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One Brooklyn Health

Psychiatry Residency Training Program

Brookdale Hospital Medical Center offers residency training in Psychiatry fully accredited by American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).  The affiliation with other community hospitals as part of One Brooklyn Health System (OBH) is also a valuable opportunity for residents to gain experience in subspecialty areas and broaden their exposure to different patient populations and treatment approaches. Our four-year residency program provides comprehensive and well-rounded psychiatry training in a variety of clinical settings and a diverse range of patients and psychiatric disorders. Full-time faculty members are assigned to provide supervision and teaching to residents during each rotation. This ensures that residents receive personalized attention and guidance throughout their training.  

 

 

 

Message from The Chair, Jason Hershberger, MD:

“Welcome to Brookdale’s Psychiatry Department! At its foundation, the department is a multidisciplinary team, focused on delivering state-of-the-art behavioral health care to the people of Brooklyn, while training the next generation of providers to continue that work. It has been my distinct pleasure to nurture the faculty, staff, residents, and students of the department in pursuit of that mission because Brookdale is a place where we make a crucial difference in our patients’ lives. We strive to make that impact by coupling advances in the scientific understanding of the mind and behavior with a compassionate touch. Our patients often have incredible struggles, but we are there to help them on their path to recovery.” 

 

 

Post-Graduate Training Year I 

 

  • During PGY1 year, residents typically rotate through different medical specialties. The six months of Internal Medicine and Neurology rotations provide a foundation of medical knowledge and skills that are relevant to the practice of psychiatry.  

  • The six months of introductory training in Inpatient Psychiatry and Emergency Psychiatry are also crucial components of the PGY1 experience. Inpatient psychiatry involves caring for patients who require intensive treatment in a hospital setting, while Emergency Psychiatry (CPEP) involves providing immediate evaluation and treatment to patients experiencing acute psychiatric crises. These rotations provide residents with exposure to a wide range of psychiatric disorders and teach them how to manage patients with varying degrees of acuity. 

 

  • Overall, the PGY1 experience is designed to provide a broad foundation of medical and psychiatric knowledge and skills, as well as practical experience in clinical settings.

Post-Graduate Training Year II 

 

  • PGY II year builds upon the foundation developed in the PGY I year and provides residents with more advanced training and experience in different areas of psychiatry. 

  • Consultation & Liaison Psychiatry involves providing psychiatric care to patients who are hospitalized for medical or surgical reasons. This requires a deep understanding of the interaction between medical and psychiatric conditions, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with other medical providers. 

  • Addiction Psychiatry focuses on the treatment of substance use disorders, which are common co-occurring conditions with psychiatric illnesses. This rotation provides residents with the skills and knowledge necessary to diagnose and treat substance use disorders, including the use of medications and behavioral interventions. 

  • Geriatric Psychiatry is a specialized field of psychiatry that focuses on the unique needs and challenges of older adults. The rotation provides residents with an understanding of the physical, cognitive, and emotional changes that occur with aging, as well as the assessment and management of psychiatric conditions that are more prevalent in older adults. 

  • Advanced training in Inpatient Psychiatry provides residents with a deeper understanding of the care of patients with acute psychiatric illnesses, including the management of complex cases and the use of specialized interventions. 

  • Supervising junior residents and medical students is also a vital component of the PGY2 year, as it helps residents develop their leadership and teaching skills. 

Post Graduate Training Year III 

 

  • PGY III year of residency in psychiatry is focused on developing skills in outpatient setting with emphasis on adult psychiatry. Residents will spend most of their time in the Adult Outpatient Department but also have exposure to Child Outpatient. Additionally, residents will gain experience using telemedicine, develop proficiency in various modalities of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy, supportive therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.  

  • Finally, residents who are interested in pursuing further training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry as a sub-specialty may be eligible for a fast-tracking program and subsequent acceptance to a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Brookdale or elsewhere. 

Post-Graduate Training Year IV 

 

  • PGY IV year provides senior residents with the opportunity to develop advanced psychiatric skills and gain experience in a variety of clinical settings, as they prepare to transition into independent practicing psychiatrists. 

  • Taking on the Chief Resident role during this year help senior residents to develop their leadership and management skills, which will be important in their future roles as practicing psychiatrists.

Residents Work Day 

 

Resident workday starts at 8 am on major rotations. Residents also take turns covering the hospital during off-hours to provide continuous patient care. 

 

PGY1 residents typically have a rotating call schedule where they are on call every third or fourth night from 4:00 PM to 10 PM. PGY2 residents are responsible for "night float. PGY3 residents cover Friday and Saturday nights. PGY4 residents do not do call, but they may participate in Senior Resident Supervisory call with paid incentive.  

 

An on-call attending is always present on-site during calls to provide oversight and guidance to the residents who are on call. 

 

Finally, there is a daily mandatory sign-out round run by the chief residents, which provides a handoff to the on-call team. This helps ensure that the incoming team is fully informed about the status of the patients in their care.  

 

 

 

 

Didactics

 

Weekly schedules for the classes and supervision are sent out via email on Friday. Residents are required to attend 70% of their classes.  

 

Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds is held weekly on Wednesdays from 1:00 -2:30 PM (EST). Ground Rounds covers a wide range of current and clinically interesting topics and offers a tremendous resource for increasing medical knowledge and improving patient care.

 

Research Experience

 

  • The introductory course on basic statistics and research design, as well as the seminars on research provide residents with a solid foundation in research methodology and help them develop the necessary skills to conduct independent research projects. 

  • The residents also collaborate and work on a group quality improvement projects each year to help residents develop skills in project management, data analysis, and quality improvement methodologies. 

 

Resident Wellness

 

In addition to the on-call room, the residents have access to a dedicated resident lounge. This vibrant and tastefully decorated space provides residents with a space of their own for socializing, reading, and relaxation, fostering a connection with their peers and a sense of camaraderie, which is essential to the resident’s growth in the program.  

 

 

 

Application Process:

 

  • Applications are accepted through ERAS. 

 

  • We participate in the NRMP match. 

 

  • The general requirement for admission is Graduation from a medical school approved by the American Association of Medical Colleges.  

 

  • International medical graduates must be fully certified by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.  

 

  • The applicant must have completed USMLE Steps 1, 2. The program does not have set minimum score requirements or a set cut-off requirement for the year of graduation. Experience in Psychiatry and research will be given extra consideration.  

 

  • If the department offers a contract to an applicant who needs a visa, they can use said contract to apply for J-1 or H1B.  

 

Estela Nano, MS

Program Administrator/Manager  

Psychiatry Residency Training Programs 

 

Address all inquiries to:  Psychiatry Residency Training Office 

1 Brookdale Plaza, 12 CHC, Office 1240A Brooklyn, New York 11212 

Phone contact# (718) 240-5667 

Fax (718) 240-5451 

Email: enano@bhmcny.org  

 

 

 

Hiring Process | 4 Peaks Business Solution

Psychiatry Residents 2023-2024

Highlighting the exceptional talents and dedication of our psychiatry residents, who consistently demonstrate a remarkable commitment to patient care and clinical excellence. 

 

Medical Education Clerkship

 

Educational Goals for the Program:

 

  • The psychiatry core clerkship is designed to introduce third-year medical students to the discipline of psychiatry and enhance their clinical knowledge base and the skills essential to becoming competent and well-rounded physicians. With learning objectives based on core competencies the rotation provides each student with a mix of Adult & Child inpatient and outpatient, consultation liaison, and emergency psychiatry experience. 

  • We look forward to having students rotate through our department and hope that they consider psychiatry as a specialty! 

 

Use this link to apply for student rotations at OBH:  

www.medaccessclerkships.com 

 

Leadership:

 

Stephan Carlson, MD, ​

Director of Clinical Education 

Director, Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program Brookdale Hospital & Medical Center  

 

For information about Psychiatry Student Clerkship Program contact: 

 

Channel Simpson, MPA 

Program Administrator, Clinical Education, and Grand Rounds 

Contact the program by email: csimpso2@bhmcny.org 

Call 718-240-5669 

 

 

 


Psychiatry Externship Program

 

The Psychiatry externship at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center offers introductory experience to International Medical Graduate who are seeking residency in psychiatry and want to be acquainted to the American psychiatry. The program is full-time, for twelve months, on a volunteer (non-paid) basis. It is separate from the Psychiatry Residency and not accredited. On satisfactory completion of the Externship the Extern may request a letter(s) of recommendation. Satisfactory completion of the program does not guarantee acceptance into the Residency. 

Leadership:

Sahar Abzakh, MD 

Director, Psychiatry Externship Program 

Director, Adult Outpatient Clinic   

 

 

Application Process 

In order to apply, please submit electronically the following documents: 

  • Medical degree from an accredited medical school 

 

  • Dean's letter 

 

  • Certification of USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3 

 

  • ECFMG certificate 

 

  • Approved United States government identification 

 

  • Authorization to work in the United States  

 

  • Personal statement 

 

  • Current curriculum Vitae 

 

  • Three (3) or more recent letters of recommendation (written within the last 3 months) 

 

  • Completed and signed Externship Program Application Form  

 

For information about the externship, please contact: 

 

Estela Nano, MS  

T 718-240-5667 

Fax (718) 240-5451 

Email: enano@bhmcny.org 

 

Applications for the externship will be accepted from November – January. Program runs from April - March. 

Completed applications may be scanned and emailed to: enano@bhmcny.org 

 

Faculty Leadership and Members :

Meet our distinguished psychiatry program faculty: Our diverse team of dedicated members enriches the program with their varied perspectives, ensuring a dynamic and holistic learning experience. Join us to learn from the best in the field and contribute to advancing mental health care. 

 

 

 

 

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One Brookdale Plaza Brooklyn, New York 11212-3198 718-240-5000

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