VCU’s Department of Psychiatry recognized for fellowship in geriatric psychiatry

By Malorie Burkett

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry is the recipient of the 2004 “Living the Vision” recognition by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.

The recognition honors individuals and programs across Virginia that are living the vision of a community-based system of mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services.

During a statewide conference hosted by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, the VCU Medical Center and Piedmont Geriatric Hospital were recognized by Gov. Mark R. Warner for the fellowship in geriatric psychiatry – a partnership between the two hospitals in a fifth-year residency program that trains psychiatric residents at VCU who already have completed their required four years of residency.

Fully accredited by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education, the one-year fellowship program provides a model curriculum for preparing psychiatrists to function in the geriatric specialty. The program trains two fellows per year, each rotating through multiple training sites and receiving training in palliative care and geriatric internal medicine.

“VCU fully recognizes the need for the senior population to have access to physicians trained in the area of geriatric psychiatry,” said Joel Silverman, chair of VCU’s psychiatry department. “We have a long-standing commitment to ensuring that the physicians we educate are well-versed in all aspects of medical care as it pertains to the lifespan.”

The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services system comprises 40 community services boards (CSBs) and 16 state facilities. The CSBs and state facilities serve children and adults who have or who are at risk of mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, mental retardation or substance use disorders. For more informtion, visit http://www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov/.