Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship

Located at the U.S.-Mexico border, our fellowship program provides a unique opportunity to serve a culturally diverse and underserved population of children and families. We emphasize delivering mental health care that is both culturally and linguistically relevant.

Program Overview

  • Duration: Two years
  • Capacity: Six fellows
  • Faculty:
    • Board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists
    • General psychiatrists, psychologists, and research professionals

Our faculty are committed to continuous innovation and program improvement to ensure excellence in training.

Unique Learning Opportunities

  1. Culturally Diverse Training
    Gain experience serving patients from diverse cultural backgrounds along the U.S.-Mexico border.

  2. Comprehensive Rotations
    Fellows rotate through diverse clinical sites, providing exposure to a broad range of psychiatric conditions and care settings.

  3. Evidence-Based Education

    • Training in evidence-based psychotherapy and psychopharmacology
    • Preparation to manage complex patient cases with innovative solutions
  4. Mentorship and Collaboration
    Work closely with dedicated clinicians and mentors who are committed to your professional growth.

Why Choose Our Program?

While the field of child and adolescent psychiatry presents challenges, including resource limitations, our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care. Our fellows graduate with the skills and confidence to address the mental health needs of diverse populations.

Explore the Possibilities

We invite you to learn more about the Texas Tech Health El Paso Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program and discover how this opportunity can help you achieve your career goals.

  1. Submit Your Application
    Applications are accepted through the ERAS system. Ensure you complete all required materials and submit them by the stated deadlines.

  2. Interview Options
    Interviews are conducted in-person or virtually, depending on individual circumstances and preferences. Details will be provided upon application review.

Fellows in our program are trained in all areas required by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The program follows the core competencies spectrum and utilizes the milestones evaluation system to ensure fellows graduate as experts ready for independent practice.

Our training emphasizes a trauma-informed care and practice model, promoting collaborative, safe, compassionate, and stigma-free service delivery to diverse populations.

 

Key Rotations

Fellows gain hands-on experience through diverse rotations across leading institutions, offering exposure to a wide range of clinical settings and populations:

  • Inpatient Psychiatry

    • El Paso Psychiatric Center
  • Outpatient Psychiatry

    • El Paso Child Guidance Center
  • Consultation Liaison Psychiatry

    • El Paso Children’s Hospital
  • First Psychotic Episode Program

    • Emergence Health Network

 

Specialized Populations

Additional rotations provide focused training with unique populations, including:

  • Juvenile Justice Center
  • Ysleta Independent School District
  • Aliviane
  • Ysleta Del Sur Tigua Indian Reservation
  • The Hospitals of Providence

 

Innovative Programs

Fellows also participate in innovative, state-funded programs that address critical needs in child and adolescent psychiatry:

  • Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN)
  • Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT)

These recent additions, funded by Texas Senate Bill 11, enhance fellows' training and expand access to much-needed mental health services.

Our program employs a biopsychosocial model and offers a well-rounded curriculum designed to prepare fellows for excellence in child and adolescent psychiatry. Key components include:

  • Child Development: In-depth understanding of developmental stages and their impact on mental health.
  • Psychopathology: Comprehensive training on the identification and treatment of mental health disorders.
  • Pharmacotherapy: Evidence-based approaches to medication management.
  • Psychotherapy: Focused training on therapeutic techniques with an emphasis on family involvement.
  • Research:
    • Opportunities to engage in research projects.
    • Skills in translating and disseminating research findings to improve clinical practice.

Fellows are encouraged to:
  • Publish in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Present at national and international conferences.
  • Collaborate on research projects with faculty mentors.

The fellowship emphasizes wellness and resilience.

Activities include:

  • Fun outings
  • Mindfulness and relaxation
  • Yoga and drumming (e.g., at Ysleta del Sur Tigua Indian Reservation)
  • Birthday celebrations

These activities help maintain high spirits while focusing on the University’s vision and mission.

A Wonderful Experience With the Fellowship Program

  I had a wonderful experience with the fellowship program. The didactics curriculum was robust and gave room for exploring and learning about diverse topics that were relevant to child and adolescent psychiatry. I learned a lot about the practice of psychiatry and about life in general from the program faculty, and I always felt welcomed and supported.  El Paso is a great city to train and live in. The sun is out most days of the year, the people are very nice, and the food is delicious. My experience was overall a very positive one and I encourage anyone interested in applying to do so without hesitation.  

- Ijeoma Ibeanu, M.D., Class of 2021, Current Location: El Paso Children’s Hospital, El Paso, TX.

A Comprehensive and Well-Structured Curriculum

  The field of child and adolescent psychiatry is a critical area of medicine, and I am grateful for the excellent training I received in the program under the directorship of Dr. Cecilia De Vargas. This program has a comprehensive and well-structured curriculum, and didactics that are focused on developmental psychopathologies, assessment, diagnosis, evidence-based treatment modalities, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy. In the program you work with the community, and this helps you understand the social impact on mental health and develop a sense of cultural competence.   In the program, I received mentorship, guidance in clinical decision making, and feedback from experience and dedicated faculty which makes you feel welcomed and supported. I am thankful to the faculty for the training I received and for allowing me to be part of the TTUHSC family and shaping me in the Psychiatrist that I am.   I was born and raised at El Paso and I can say, it is a great city with amazing people.  

- Adrian Mejia, M.D. , Class of 2022, Current Location: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. 

My Child and Adolescent Fellowship Has Been a Great Learning Experience

 My Child and Adolescent Fellowship has been a great learning experience. I've gained valuable skills in understanding and treating mental health issues in children and teens. The hands-on experience, working with young patients has helped me grow as a clinician, and I've learned a great deal about connecting with children and their families. I've had the chance to work with a wonderful, supportive team and faculty, which has made this journey even more rewarding. Overall, this fellowship has given me the confidence and knowledge to better assist young people facing mental health challenges. Having moved around a lot with my family, I find El Paso to be a peaceful and welcoming place, ideal for raising a family. The warm weather is a big plus, and the people are incredibly kind. The city's cuisine is also a standout, offering a variety of delicious options that reflect its rich blend of cultures. 

- Jency Cynthia Sachidanandam, M.D., Class of 2023, Current Location: Texas Tech Health El Paso. 

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship

Dr. Cecilia De Vargas, M.D.
Program Director
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship

Office: 915-215-5857

Email: Cecilia.DeVargas@ttuhsc.edu