Residency Education and Fellowship Training

Residency Education

PGY-1s rotate through a one-month Geriatric Psychiatry rotation. The goal of these experiences is to broaden the PGY-1s’ understanding of the presentation of late-life neuropsychiatric disorders; develop an appreciation for the role that aging plays in the evaluation, assessment, and treatment of adults with late life neuropsychiatric disorders; and to facilitate involvement and interest in research on the intersection between age-related processes and psychiatric illness. In the PGY-3 and PGY-4 years, residents partake in research electives, during which residents are directly involved in collection and analysis of data and the preparation of a poster to be presented at a national meeting and the writing of a report for publication.

Research Fellowship Training

T-32 in LATE LIFE NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Program Director: Patrick Brown, PhD

By the year 2030, there will be 65 million Americans over the age of 65 representing 22% of the population. In the same time period, the number of Americans 85 and older will more than double. As the population ages the prevalence of late-life neuropsychiatric disorders will correspondingly increase. However, there is a shortage of clinical and basic researchers focused on psychiatric disorders in the elderly. The goal of this training program entitled, “Research Training in Late-life Neuropsychiatric Disorders,” is to develop career scientists with the knowledge base and expertise needed to conduct programmatic basic and/or clinical research in the neuropsychiatric disorders of late-life.  This NIMH funded postdoctoral fellowship program trains fellows (MD, MD/PhD, and PhD) for careers as independent researchers in Late-Life Neuropsychiatric Disorders through the use of a well-structured curriculum, mentorship possibilities from experts in psychiatry, psychology, neurology, geriatrics, and neuroscience, peer mentorship and guidance from the program’s leadership, and a wealth of resources accessible to trainees through the affiliated departments and programs at CUIMC. The success of the training program is reflected in both the accomplishments of the trainees and the diversity of the fellows. In the past 15 years, 28 fellows received stipend support from the T-32; 46% female, 25% MDs, 14% MD/PhDs and 61% PhDs. 11% of the fellows are under-represented minorities, and 36% come from cultural or ethnic backgrounds that are either not Caucasian or not from North America or Europe. Of the 23 fellows who have graduated the program in the last 15 years, 35% have received K awards and of 6 fellows who have finished their K awards, 50% have received an R series award.

For more information, please contact Dr. Patrick Brown at pb2410@cumc.columbia.edu.