Division of Geropsychiatry Training

The goal of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry Training Program is to train fellows and junior faculty members in those skills necessary for the conception, planning, and conduct of research in geriatric mental health and subsequent presentation and publication of results in a scientific forum followed by successful grant writing on the way to becoming independent investigators.

We also hope to continue to develop academic clinicians adept at assessment and management of psychiatric disorders in older adults in a multidisciplinary setting, and with an understanding of how these behavioral changes interact with underlying neurologic and other medical illnesses, as well as with concomitant adult developmental and social changes.

The Division of Geriatric Psychiatry is proud of its training record. It has included a number of established investigators in the areas chosen for research, and thereby provided numerous opportunities for mentorship and career development for new and mid-level investigators. We have facilitated innovative and interdisciplinary training, education, career development, and research apprenticeships. We have obtained direct support of training efforts (e.g., stipends) through NIMH and other training and career development mechanisms.

Programs

The Division sponsors and oversees several formal and informal programs for training researchers and clinicians in geriatric psychiatry, and each has been quite successful in meeting its objectives. The formal programs include:

Hartford Center of Excellence

The Hartford CoE was created to further the development of academic leadership in the field of geriatric psychiatry by offering research training to physicians in geriatric psychiatry so that they gain the knowledge and skills necessary for such leadership.

Research Fellowship in Geriatric Mental Health (T32)

The primary goal of the Geriatric Mental Health Fellowship program is training fellows in those skills necessary for developing into independent researchers.

VA Clinical Geriatric Psychiatry Residency

This ACGME accredited, PGY-V residency is intended for psychiatrists who have recently completed their residency and have interest in an academic career in geriatric psychiatry. Residents learn the fundamentals of clinical geriatric psychiatry in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

Diversity and Disability Supplements

In addition to our success in recruiting diversity fellows for research and clinical fellowships, we have obtained 6 diversity supplements (including 3 women) to funded ongoing research. Some of these supplements have focused on improving the understanding of ethnic differences in response to interventions. Additionally, we have one psychology fellow who obtained a disability supplement. Such supplements have helped young investigators develop into independent investigators. Individuals with supplements follow the same procedure as the Research (T32) Fellowship.

Junior Scientists from Other Universities

The Division of Geriatric Psychiatry investigators have served as mentors for junior investigators on K-awards, and other young investigator grants (e.g., NARSAD) for fellows and junior faculty members from multiple universities around the country including Cincinnati, Dartmouth, Iowa, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis.

M-STREAM

The M-STREAM Program is designed to give medical students an opportunity to explore an interest in the field of geriatric mental health through a variety or research opportunities throughout their medical school careers.