About the Program

The 4-year General Psychiatry Residency Training Program at Meharry Medical College has been designed to prepare resident physicians for the practice of psychiatry in the 21st century. Our program is accredited by the Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education.

The core of each resident’s education is extraordinarily rich in clinical experiences throughout the years of training. Each resident diagnoses and treats a broad range of patients along a continuum of care, in a variety of treatment settings. Residents learn the various roles of the modern psychiatrist – primary clinician, consultant, team-leader, and therapist – with skilled direct and indirect supervision depending upon the level of training and demonstrated experience of the resident.

Clinical work and intensive supervision are complemented by a comprehensive curriculum of didactic seminars, rounds, and case conferences. Clinical and didactic education occurs in multi-disciplinary settings in which there are training programs for a full range of mental health professionals. Interdisciplinary conferences have been developed for trainees in psychiatry, psychology, social work, and psychiatric nursing.

Our residency program is committed to training psychiatric residents who:

• are competent in the early identification of psychiatric disorders in all age groups, their differential diagnoses, and their treatment with the full range of available psychological, biological, behavioral, and social techniques;
• understand the psychological, social, economic, ethnic, family, and biological factors that influence development;
• have a strong sense of responsibility and respect for patients, and a commitment to high ethical standards and continuing professional development,
• possess skills in collaborating with, teaching, and supervising other personnel such as medical students, providers of mental health, as well as, medical, forensic, and social services in a variety of community and institutional settings.

Post-graduate training is a critical period in the development of a psychiatrist, from learning new skills to enhancing the resident’s knowledge, to the development of one’s own identity as a psychiatric specialist. The residency sets the stage for an ongoing process of continuing education, growth, and maturation, rooted in both scientific medicine and the humanistic traditions. Graduates of the Meharry Psychiatry Residency Training Program are fully equipped for the practice of modern psychiatry, integrating the most venerable traditional modalities with state-of-the-art treatment strategies.

Eligibility & Requirements

Residency Applicants can apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) online system beginning in September. We only accept applications through ERAS.

If you are an International medical graduate:
We do not accept or sponsor any visas and you will need your current and valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification as well as proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status (a green card).

Additional consideration will be given to those who have already passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Step 3 in three attempts or less and have clinical U.S. experience in psychiatry. This may include employment, observerships/externships, fellowships, research experience, etc. Meharry students/alumni will be given special consideration for an interview.

Rotation Schedule

Year 1

• Internal Medicine – 4 Months
• Neurology – 2 Months
• Inpatient Psychiatry – 6 Months

Year 2

• Geriatrics – 2 Months
• Psychiatry Emergency – 2 Months
• Child Psychiatry – 2 Months
• Consultation/Liaison – 2 Months
• Forensics/Inpatient Psychiatry – 6 Months
• Night Float/2 separate months @VA

Year 3

• Full-time Adult Outpatient Clinic, Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Outpatient Clinic – 12 Months

Year 4

• Child Psychiatry – 2 Months
• Consultation/Liaison – 2 Months
• Geriatrics – 2 Months
• Psychiatry Emergency – 2 Months
• Elective – 6 Months
• Addiction Psychiatry – 2 Months
• Research Elective – 2 Months