The psychiatry residency program offers a Research Track for PGY3 and PGY4 residents committed to pursuing research careers (qualified individuals are identified from PGY1 and PGY2 residents in the general psychiatry program). The goal of this program is to increase the number of psychiatrists with the skills to conduct patient-oriented research as independently funded investigators. The program is directed by Dr. Kathleen Brady and Dr. Al Santos, and is coordinated by Dr. Sudie Back. The program accomplishes its objectives within the same four-year time period required for clinical training and board certification in psychiatry. In addition, the training format makes residents eligible for the new NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program initiative.

Selected individuals participate as PGY3 and PGY4 residents, half-time, in a well-coordinated curriculum that includes intensive mentored research rotations (each resident is matched with an active researcher who will serve as the primary mentor responsible for guiding the individual's research experience in their principal area of research interest), and formal didactic training in the skills typically necessary for a successful research career. These include: methodological skills (e.g., study design, data collection, and statistical techniques); computer skills; communication skills (e.g., written and oral communication, presentation skills), attitudinal skills (e.g., seeking and accepting advice, collaboration with colleagues); time management skills (e.g., balancing clinical, teaching, and research commitments) and the capacity to balance work and family. The selected residents have an initial assessment of their current research knowledge and skills, which will guide the individualization of the curriculum to ensure that it will meet the needs of individual. This assessment will ensure that deficiencies in training that would serve as an impediment to a successful independent research career will be targeted in training. For example, most residents present with inadequate skills in research methodology, experimental design, and statistics which impedes their ability to fully participate in issues of study design, study execution, and data analysis. Thus, the program takes responsibility for ensuring that these voids are filled for each individual either through formal course work, attendance at seminars, mentoring activities, and/or exposure to relevant research experiences. Table 1 below highlights Research Tract Objectives and their corresponding program components.

Current Trainees:  Dr. Rebecca Payne, Dr. Tal Herbsman, and Dr. Andrew Clark