Department of Psychiatry
Psychosomatic Medicine
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Program Overview

Our program is affiliated with Jefferson Medical College, one of the oldest and largest medical schools in the country and an institution rich with medical history. Established in 2007, Jefferson’s psychosomatic medicine program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) -- and one of forty such programs in the United States.

We are committed to academic excellence and combine superior patient care, strong teaching, and quality research to achieve this. We provide you with an environment that encourages intellectual curiosity and stimulates your professional and personal development.

Why should you consider training at Jefferson?  Let me list the main reasons:

History: Our first resident graduated in 2009 and had her pick of academic and non academic positions in consultation-liaison psychiatry.  She plans to do a forensic fellowship and then combine the two subspecialties. Faculty in our program have a vast network of contacts which allow fellows to access faculty and fellowship positions across the United States and Europe.

Variety in the clinical experience:  Subspecialty training opportunities are not available at all programs in psychosomatic medicine. Over your one year of training, you will rotate through 7 different clinical rotations at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH). Fellows receive a wide variety of clinical experiences and see all patient population types. Fellows can pick 2 of their rotations in subspecialty areas of particular interest.  We feel that this specific exposure during your fellowship prepares you well.

Progressive leadership:  We have three faculty who are boarded in psychosomatic medicine, and a total of 13 faculty. Who participate in the program?  Fellows in psychosomatic medicine have a unique opportunity to interact with a wide variety of teachers.  Our faculty are nationally recognized by the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, the national organization for consultation-liaison psychiatry, and can connect you with a vast network of practitioners and resources in psychosomatic medicine. Each faculty member is dedicated to specific aspects of the training program and both faculty and fellows are being developed into future program leaders.  We constantly look to make improvements to the program.

Variety in the formal educational program: Our formal educational program consists of two weekly didactic sessions, a summertime introductory course, a bimonthly journal club, suggested reading assignments, weekly Psychiatry Department Grand Rounds, and case-based teaching on the clinical rotations.  This variety of educational formats allows learners of all types to acquire the knowledge that they need to practice psychosomatic medicine.

Location:  We are located in center city Philadelphia and in the heart of the downtown area. It is a safe area in which to live, work, and play. Philadelphia is home to the Wachovia Center, which hosts a number of concerts and other entertainment events.  Our city is also home to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music where one can see live theatrical performances.  Lastly, we are within two to three hours of New York City, Baltimore, Washington DC, and the New Jersey shore communities. Visit the site www.gophila.com to explore what Philadelphia has to offer to you.

Just a little bit about me. I graduated Medical School from McGill University in 1983 and completed my psychiatry residency at New York University Medical Center 1983-1987.  I completed my fellowship in Psychosomatic Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (1987-89).  The bulk of my early career was devoted to research and clinical consultation-liaison psychiatry. I was appointed the Division Director for Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry in 1995, and in 2002, I was appointed Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. What does this all mean to you as a prospective fellow?  I use all of my experience and expertise, both professional and personal, to make your fellowship training a worthwhile and exciting learning experience.

I invite you to explore our web site to learn more about us.


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