Child Psych

[jpcol428]

Hi! I am starting DO school in August and am currently interested in Child Psych. What schools/hospitals have the best child psych residency programs for both MD and DO? What is the typical process in becoming a Child Psych?
thanks!
james
[email protected]

 

[bluebirdie]

Hi! I am starting DO school in August and am currently interested in Child Psych. What schools/hospitals have the best child psych residency programs for both MD and DO? What is the typical process in becoming a Child Psych?
thanks!
james
[email protected]

I'm not sure about which programs are the best, I'm sure if you do a search on here you can find it. I know you start off in a psych residency, then either after you finish your psych residency or after 3 years of your residency you can apply. Child psychiatrists are in high demand in many areas of the country. I'm interested in this field as well and hope that there are some more responses to your thread. Good luck in medical school and keep your mind open when it comes to specialties.

 

[Anasazi23]

It's very early to be looking into psychiatry fellowships at this point for you, but it is nice to have a goal to strive toward. Here is a list of the current child fellowships offered. [click 'choose specialty,' then under 'subspecialty/fellowship' choose child/adolescent psychiatry. You'll get to know this website very well in four years." Which fellowship is best for you depends on countless factors. Most, if not all would have no problem taking a DO into the program.

As correctly stated above, you can either complete four years of traditional psychiatry residency, then apply for child fellowship (2 extra years), or attend a psychiatry residency that has a "built in" fellowship track for child, which allows you to enter it in your PGY-4 year, thus shaving off a year overall. In the latter case, make sure to apply to programs that have child fellowships, so that you can slide in when the time is right.

 

[PsychFuture]

Here is my advice for ya. I think it is way too soon to think of a fellowship, let alone specialty within medicine. Things change while you are in school, you should keep your mind open and try to get a good knowledge base within medicine, and maybe even test other areas of medicine you might be interested in while doing your rotations.

I started out wanting to specialize in GI but things really changed once I started my rotations. I agree that it is great to have a path set out for yourself but don't be so constrained by that idea.

Child is very popular with people starting their intern year but as I have seen with classes ahead of mine people decide that they don't want/need extra training, etc and end up changing their minds. Keep your options open.

 

[jpcol428]

Thank you for your responses. Yes I realize that it is soon to begin thinking of specialties, however I like to research and get as much information I can before making any decisions. Therefore I am researching child psych and attempting to find out anything I can about this specialty. Thank you for your responses and those yet to come!

James

 

[PsychFuture]

Thank you for your responses. Yes I realize that it is soon to begin thinking of specialties, however I like to research and get as much information I can before making any decisions. Therefore I am researching child psych and attempting to find out anything I can about this specialty. Thank you for your responses and those yet to come!

James

I suggest you get a hold of a child psychiatrist or two and follow them around in your free time. It is amazing how observation as a med student will help with your future decisions.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Thank you for your responses. Yes I realize that it is soon to begin thinking of specialties, however I like to research and get as much information I can before making any decisions. Therefore I am researching child psych and attempting to find out anything I can about this specialty. Thank you for your responses and those yet to come!

James

I did a child psych elective as an MS4. I learned 2 things:
1) I wasn't as bad of a parent as I had feared; and
2) I really did NOT want to do child psych.

That said, I've worked with some VERY good child psychiatrists. You have to (or at least want to try to) be good at working diplomatically with very difficult families. It is a really great field for those who have a good eye for how the developmental environment shapes adult psychopathology.
I agree with the others--find a child psychiatrist and shadow, and if you're still interested, do an elective (inpatient is best for med students).

 

[50960]

AND child psych has a whole different set of laws etc that you must know VERY well or end up in court. As a child psychologist I must say that we need you so very bad!!!

😉

 

[sb_MD]

The other way that one could go through traing in child psychiatry is through a triple board program, where you get board certified in peds, general psych, and child psych (in 5 years, the same amount of time it takes to do general psych and a child fellowship). It is pretty hardcore and it definitely for those who want a more medical edge to their psychiatry practice, ie consult-liason.

I am starting my psych internship this summer and am planning on going into child eventually. I did two months of rotations in inpatient child psych, and that is what made up my mind. You definitely have to find an attending who likes to teach to work with - I think that makes a big difference. I love kids, but even child psych is different than I originally thought it would be. These are some really troubled kids - but it is definitely worth it.

 

[detroitdoc]

I understand that you can enter into the 2 years of child psyc after your PGY3 year. Do you have to be at a program with a child paych program or can you go to another program after your PGY3 year that has a child paych program? Also, is it more difficult to get the fellowship if you are not at a program with its own child psych fellowship?
Thanks 😉