School psychiatrist?

[tupacsdaughter]

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I'm aware there's such thing as a school psychologist, but do psychiatrists work in a school setting as well? I've always been interested in becoming an OB/GYN, however, after being informed of their bad schedules/high malpractice insurance, my thoughts have changed some.

If OB wasn't the way to go, psychiatry was always my second bet. I'm from New York, and always loved the idea of being able to work in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods as a school psychiatrist to be someone who cares about the children there... as a lot of people don't.

But to my knowledge, it's psychologists who are hired for those jobs. Unaware if the same goes for psychiatry as well.

 

[MAClinician]

I'm aware there's such thing as a school psychologist, but do psychiatrists work in a school setting as well? I've always been interested in becoming an OB/GYN, however, after being informed of their bad schedules/high malpractice insurance, my thoughts have changed some.

If OB wasn't the way to go, psychiatry was always my second bet. I'm from New York, and always loved the idea of being able to work in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods as a school psychiatrist to be someone who cares about the children there... as a lot of people don't.

But to my knowledge, it's psychologists who are hired for those jobs. Unaware if the same goes for psychiatry as well.

Residential schools (where kids live on campus and attend school) often have psychiatrists on staff to prescribe medications but I am not sure if that is a full time position or a "contractor " position a couple of days a week. Public, private, charter, and therapeutic schools typically do not have psychiatrists though.

 

[singasongofjoy]

Residential schools (where kids live on campus and attend school) often have psychiatrists on staff to prescribe medications but I am not sure if that is a full time position or a "contractor " position a couple of days a week. Public, private, charter, and therapeutic schools typically do not have psychiatrists though.

In my rather limited experience of N=2, they've been contract positions.

 

[WisNeuro]

I'd kick this over to the psychiatry thread, they may have more experience or know of colleagues who do this. I'd say the majority of members of this particular forum and pretty much academic or clinical, not too many school people.

 

[deleted343839]

In some higher ed settings, yes, but I've never personally heard of this in K-12.

There are plenty of other opportunities to work with underserved children as a psychiatrist, however. It's a wonderful calling for someone who has a passion for the work.

I agree with WisNeuro's suggestion to ask the Psychiatry board for more info.

 

[cheree cheree]

You can work in an adolescent day-program that combines mental health care and school. There aren't too many of these, but they have psychiatrists on staff. In New York City, Mount Sinai-St. Luke's has a program called CARES, which is just that. There is only one full-time attending psychiatrist, though. Seems like it would be hard to get that job.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Definitely agree with it being contract work, part-time, residential and/or alternative education setting, and not something that was planned (also an N=2).

 

[SchoolPsycho]

I'm a school psych, and can confirm what others have shared. I've never heard of a psychiatrist working in a public school setting. Residential and day treatment programs often run smalls schools, and they do often have psychiatrists they contract with.

 

[ClinicalABA]

I've consulted to public school programs for 20+ years, and have never encountered a school psychiatrist. We had a contracted psychiatrist in private special education school I was at, but he was a general child psychiatrist.