What about ranking Cornell vs Yale? I liked Yale's interview day much more, but for reasons being in New York the next four years would be better for my life circumstances. interests are in academics, cross cultural psych and working with minorities, psychotherapy, possibly forensics.
Anyone here have thoughts about Yale vs. Columbia for someone interested in public (or possibly forensic psychiatry), mental health policy research and medical education? Might want to do child too. I loved both programs but fell head over heels for one with personal/location reasons compelling me towards the other. Hoping input might help me choose which to rank 1 and which to rank 2.
To second the others, these are all wonderful programs and will afford you top notch training. I am a resident at Yale and can best speak to what our program offers in terms of your interests. First and foremost, I wholeheartedly agree with Salpingo in that our program is incredibly friendly and warm. The department is committed to helping residents discover their niche within the field, matching residents with mentors, and developing an individualized education plan that allows them to establish a foundation for any potential career direction. I began residency with a strong interest in public psychiatry and first-episode psychosis, which were fostered by the work happening in the STEP Clinic at the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC). CMHC ‘s mission spans a number of areas within psychiatry, including cultural psychiatry, administration, policy development, and the social determinants of health, in addition to housing robust research protocols in early and prodromal psychosis, addiction, OCD, and mental health services. Our Public Psychiatry Fellowship, which can be a PGY-4 fast track or a PGY-5 year, gives fellows the opportunity to train in a number of unique settings, including a walk-in acute services clinic, la Clinica Hispana, an inpatient unit serving those living with severe and persistent mental illness, and/or the state hospital with >400 beds in Middletown, CT. CMHC is also home to our Law and Psychiatry Division, which is the hub for our forensic fellowship. While I had never considered forensics, Dr. Zonana’s PGY-2 conference series was so captivating that I had to give it a second thought. Residents in their second year are invited to provide expert testimony during mock trials with the Yale Law School students – always a popular experience for the 2s!
Medical education is front and center for the program. I have been able to observe medical students conduct interviews over the course of 4 weeks, discussing formulations and technique, reviewing psychiatric write-ups, and facilitating social justice workshops with standardized patients. The Yale Art Gallery has partnered with the School of Medicine to bring students, residents, and faculty to explore the interface between art, observation, and the clinical sciences. Residents can always be found at the pre- and post-clerkship workshops, including an alcohol withdrawal exercise in the Sim Center. The director of all medical clerkships for the students is a faculty member in our department, and she is ecstatic when residents want to be involved.
My own clinical interest shifted a bit to geriatric neuropsychiatry. While I spend a lot of time thinking about dementia and neuropsych testing, I have enormously benefited from my psychotherapy training. You will have supervisors for dynamics, CBT, and potentially couples and CPT. Beginning in the second year, you care for one to two long-term weekly psychodynamic cases. Psychotherapy didactics are embedded throughout the curriculum, including analytically and CBT oriented therapists heavily contributing as discussants for case presentations. We are fortunate to have a close relationship with the Western New England Psychoanalytic Institute, where residents may take electives and have a longitudinal course in psychodynamics during PGY-3. The Yale IOP has a specific DBT track, which welcomes PGY-4s to spend part of their year gaining expertise in the modality.
When I first visited New Haven the week I interviewed, I hiked to the top of East Rock and was nothing short of charmed. Trails for hiking, running, and biking are easily accessible in many neighborhoods, and the downtown area is home to musical theater, delicious restaurants, shops, and an active nightlife. Parking has never been an issue, which is a blessing on those early internal medicine mornings. My partner and I have found lots of picturesque towns throughout New England to explore, skiing in New Hampshire, bed and breakfasts in Vermont, and the weekend trips to NYC and Boston.
I hope this helps! Please don’t hesitate to message me if you have any questions -- always happy to chat.
