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Rural and Public Mental Health Track

Our track prepares residents to serve in the most underserved areas of our country and develop expertise in relevant technology and health care policies. Rural communities have profound shortages of psychiatrists and logistical barriers to accessing care. We train psychiatrists to serve rural communities and effectively work in the public mental health system. We provide opportunities in integrated care paradigms, telepsychiatry and related technologies, and public mental health policy. Our graduates provide both direct care to rural communities and statewide leadership in rural mental health.

  • Structure and Curriculum

    Track Structure

    Residents are based in Dallas during PGYs 1-3, completing core general program rotations within UTSW-affiliated institutions, including public mental health experiences through Parkland Hospital and Metrocare and psychotherapy training.

    • PGY-1
      In addition to completing program requirements in medicine and neurology, residents rotate on acute inpatient psychiatry units at both Parkland and Terrell State Hospital and in Metrocare outpatient psychiatry.
    • PGY-2
      Residents complete two rural outpatient psychiatry rotations at the Bonham VA outpatient clinic, in addition to core psychiatry rotations and electives in Dallas.
    • PGY-3
      Year 3 is rooted in longitudinal outpatient experiences. Residents have rural outpatient electives within driving distance of Dallas, train at the Parkland Outpatient Clinic (a core experience for all residents), and choose from opportunities to provide direct patient care and telepsychiatry to rural communities within a public mental health care system and an insurance-based private practice.
    • PGY-4
      Residents practice in rural settings that include inpatient, outpatient, telepsychiatry, and integrated care services and are housed in rural locations to integrate them into these communities. Residents also have opportunities to work with state public mental health leaders in research and quality improvement projects.

    Track Curriculum

    In addition to participating in general program didactic curriculum across PGYs 1-4, track residents receive specialized curriculum focused on public mental health systems, rural communities and psychiatric practice, telepsychiatry, and integrated care.

  • Application Process

    Application Website

    We use ERAS, the Electronic Residency Application Service

    All Application Packages Must Include:

    • Personal Statement
    • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (Dean's Letter)
    • Medical School Transcript
    • USMLE or COMLEX Transcript
    • Three letters of recommendation (at least one from a psychiatrist)
    • CV
    • Photograph
    • ECFMG certificate (for International Medical Graduates only; we routinely sponsor J-1 visas and can discuss with applicants directly if they have specific questions about other visa sponsorship)

    Other Items Needed

    • Medical school diploma
    • Visa documentation (if applicable; only J-1 visas are sponsored)

    Additional Information

    We must receive the completed application before we will interview (we conduct virtual interviews).

    Residents must be eligible to rotate at each of our clinical training sites. Most sites require proof of COVID-19 vaccination, and some sites do not allow exemptions to this requirement.

    GME Policies

    Please note that as part of the application and interview process for a potential residency position in our program, we are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and you would need to meet ACGME requirements for matriculation in our program.

    Upon graduation from our residency training program, most of our graduates seek board certification from either the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry. The process of board certification is separate from residency training and has additional requirements. Some board organizations require completion of all your education in an ACGME-accredited residency. Please contact the appropriate certifying board to understand your eligibility for board certification before accepting (if offered) a residency position at our institution

    Sample Contracts, Salaries, Benefits

    For more information or any questions, please contact our education team:

  • Current Residents

    PGY 1

    Lucia (Lucy) Conlon, D.O.

    Undergraduate: University of Texas at Arlington
    Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Louisiana Campus

    Krystal Morton, M.D., M.P.H.

    Undergraduate: University of Texas at Dallas
    Graduate and Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo

    PGY 2

    Andrew Contreras, M.D.

    Undergraduate: California State University, Fresno
    Medical School: University of California San Francisco

    "Growing up in Madera, the only California county without a hospital for over two years, I witnessed how limited health care access can affect a community. As a first-generation Latino and a foster care youth at 16, I experienced social inequities and the resilience required to overcome them. These experiences inspired me to become a psychiatrist committed to bridging mental health care gaps in rural and underserved regions. Through programs such as the San Joaquin Valley Education Equity Initiative and Prime Time mentoring, I worked to expand educational opportunities for underserved youth, and I aspire to bring the same dedication to improving mental health access. My goal is to provide culturally competent care, advocate for community-driven resources, and expand innovative rural solutions in tele-psychiatry and locum work to ensure distance is never a barrier to quality mental health services."

    PGY 3

    Shivani Raman, M.D., M.P.H.

    Undergraduate: Rice University
    Graduate: UT Health School of Public Health
    Medical School: UT Southwestern

    "I applied for the Rural and Public Mental Health Track because I believe health care is a fundamental human right and I am passionate about health equity and social justice. My previous experiences include supporting teams of community health workers and patients with mental health conditions in rural communities in Mexico, leading a community health project at a free clinic in Dallas as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow, and completing a Master of Public Health. In the future, I hope to provide care to patients with severe and persistent mental illness and engage in public health and advocacy work to improve mental health outcomes for underserved populations."

    Celina Salcido, D.O., Ph.D., M.P.H.

    Undergraduate and Graduate: University of Texas at Arlington
    Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

    "As a former psychology professor, I witnessed the devastating consequences of inadequate access to mental health care, especially for those facing cultural, societal, and financial barriers. This ignited a passion to break down these barriers as a future psychiatrist, with a particular focus on advocacy and de-stigmatization. The Rural and Public Mental Health Track's emphasis on telepsychiatry and rural health policy perfectly complements my goals, and I am confident that the unique training will equip me to serve diverse communities throughout my career in both rural and urban settings."

    PGY 4

    Gameli Anthonio, M.D.

    Undergraduate: University of South Florida
    Medical School: Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

    "During my time as a medical student, I was able to appreciate the role that health care disparities (especially those in mental health) play in poor health outcomes in the US. Addressing disparities and the social determinants of health has long been an animating force for me. My work on projects addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, improving transportation access, and delivering global health care has taken me as far as Washington DC and given me a keen awareness of the multitude of ways that social factors can impact people's health. As a psychiatrist, I hope to bring this mindset to my practice to maximize the health of our community. I found the track to be great opportunity to learn how to do that, through its mentorship and networking opportunities and its diverse training settings embedded within underresourced populations."

“I sought a program offering excellent training and a robust rural mental health experience. UTSW’s range of clinical sites and opportunities to work with diverse communities provides exactly the combination I was seeking. Dr. Brenner and the rest of the leadership team are supportive and take pride in caring for residents, which is apparent on day 1. With so much support from the chiefs, co-residents, and leadership, I feel confident in reaching my goals. In addition, the affordability of Dallas compared to other metropolitan areas in the U.S. is unmatched, allowing my wife and me to enjoy life outside of residency.”

Andrew Contreras, M.D.PGY2
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