A Residency Training in Rural Psychiatry

Objective: This article describes a residency training program that incorporates a rural didactic curriculum and rural clinical training. Methods: Residents participate in didactic seminars and a rural clinical rotation. Results: In this jointly funded (academic-state-agency) model, faculty members from a community-based medical school train psychiatric residents at a rural clinic. This model differs from a primary care model because it is a direct care model and not a consultation model. Conclusion: Locations near medical schools that are within driving distance of a rural or rural/manufacturing community could use this model. It would require modification (including telemedicine) where greater distances are involved or where faculty clinical work must be done at the medical school site to support a university-based hospital or clinic.