Training Sites

Portneuf Medical Center: Inpatient & C/L

Residents will work providing inpatient care at Portneuf Behavioral Health. Services provided include comprehensive behavioral health care for adults aged 18 and older with psychiatric and behavioral health problems. The Consultation-Liaison (C-L) rotation is designed to teach residents how to offer consultation and treatment options to other health professionals in a general medical setting. Residents will already have some C-L experience in their first two years of training, at either the VA or the University of Utah Hospital. During PGY-3, residents rotate for 1-2 half days/ week at Portneuf Hospital under the supervision of an attending psychiatrist. While on this rotation, our residents will gain mastery of skills and knowledge of psychiatric presentation in hospitalized medical/ surgical inpatients, the psychological impact of illness on patients, treatment modalities appropriate for medically ill patients, understanding the consultation process and promoting the liaison role with medical, surgical, and emergency medicine departments. Residents will also gain knowledge in a variety of therapies relevant to medically ill patients, including time-effective psychotherapy, somatic therapies, behavioral techniques, and psychotropic medications.

Site Supervisor: Matthew Torbenson, MD

VA CBOC

The VA outpatient clinic (CBOC) provides residents with training and enhances skills and knowledge in managing veterans with a variety of disorders. Residents participating in the VA CBOC will also be able to follow a panel of patients for up to two years. This provides the opportunity for continuity of care in both therapy and psychopharmacology. The knowledge and skills are developed via the resident’s evaluation and management of outpatients under the supervision of psychiatrists and psychologists. Psychiatry residents may gain direct clinical experience in providing individual, couple, and family therapy as well as pharmacotherapy. Brief therapy, supportive therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy approaches are emphasized. The VA CBOC provides services to veterans in a widespread area of southeast Idaho. The VA CBOC will also focus on providing the resident with the opportunity to see patients with both mental and medical diagnoses, including post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. Since the VA CBOC is providing care for the veteran community, the clinic will be providing services for patients with co-morbid medical illnesses, including cardiology, neurological conditions, and other complex medical issues.

Site Supervisor: Sara McArthur, MD

Fort Hall Indian Health Services (IHS), Tribal Justice Center

Counseling and Family Services seeks to deliver mental health and medical social work services to the Shoshone-Bannock tribes and eligible recipients. The clinic serves adults and children. The clinic provides psychiatric assessments, diagnosis and medication management for individuals, case management, 24-hour crisis intervention, group therapy (anger management, parenting, healthy relationships), medical social work, education and prevention services, and the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder team. While medication management is the focus, there is also some brief psychoeducation and supportive therapy. The clinic operates off a formulary which provides an opportunity to get extensive experience with medications often not available or used in other settings. There is also an opportunity to see patients in consultation at the correctional facility.

Site Supervisor: Daisha Orchard, MD

ISU Community Psychiatric Center

The ISU Community Psychiatric Center was started in July of 2024 to serve the psychiatric needs of Pocatello and Southeast Idaho. This clinic serves ages 14 and up, taking all major insurances, including Medicaid and Medicare. Residents can complete their continuity clinic requirement as a PGY-3 or obtain additional training as a PGY-4. The goal of this rotation is to gain knowledge in managing a variety of psychiatric illnesses through medication management and basic therapy techniques, including brief supportive therapy and CBT, DBT, and ACT principles. The ISU Community Psychiatric Center employs a full-time psychiatrist and two counselors. Embedded in the CPC, is the Teen Assessment Clinic which sees teens on a consultation basis. Currently taking referrals from The Village, this clinic will eventually be open to all teens in the community in need of psychiatric assessment.

Site Supervisor: Daisha Orchard, MD

ISU Student Health Center

ISU has a student population of around 12,000 including both undergraduate and graduate students. The ISU Student Health Center serves students, faculty, and staff members providing a wide spectrum of care including urgent care, primary care, orthopedics, and mental health. Residents can complete their continuity clinic requirement as a PGY-3 and continue as a PGY-4 if desired. Residents primarily evaluate patients who have never seen a psychiatric provider and diagnose and treat conditions including depression, anxiety, and ADHD. It’s a unique population that also deals with eating disorders, substance use issues, and high-risk behaviors. Residents can also work closely with student athletes. The ISU Student Health Center employs three physician assistants and two sports medicine physicians.

Site Supervisor: Daisha Orchard, MD

ISU Counseling and Mental Health Center (CHMC)

Portneuf Valley Family Center (PVFC) is a community mental health facility with locations in Pocatello and Soda Springs. PGY-3’s will be able to rotate here to fulfill their therapy training requirements. PVFC has a patient population of all ages and takes all major insurances. They provide counseling and psychotherapy with a focus on a CBT/DBT model. There is an opportunity to learn about other models of therapy including ART, ACT, play therapy, and EMDR.

Site Supervisor: Robert Dewall, LCPC

Portneuf Family Medical Center (PVFC)

The ISU Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) serves Idaho State University students, faculty, and local community. PGY-3’s will be able to rotate here to fulfill their therapy training requirement seeing primarily college students. CMHC provides counseling services focusing on a brief ACT model. There are also options to learn other models of therapy including group therapy, DBT, CBT, and biofeedback therapy.

Site Supervisor: Rich Pongratz, PhD, LPC, Licensed Psychologist

Pocatello Women's Correctional Center (PWCC)

The Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center is a 311 bed women’s prison for ages 18 and above with varying custody levels. Residents of PWCC are at various stages of sentencing and rehabilitation. Residents can rotate here to fulfill their forensics requirement. Patients are seen in a medical unit for medication management with a psychiatric nurse, while supervision is provided remotely in Boise. Residents will learn how to work with a limited prescription formulary. This is an opportunity to work with a diverse population with significant substance use and trauma. There are additional opportunities to be involved with group therapy.

Site Supervisor: Paris Humphries, MD

Idaho State Hospital South

Idaho State Hospital South (SHS) is a psychiatric inpatient treatment center caring for patients from the state of Idaho who are committed by a court for involuntary treatment. It includes 110 psychiatric beds and 42 skilled nursing beds. Residents will have the option to rotate here for a month-long block starting at the end of their PGY-2 year. Residents will help with psychiatric assessments, diagnoses, and medication management. Residents will work on an interdisciplinary team with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other service providers. There are additional opportunities to be involved with forensic evaluations.

Site Supervisor: Jdee Wilson, MD

The Children's Home Society

Starting as an orphanage in 1906, the Children’s Home Society now provides outpatient mental health care to youth. Their vision is to provide accessible, affordable and comprehensive mental health care to children and their families. Residents see patients via telehealth for psychiatric assessments, diagnoses and medication management. All children seen at this clinic also have a therapist in the organization for consultation. Residents are required to do one half day of child outpatient during their PGY 4 year.

Site Supervisor: Beth Botts, MD

Telehealth University of Utah

Seeing patients from the North Canyon Network of Care, this rotation offers high quality psychiatric services close to Idahoians homes, so clients don’t have to travel out of the area. Long under contract with the University of Utah Department of Psychiatry, this rotation provides telehealth experience for residents who plan to work in a rural setting in the future. Residents see patients via telehealth and make recommendations to the patient’s primary care provider who then prescribes the medications. Residents are required to do one half day of telehealth outpatient during their PGY 3 year.

Site Supervisor: Philip Baese, MD

Mental Health Specialists

Mental Health Specialists provides high quality counseling and medication management to children and youth, as well as group counseling, peer support, respite and case management services. Residents see children and teens < age 18, in person for psychiatric assessments, diagnoses and medication management. All children seen at this clinic also have a therapist in the organization. Residents are required to do one half day of child outpatient treatment during their PGY 4 year.

Site Supervisor: Mary Burris, MD