AOA Chillicothe VA Psychiatry Residency

[Cherry Hill]

Just a forewarning for anyone considering this psychiatry residency... the program director fired 2 of 4 residents in the second year after starting the program for fishy reasons. During that year, a psychopharm resident was also let go. It is rumored that the PD actually fabricated a great deal of information in the firing of at least one of the psych residents and that the termination was overturned on appeal with that resident ultimately resigning. A lawsuit was threatened upon the overturning of the appeal (a lawsuit against the resident) if that person ever spoke out against the program in any way. I have felt at odds about this kind of information... my residency experience was AMA and not at all a nightmare... but I think incoming residents should know that 50% of the first classes of residents were terminated. Things like this are not a fluke. They are important to know when accepting a 4 year contract and expecting stability within the program. Good luck in your endeavors.

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[Shikima]

FYI, it's not a 4 year contract, it's a 1 year, renewable each year.
And the system continues to protect malignant PDs. Easy enough to knock off residents, easier to pick on.

 

[peppy]

Is the entire program based at the VA? That right there would be a red flag to me. The VA is a great place to train, but it shouldn't be your ONLY clinical site.
Honestly, I think DO students who are interested in psychiatry should avoid the AOA programs in general. There are plenty of solid ACGME psychiatry programs that welcome DOs, and then you don't have to worry about stupid things like having to stay an AOA member to remain board certified. Since I strongly disagree with the AOA on the direction it has been taking DO education in, it's nice to know that training in an ACGME program means I don't need to have anything to do with them ever again.

 

[Shikima]

I'd like to learn how to use "The Force" and apply it to psych practice!
<whining like Luke>

 

[whopper]

I don't know much about the specific program mentioned but I have seen this same thing happen in other programs. It does exist.

 

[Shikima]

The force exists?

 

[digitlnoize]

I had a few friends go to DO psych programs for location reasons mostly. For example, one wanted to be in Miami for family reasons and went to a DO program in that area, which I hear they are pretty happy with. I have a number of friends in AOA programs in other fields and their programs are pretty good, by and large. I glanced at the psych programs, but didn't apply to any because I thought the programs looked pretty crappy.

I'm not really sure what a DO program would offer for psych in terms of OMM. There is some decent evidence that OMM is somewhat helpful in a number of other conditions (I swear by it for headaches, taught my wife this technique that makes my headaches GO AWAY), but in psych...not so much.

There are a number of sketchy looking AOA psych residencies. I remember one in Florida through the Florida Dept. of Corrections. I'm like, "how can you have a whole residency through the jail?!?" Or the VA?!? Ugh. I apologize for my profession.

 

[Igor4sugry]

I'm like, "how can you have a whole residency through the jail?!?" Or the VA?!? Ugh. I apologize for my profession.

How can you have DO med students go to middle of no where rural hospitals for their rotations and expect to learn? And yet it happens. So the fact that its all at a small and isolated hospital in Chillicothe is not surprising. That area by the way is sometimes termed "Pillicothe" because its located in southern ohio and many people form there are Xanax and Percocet type patients.

 

[digitlnoize]

How can you have DO med students go to middle of no where rural hospitals for their rotations and expect to learn? And yet it happens. So the fact that its all at a small and isolated hospital in Chillicothe is not surprising. That area by the way is sometimes termed "Pillicothe" because its located in southern ohio and many people form there are Xanax and Percocet type patients.

I think this works for med students because as a DO student on these rotations you get to do so much more than the MD student counterparts at teaching hospitals. So what you miss in breadth is made up for in practical experience.

In residency, it's different. You're comparing two 95% practical experiences. Missing out on that breadth is doing a disservice to education. I'm sure they'll be competent to see many patients, but I doubt the training is as gold as they'd receive at a more varied institution.

 

[peppy]

I think this works for med students because as a DO student on these rotations you get to do so much more than the MD student counterparts at teaching hospitals. So what you miss in breadth is made up for in practical experience.

That's the charitable way to view it. However, I've seen stories on this website of students doing a psych rotation where they were supervised by an NP or a psychologist instead of a psychiatrist. I think that sort of thing is absolutely ridiculous. You can't learn to be a competent doctor if the people supervising you aren't even doctors.

 

[digitlnoize]

That's the charitable way to view it. However, I've seen stories on this website of students doing a psych rotation where they were supervised by an NP or a psychologist instead of a psychiatrist. I think that sort of thing is absolutely ridiculous. You can't learn to be a competent doctor if the people supervising you aren't even doctors.

Seriously?!? I've never heard of that?!? Sheesh!

 

[billypilgrim37]

I grew up not too far from chillicothe. My wife and I made up a song once about a chinchilla from chillicothe. You do not want to live in chillicothe.

 

[BlueLotus]

Wow! Thank you Cherry Hill!
Gosh, if this news is true, it sure is concerning.

I enjoyed the comment from Billy Pilgrim. The air pollution from the local paper mill is something to consider.

I agree with the others:
It is baffling that both the VA and a Prison psych programs are acceptable under any residency training standard. It is far too narrow a spectrum for any medical training.

 

[whopper]

THE doctor, and emphasis on the "THE" that prescribed the most amount of opioids in the entire country was in Chillicothe.
http://www.vintondaily.com/news/pil...cle_f1efc18e-5757-11e1-bf63-0019bb2963f4.html

at area by the way is sometimes termed "Pillicothe" because its located in southern ohio and many people form there are Xanax and Percocet type patients.

I have Suboxone patients that literally, when they drive into or past Chilicothe, get triggers to use because they tell me, that entire town was a pill-mill, kind of like some towns in Southern California are almost completely run on porn. Yeah there's pizza places, lawyers, K-Marts, what have you there but they only exist because it's the pizza place that delivers to the porn studio, the porn industry needs lawyers, and they need a place to buy condoms.

 

[BlueLotus]

Seriously, thank you for the heads up!
...yeah, come to think of it, I was wondering what business was keeping that town afloat besides the paper mill and prison systems.

Now how am I supposed to sleep after this news flash?
That was a close call...

TRI year all the way! Excellent learning experience. Beautiful location.

 

[Igor4sugry]

Just a forewarning for anyone considering this psychiatry residency... the program director fired 2 of 4 residents in the second year after starting the program for fishy reasons. During that year, a psychopharm resident was also let go. It is rumored that the PD actually fabricated a great deal of information in the firing of at least one of the psych residents and that the termination was overturned on appeal with that resident ultimately resigning. A lawsuit was threatened upon the overturning of the appeal (a lawsuit against the resident) if that person ever spoke out against the program in any way. I have felt at odds about this kind of information... my residency experience was AMA and not at all a nightmare... but I think incoming residents should know that 50% of the first classes of residents were terminated. Things like this are not a fluke. They are important to know when accepting a 4 year contract and expecting stability within the program. Good luck in your endeavors.

Any updated on the program?

 

[Igor4sugry]

Anyone have updates on this program since the post in 2013. How is resident situation there currently?

 

[shaosoldier]

Hello all. Current psychiatry resident here in Chillicothe, OH at the VA. Wanted to give an update, been seeing this forum referenced a lot from the incoming interviewees and wanted to give an update and clear things up.

The first year's class had only 2 residents and was indeed dismissed from the program but there was good reason for it, reasons I rather not divulge but rest assure it was valid. Instead of viewing it as a negative malignant move, perhaps view it as an example of integrity. It doesn’t look good for a brand new program to dismiss it’s entire initial class but it was deemed necessary hence it was done.


Since then, we’ve had one other resident who switched to family medicine with the program’s full support. Otherwise, had a few graduates and no issues with the current residents.


The VA in Chillicothe offers a rich experience ranging from the truly psychotic to the dysthymic. We do not turn anyone away and accept all refractory and/or complex patients from all VA in southern OH as well as veterans from private healthcare as well. Once finished, I have no doubt that you’ll be ready to work anywhere.


It’s a nonmalignant program, we’re all pretty chill from staff to residents. Not saying we don’t work hard, we do get slammed from time to time like any other hospital and it’s our duty as resident doctors to grind. For the most part, pretty chill schedule, plenty of time to study, work out, etc.


As for the pharmacy residency here, I don’t know what happened with that pharm resident back in the day. All I can say is that the Pharmacy resident and program is relaxed and work synergistically with us.


I hope this post eases upcoming 4th years or physicians reapplying. Look forward to seeing you guys during your interview here.


Oh, btw, we are pre-accredited and in the process of transitioning into ACGME via the smoothest path possible.

 

[Mass Effect]

You resurrected a thread that's 2 years old in order to promote your program? Also, it's not an AMA program. It's an ACGME program. And what's a psychopharm resident? Aren't they all just psychiatry residents?

 

[splik]

You resurrected a thread that's 2 years old in order to promote your program? Also, it's not an AMA program. It's an ACGME program. And what's a psychopharm resident? Aren't they all just psychiatry residents?

why are you responding to a 4yr old post after complaining that the above poster resurrected this thread?! psychopharm resident = mental health pharmacy resident

 

[Mass Effect]

I think it was clear why I responded. Same reason you did. My response was to the resurrection, not the original post.

 

[sqeeks]

I think it was clear why I responded. Same reason you did. My response was to the resurrection, not the original post.

Meh

 

[uncreativesrry]

Hello all. Current psychiatry resident here in Chillicothe, OH at the VA. Wanted to give an update, been seeing this forum referenced a lot from the incoming interviewees and wanted to give an update and clear things up.

The first year's class had only 2 residents and was indeed dismissed from the program but there was good reason for it, reasons I rather not divulge but rest assure it was valid. Instead of viewing it as a negative malignant move, perhaps view it as an example of integrity. It doesn’t look good for a brand new program to dismiss it’s entire initial class but it was deemed necessary hence it was done.


Since then, we’ve had one other resident who switched to family medicine with the program’s full support. Otherwise, had a few graduates and no issues with the current residents.


The VA in Chillicothe offers a rich experience ranging from the truly psychotic to the dysthymic. We do not turn anyone away and accept all refractory and/or complex patients from all VA in southern OH as well as veterans from private healthcare as well. Once finished, I have no doubt that you’ll be ready to work anywhere.


It’s a nonmalignant program, we’re all pretty chill from staff to residents. Not saying we don’t work hard, we do get slammed from time to time like any other hospital and it’s our duty as resident doctors to grind. For the most part, pretty chill schedule, plenty of time to study, work out, etc.


As for the pharmacy residency here, I don’t know what happened with that pharm resident back in the day. All I can say is that the Pharmacy resident and program is relaxed and work synergistically with us.


I hope this post eases upcoming 4th years or physicians reapplying. Look forward to seeing you guys during your interview here.


Oh, btw, we are pre-accredited and in the process of transitioning into ACGME via the smoothest path possible.

Thanks for the information you provided here. If you get a moment, I would love to get your insight on a few more things pertaining to this program.
- What is your work schedule generally like in terms of hours/week and how often you work nights?
- Would you consider it family friendly?
- Are your medicine rotations also at the VA medical center?
- Assuming your patients are predominantly male, do you still feel just as comfortable treating women?
- Is this program pretty competitive to match into?

I really appreciate the information!

 

[uncreativesrry]

Thanks for the information you provided here. If you get a moment, I would love to get your insight on a few more things pertaining to this program.
- What is your work schedule generally like in terms of hours/week and how often you work nights?
- Would you consider it family friendly?
- Are your medicine rotations also at the VA medical center?
- Assuming your patients are predominantly male, do you still feel just as comfortable treating women?
- Is this program pretty competitive to match into?

I really appreciate the information!

Bump.

Anyone else able to provide this additional info about this program by any chance?

 

[Tstanfi2]

Thanks for the information you provided here. If you get a moment, I would love to get your insight on a few more things pertaining to this program.
- What is your work schedule generally like in terms of hours/week and how often you work nights?
- Would you consider it family friendly?
- Are your medicine rotations also at the VA medical center?
- Assuming your patients are predominantly male, do you still feel just as comfortable treating women?
- Is this program pretty competitive to match into?

I really appreciate the information!

Hey so I can't answer all your questions because I haven't started yet but i just matched to this program! Also PD texted me and my other fellow future PGY1s a couple weeks ago to let us know we are now ACGME accredited! I'll answer what I can (which isn't much) from what you asked but keep in mind I haven't started yet and only did a 2 week audition here. I do know that as of right now they do not work nights, there was a proposed night float rotation but I believe that has been shelved for the time being. The medicine rotations are at the VA in Chillicothe excluding Neurology which is at Grandview Medical Center in Dayton (according to the schedule given to me at my interview).

Sorry I wasn't able to answer more, Im sure I will be able to once I get up there. (Biased opinion follows) I personally loved this program it was my number 1 choice by a long shot after my audition. (I interviewed at 9 programs, 7 ACGME 2 AOA) The residents I worked with were awesome, they genuinely enjoyed working with each other and seemed to be good friends outside of just being colleagues. The program director is really passionate about training residents and seeing the program succeed, plus he's one of the nicest guys around. The attendings I got to work with on my audition all spoke highly of the program and seemed to really enjoy working with and teaching residents. Overall it was just the perfect fit for me. Feel free to message me if you think of any questions and sorry again I don't have more specifics to your questions being a pre-PGY1.

 

[shaosoldier]

Thanks for the information you provided here. If you get a moment, I would love to get your insight on a few more things pertaining to this program.
- What is your work schedule generally like in terms of hours/week and how often you work nights?
- Would you consider it family friendly?
- Are your medicine rotations also at the VA medical center?
- Assuming your patients are predominantly male, do you still feel just as comfortable treating women?
- Is this program pretty competitive to match into?

I really appreciate the information!

Hey, my apologies for the delayed respone, I though the thread died with my reply.
- work schedule is great, can't complain. At most you do maybe 50 a week. Weekends are usually golden.
-it is family friendly several of my classmates have had kids during residency .
-For the first two years a majority of psychiatry will be at VA. Inpatient and outpatient as well as Neurology will be at the local hospital starting next year- Adena.
- Your outpt clinic will have female patients, mixed of rural and city pathology. There are subtle differences concerning inpatient but you'll get to see female patients in the unit as well.
- psychiatry in general is competitive and increasing by the year. We like to pick well rounded folk who fit in with the group- our motto is essentially to work hard and learn lots all in a non-malignant atmosphere.

Btw, we are working on a temporary website for the residency with additional information. Hopefully will be published soon. I'll let you guys know .

 

[shaosoldier]

Hey so I can't answer all your questions because I haven't started yet but i just matched to this program! Also PD texted me and my other fellow future PGY1s a couple weeks ago to let us know we are now ACGME accredited! I'll answer what I can (which isn't much) from what you asked but keep in mind I haven't started yet and only did a 2 week audition here. I do know that as of right now they do not work nights, there was a proposed night float rotation but I believe that has been shelved for the time being. The medicine rotations are at the VA in Chillicothe excluding Neurology which is at Grandview Medical Center in Dayton (according to the schedule given to me at my interview).

Sorry I wasn't able to answer more, Im sure I will be able to once I get up there. (Biased opinion follows) I personally loved this program it was my number 1 choice by a long shot after my audition. (I interviewed at 9 programs, 7 ACGME 2 AOA) The residents I worked with were awesome, they genuinely enjoyed working with each other and seemed to be good friends outside of just being colleagues. The program director is really passionate about training residents and seeing the program succeed, plus he's one of the nicest guys around. The attendings I got to work with on my audition all spoke highly of the program and seemed to really enjoy working with and teaching residents. Overall it was just the perfect fit for me. Feel free to message me if you think of any questions and sorry again I don't have more specifics to your questions being a pre-PGY1.

Word

 

[ridethecliche]

I grew up not too far from chillicothe. My wife and I made up a song once about a chinchilla from chillicothe. You do not want to live in chillicothe.

Yes but how the eff do you pronounce Chillicothe? It's a friggin syntax error in a name.

Is it.... the chillico? he cot chilli? the chil lico? so many options!

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Yes but how the eff do you pronounce Chillicothe? It's a friggin syntax error in a name.

Is it.... the chillico? he cot chilli? the chil lico? so many options!

Chill-eh-Kahth-ee

 

[st2205]

Live all around the greater Columbus and Dayton areas for two years. Went to Chillicothe once.

 

[ridethecliche]

Chill-eh-Kahth-ee

Aww you're no fun!

 

[NontradCA]

Live all around the greater Columbus and Dayton areas for two years. Went to Chillicothe once.

Why did you go there though ?

I don’t know much about the program but went to school in Columbus. A few students at my school did their 3rd year psych there and the residents would come up to our school to do some lectures. As far as the are anything outside the big cities in Ohio is relatively the same. It’s typical Midwest LES areas with not so great access to care. It’s not too bad, and I was coming from SoCal.

I know of a student who was rotating through during 4th year. Well apparently the house that students are provided was old and dirty. The PD offered a room in his house to the student. Can’t get any less malignant than that imo. The students from my school who rotated there loved it.

I’ve met several of the residents and they seem very chill. That being said there are a lot of university options in the Midwest, so I’m sure this program is less desirable due to its location and loose academic affiliation.

 

[NontradCA]

While we’re on the topic there is a new program in Columbus at Riverside Methodist. It’s a huge academic (community) hospital and the PD started the Chillicothe program. The faculty there are awesome, and the aPD is the nicest Psychiatrist I have ever met.