Thank you for your interest in the Mount Sinai-Elmhurst Residency Training Program in General Psychiatry.
Psychiatry has long held a unique position in medicine because of its complexity and close connections with society and the culture at large. We have drawn from a broad array of empirical and humanistic disciplines to advance our field. Innovations in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy now permit effective symptomatic management of many serious mental disorders, and the accelerating pace of research offers the hope that more cures will soon emerge. The impact of these advancements is far-reaching, extending well beyond the medical realm: by enhancing the dignity and welfare of the patients it serves, psychiatry has promoted a degree of inclusivity which not only has begun to ameliorate deeply entrenched prejudices towards the mentally ill, but also challenges traditional delimitations of normative behavior.
As our patients successfully reenter society in ever-increasing numbers, the stigma with which they were formerly regarded is being replaced by an appreciation of their unique qualities as human beings that highlights the centrality of diversity and inclusiveness to humanity’s progress. Mental disorders are now considered medical illnesses—complex, poorly understood, and devastating—but eminently worthy of compassionate, evidence-based treatment nonetheless.
This is truly an exciting time to be a psychiatrist!
Our Mission
Our approach to training embraces innovation while remaining faithful to well-tested clinical and humanistic traditions. We regard the patient as our greatest educational resource as well as our most important professional concern. Our overarching goal is to provide residents with a foundational skillset for the independent practice of psychiatry, as well as for the continuance of professional growth. We achieve this by teaching residents to learn as much as possible from each patient encounter. Sounds simple, but actually it is a complicated, iterative process.
Our program teaches the application of evidenced-based knowledge to clinical practice in diverse settings. It is supported by a comprehensive didactic program, expert supervision, appropriate clinical volume, sufficient breadth of case-mix, and adequate infrastructure. Equally critical is an environment that provides intellectual stimulation and fosters scholarship. We believe that our program meets all these educational standards and that our faculty is dedicated to maintaining them.
We also strongly support the career goals of our residents, assisting them in pursuing advanced subspecialty training and in obtaining staff positions in desired clinical and academic settings. A list of fellowships obtained by our recent graduates is included in the Brochure.
The greater part of training occurs at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, which is situated in one of the most heterogeneous districts in the world. With a population exceeding a million, the Elmhurst community boasts approximately 170 separate cultures. This diversity, reflected in both the patients and staff at Elmhurst, nurtures the Institution’s inclusive traditions and its mission to serve all, irrespective of cultural origin, or ability to pay. For our residents, this means that cultural psychiatry is embedded in all aspects of training at the Elmhurst site. Our residents are also exposed to different health care systems and clinical populations during rotations at The Mount Sinai Hospital and NYC Health+Hospitals/Queens. Residents may participate in international electives as well through Mount Sinai’s Global Health Training Institute.
The Department of Psychiatry is composed of several clinical programs offering an extensive assortment of services to a large volume of patients. Our 100-inpatient beds receive approximately 1500 patients per year. The psychiatric emergency service had more than 7,000 visits last year, and visits to the psychiatric outpatient programs exceeded 45,000 during that same period. We take an eclectic approach to patient care availing ourselves of every assessment procedure and treatment modality at our disposal. Although caseloads are limited for training purposes, residents are exposed to a comprehensive range of clinical activities. Residents also function as primary providers of psychiatric care under the supervision of attending staff.
Our clinical faculty bring with them diverse areas of expertise, but share an interest in training residents. Comprised mainly of psychiatrists, all of whom have academic appointments at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the faculty also includes experts from other disciplines who provide exposure to a variety of psychological assessment procedures and extensive training in specific evidence-based psychotherapies. Teaching is provided in the form of clinical rounds and demonstration, individual supervision, case-conferences, and didactic presentations. The faculty also teaches medical students and other trainees, and conducts formal research. Residents participate in these scholarly activities as part of their training.
Residents are provided with protected time to participate in the educational curriculum, attend clinical supervision, and engage in scholarly activities. Simply put, this means that during such times residents are free of clinical responsibilities and that the attending staff covers their patients. In addition, residents are provided with protected time to attend wellness activities and well-being workshops, annual retreats and gatherings. We strongly advocate and believe in the importance of well-being amongst our residents and trainees.