General Psychiatry Training Program

What our residents have to say...

"I moved to Kansas City from Omaha, Nebraska and have found a great midwestern culture which is truly diverse and very welcoming. KUMC’s psychiatry program is no different. There is a very diverse inpatient population and the program is academically challenging. I have come to appreciate the training which the program offers by rotating us through different sites including three different VA hospitals and the University hospital, all providing crucial exposure to patient management and various aspects of healthcare in the US today. My family moved here and have been pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the people and great job opportunities in various fields and one of the best education systems in the nation for the children. My opinion and experience so far is that it’s a prestigious university program in a great place to raise a family. And yes, the food and shopping are also good!" Farah S. Hassan, M.D., PGY1, Psychiatry

"Moving to Kansas from Nebraska for my residency training in Psychiatry at KUMC has been one of the best decisions of my life. Being a part of this program has been both challenging and rewarding. With its focus on evidence-based practice and compassionate patient care, there are a wealth of opportunities for learning in diverse clinical settings with friendly faculty. I am most impressed with the teamwork of residents and the helpful attitude of the teaching staff. The chance for independent clinical decision making under guidance is an invaluable quality of this prestigious program. With the collection of clinical experience, research opportunities and the exciting social setting of Kansas City, I am sure the KU Psych program will be an excellent choice for anyone interested in the field of Psychiatry." Amad U. Din, M.D., PGY2, Psychiatry

"I am a PGY2 who transferred into the program after a year of Family Medicine in Los Angeles.  When I first approached my husband with the possibility of relocating to Kansas City, his immediate response was: ARE YOU CRAZY?! 

Actually, deciding to do pre-med AND medical school AFTER having two children - THAT was crazy.  Moving to Kansas is one of the sanest decisions I've ever made.  To understand my husband's reaction, one has to consider that he is a working actor whose career financed both my undergraduate and medical education.  However, with two daughters approaching middle school, it was time to reconsider our decision to live in Los Angeles.  The KU Psych program was the only program in close proximity to a top ten city in Money Market's survey of the best cities in which to raise children.  Overland Park, my research told me, had everything I was looking for in a city: great public schools, a neighborhood public school system, a vibrant Jewish community, affordable housing, low crime, a family friendly atmosphere, a professional Actor's Equity theater company as well as several community theater companies, AND two local marathons. By the time we left Los Angeles, my daughters had graduated to being allowed to walk alone to the restaurant around the corner from our house.  Due to the high volume of traffic, road rage and complete disregard for stop signs in our neighborhood, they were not allowed to cross the street alone.  It's very difficult for parents in urban Los Angeles to provide their children with physical activity.  Kids can't just walk out the door and ride their bikes.  The month before we left, a road rage incident in front of our house resulted in a fatality.  The public school system in Los Angeles is a challenge.  My daughters attended magnet schools, which means their friends lived all over Los Angeles.  Scheduling play dates required an enormous amount of planning on my part.  Many a play date became an overnight because of lack of transportation. During our first week in Overland Park, my daughters walked the six blocks to the community pool BY THEMSELVES.  The children at their school, which is a mile away from our house, all live in our neighborhood.  Physical activity is a daily occurrence for them.  They ride their bikes, visit their friends, and play basketball - all without my constant supervision. As for me, I love the program.  I'm very pleased with my change into psychiatry.  My first admission, at the VA, captures what my experience has been like.  I admitted a man with paranoid schizophrenia, who was so decompensated that he required physical restraints for several days.  By the end of my month long rotation, he had graduated to "accompanied status" for his cigarette breaks.  In that period of time, I became familiar with many of the social challenges of living with this disease, both for patient and family.  Psychiatry is a field that has allowed me to indulge in the issues that most interest me, and being able to do this in a supportive atmosphere has had a calming effect on me that I did not anticipate." Micaela P. Wexler, D.O., PGY2, Psychiatry

"The Department of Psychiatry at KU has been an excellent place for me to start my career.  The first two years involve mostly inpatient care which is vital to gaining a good understanding of acute psychiatric illness, as well as exacerbation of chronic psychiatric illness.  Also, during this time there is accelerated learning that is acquired of all psychotropic medications which undoubtedly will benefit the resident with their outpatient experience during their 3rd year of residency and beyond.  I am currently in my 3rd year of residency which I am enjoying greatly.  The same patients seen in an inpatient setting most often will present much more stable during their outpatient appointments which allows for further development of the patient-doctor relationship.  It has been very rewarding to see your patients doing well and staying out of the hospital.  Through experience and practical application of what I learned during my first 3 years, my confidence has grown and I feel will continue to grow as I complete my residency here at KU." Ely A. Tamano, M.D., PGY3, Psychiatry

"A strong point of this program is the independent nature of the learning. I was encouraged and expected to research topics that pertain to the patients they are treating in an effort to apply the latest science to their care. I was expected to have strong medical skills and manage basic medical problems on the inpatient units with appropriate consulting from medicine services. The program is strongly rooted in biological psychiatry, but there are ample opportunities to aquire psychotherapeutic skills as well. And the exposure to substance abuse, personality disorders, and the VA and community mental health populations is excellent. I feel well prepared to step into these arenas with confidence." Todd Thatcher, D.O., PGY4, Psychiatry