not required, but will be reviewed if the applicant elects to send them to bolster their application.
9. Fingerprinting and a criminal background check must be completed prior to working in University of Utah outpatient clinics.
10. Qualified applicants will be invited for an in-person interview with fellowship faculty after the above materials (with the exception of the SAMHSA Buprenorphine Waiver training, which can be in process, and the fingerprinting and a criminal background check, (which occurs after acceptance to the program) are received.
11. Initial offerings for fellowship positions will begin on September 20th.

Any questions should be directed to the Program Coordinator,
Mary McKinlay, MHA at: mary.mckinlay@hsc.utah.edu