Psychiatry
Program Type: Combined Civilian/Military Wright State University /Wright-Patterson Medical Center Residency Program
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Accredited: Yes, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
Program Length: 4 years
Required Pre-Requisite Training: Medical School Graduation
Categorical Year in Specialty Required: No
Total Approved Complement: 50 (28 military)
Approved per Year (if applicable): 12 (7 military)
Dedicated research year offered: No, although there is a focused research track option offered in the 4th year
Medical Student Rotation availability: 4th year audition rotations (late June – early October)
Additional degree concurrent with training (e.g. MPH): No
Program Phone Number: 937-904-2430
Program Email: dha.wright-patt.wright-patt-88th-mdg.list.wpafb-psychiatry@health.mil
Program Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Program Description
Wright State University/Wright-Patterson Medical Center Psychiatry Residency is the first combined military and civilian psychiatry residency program in the United States with nearly 40 years of experience training military psychiatrists. It is a community-based residency program that offers the acuity and variety of civilian practice as well as the precision and rigor of military medicine, serving numerous tri-service reserve and guard units in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic region and a large primary patient population of Air Force and Space Force active duty, dependents, and retirees. We have a strong emphasis on psychotherapy training throughout all years of residency. Child and adolescent psychiatry rotations and fellowship training offer the unique opportunity to work with military youth and families. Our proximity and involvement of department faculty at the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) allow additional opportunities for training in operational medicine/flight surgery.
Program Highlights:
- Inpatient experiences at two large regional hospitals (Kettering Medical Center and Miami Valley Hospital, a level one trauma center) and the Dayton Veteran's Administration (VA) Medical Center.
- Outpatient experiences in community mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, veterans and military facilities, correctional settings, and telepsychiatry.
- Resident-run psychotherapy clinic with over 360 hours of individual psychotherapy training as well as one-to-one weekly psychotherapy supervision and weekly case conferences with trained faculty.
- Emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. An ideal balance of educational rigor and wellness. Focus on work-life balance.
Mission and Vision
Mission
To recruit, train, and mentor military psychiatrists for achieving excellence in patient care and maintaining military readiness.
Vision
To develop the next generation of officer leaders in military psychiatry. To see additional mission, vision, and aims of the general residency program, as well as rotation schedule and electives, please see the Wright State University Department of Psychiatry website.
Curriculum and Schedules
- Weekly Tuesday afternoon didactics at Wright State University covering topics in psychiatry, neurology, and neuroscience
- Weekly psychotherapy case conference where trainees present their cases, facilitated by a faculty member
- Additional weekly outpatient psychiatry didactics at Wright-Patterson Medical Center during the third year of training
- Military Unique Curriculum delivered through all four years of training
Instruction in officership, military medicine, and military culture occur throughout all four years of psychiatry training. First and second year residents are introduced to officer essentials, force and command structure, Medical Corps-specific topics, career pathways, promotions, Professional Military Education, and leadership. Third and fourth year residents engage in both psychiatry-specific and interdisciplinary didactics emphasizing military-specific evaluations, clinic operations, and officer leadership. Residents may also use elective time to pursue flight surgery training.
The WSU/WPMC program focuses on leadership development through the military unique curriculum as well as the Psychiatry Leadership Track. There are also resident leadership opportunities in different areas of concentration (e.g. class representative, DEI, community service, social/wellness, recruitment, quality improvement, research, education, chief resident, etc.) throughout all years of training.
Scholarly and Professional Development Opportunities
The WSU Psychiatry Research Division partners with other university departments and holds Scholars Forums to encourage and develop resident and faculty collaboration on projects, including systematic reviews. There is an annual Department Resident Research Day where residents present their research and quality improvement projects. Our residents regularly present at local, regional, and national, as well as international conferences. The department also offers a focused Research Track for residents interested in developing further expertise.
Residents must participate in quality improvement initiatives throughout their training. At WSU, this includes Institute for Health Care Improvement (IHI) Open School training and partnering with other residents and faculty on clinical, educational, and systems-related improvements.
Additional coursework and training opportunities are available through elective rotations and focused Residency Tracks. These may include leadership, research, academics/teaching, psychotherapy, and other topics, as well as operational medicine (e.g. Flight Surgeon coursework at the AF School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM). Residents are encouraged and supported to attend regional/national conferences and may elect to pursue focused training in specific psychotherapy modalities.
Participating Sites
Expand for a list of rotation sites
- Wright-Patterson Medical Center
- Miami Valley Hospital
- Kettering Medical Center/Kettering Behavioral Medical Center
- Dayton Veterans Administration Medical Center
- Mahajan Therapeutics
- Access Ohio
- Dayton Children’s Hospital
- MonDay Correctional Program
- WSU Psychotherapy Clinic
- WSU Counseling and Wellness Services
Applicant Information, Rotation and Interview Opportunities
Rotation opportunities are currently limited to 4th year military psychiatry residents auditioning for psychiatry residency at WSU/WPMC. Rotations are available from late June to early October each year, but availability is limited, so do not delay in scheduling your rotations. Rotations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants may begin to inquire in December of the year prior to their application and scheduling will begin in January.
Factors that contribute to a competitive application:
- Strong audition rotation and/or interview
- Compassion, teamwork, intellectual curiosity, introspection, and drive to pursue a career in psychiatry
- Commitment to diversity and inclusivity
- Professionalism, flexibility, ability to accept feedback and learn from experience
- Interest in developing expertise in psychotherapy
- Academic performance
- Leadership and officer potential
- Research, academic interests
Specialty Board Examination Information
Program graduates take the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Psychiatry board exam upon completion of training. This exam is offered annually in September. Applicants are eligible to take the board certification exam if they have a valid, unexpired, and unrestricted medical license in at least one state and if they have successfully completed an approved training program by the time required by ABPN to take the exam, with graduation verified as required per the ABPN requirements.
Teaching Opportunities
Resident/Fellow as Teacher Opportunities
Developing clinician educators is a major focus of the residency program. There are numerous opportunities for teaching residents from other specialties, medical students, physician assistant and nurse practitioner students in both inpatient and outpatient settings. There are both residency program and medical school award opportunities to encourage resident teaching. Fourth year residents may also pursue roles as Chief Residents in Education.
Faculty and Mentorship
There are both military and civilian faculty with subspecialty training, including child and adolescent psychiatry, forensics, community, addictions, and lifestyle medicine.
Residents receive career and military officer mentorship from faculty throughout their training. Focused Residency Tracks provide additional opportunities for mentorship in specific areas of interest, such as research, academic/education, and psychotherapy. Military faculty also mentor residents on officership and military career pathways, including clinical, academic, command/leadership, and operational psychiatry.
Well-Being
Wright State University/Wright Patterson Medical Center prioritizes work/life balance and wellness for residents during their training. We strive to make all events inclusive for residents and their families, creating a tight-knit community. After-hours-on-call is limited to home-call during the first and second years of training to allow residents to maximize time spent with their families. Telehealth and virtual learning elective options allow for some work from home. Residents engage in and organize regular social activities and community service opportunities. There are also yearly military and department picnics and holiday gatherings, faculty-sponsored movie nights, book clubs, resident sports teams, and department wellness days.
Contact Us
Psychiatry Residency Program
Location: 88th Medical Group, Mental Health Clinic, 4th Floor
Monday–Friday
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 937-904-2430
Fax: 937-656-1192
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