Tracks
Community Track
The UC San Diego Community Psychiatry Residency Track was developed out of a partnership between UCSD and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency to train psychiatrists with specialization in addressing the mental health needs of the community and public sector. During the program, residents learn the principles and gain the skills necessary to be leaders in public mental heath care. Residents are placed at clinical rotational sites treating underserved populations and gain exposure to a variety of clinical settings. In addition to the rotations and general didactics, the track has a special seminar series in the 3rd and 4th year focused on population health, advocacy, healthcare leadership, program design, social determinants of health, finance, budgeting, collaborative care and more. The program also fosters a collaborative environment with our community partners to help meet the needs of our trainees, the community and the patients we serve. Through clinical experience, education and mentorship, the UCSD Community Psychiatry Residency track aims to develop residents with an understanding of the public mental health system along with the administration and policy skills to become leaders in our field.
Research Track
NIMH-FUNDED PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH TRACK
UCSD has supported a dedicated Research Track for qualified residents since 1987. Trainees from this program are now in senior leadership positions throughout our field. This structured program, Directed by Neal Swerdlow, M.D., Ph.D. and funded via an NIMH R25 mechanism, emphasizes solid training in clinical Psychiatry, mentored independent research with dedicated research time in PGY years 2-4, research-relevant didactics and focused mentorship in critical areas of career development for Academic Psychiatry. Trainees are encouraged and financially supported to present their research findings at national and international meetings each year. With input from our Program Advisers and the Research Track Director, Research Residents develop individualized plans for post-Residency career paths, which may involve any one of 18 NIH-, VA- or UCSD-funded Psychiatry Fellowships, or direct pathways into Faculty positions.