Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Global and Rural Psychiatry Track

Develop an expertise in cultural psychiatry, mental health policy and advocacy, and assessment and treatment in low resource settings through this unique track.  

Our Commitment  

The Global and Rural Psychiatry Track is committed to producing culturally compassionate child and adolescent psychiatrists who are passionate about serving their community and a diverse set of patients in the border region, and around the world. 

Paso del Norte  

El Paso, alongside Ciudad Juarez, the most populous city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, and Las Cruces in the neighboring state of New Mexico, are sometimes referred to as Paso del Norte. This region constitutes the largest bilingual and binational workforce in the Western hemisphere.[1] Additionally, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, one of the three federally recognized Native American tribes in Texas, is located about 13 miles outside of El Paso, and there is a strong federal and military presence that is often host to refugees from around the globe.  

Curriculum 

  • Continuity care at Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tigua Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic 
  • Border Health and Rural Medicine through Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC) projects: Rural Telemedicine for Youth (RTY) and Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT 
  • Political asylum evaluation training under faculty supervision 
  • Monthly participation in a journal club or research seminar addressing a wide variety of global and cultural mental health topics 
  • Attendance and participation at the annual TTUHSCEP Cultural Competency Conference 
  • Completion of a scholarly or community project that can span the course of the fellowship to be presented at a conference or merit publication  
  • Development of expertise about a selected ethnicity, country, or world region of interest to be presented at Grand Rounds 
  • Building sustainable relationships with community and global organizations through educational and empathetic reciprocity  

Topics Covered 

  • Ethical consideration in global psychiatry 
  • Mental and physical health concerns unique to the border region and rural Texas 
  • Access to care and understanding the perpetuation of existing health disparities 
  • Working with traditional healers, faith healers, and indigenous leaders 
  • Immigration-related concerns 
  • Public policy, advocacy, and activism   
  • Practicing psychiatry, including assessment, diagnosing, and treatment, and providing psychoeducation to families within specific populations 
  • Practical implementation in low resource settings   
  • Building sustainable, reciprocal relationships with global and community organizations 
  • Psychiatrization of distress and lack of basic needs 
  • Conscious social inclusion in common psychiatric diagnoses and treatment 
  • Medical Spanish  

Applying 

The application to the Global and Rural Psychiatry Track includes:  

  • A brief statement regarding your interest in the Global and Rural Psychiatry Track (300-500 words) 
  • Curriculum vitae  

Please email the requested materials and any questions to the contact below: 

Dr. Sarah Michael, MD 

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist 

Assistant Professor 

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 

Office: 915.215.4236 

saramich@ttuhsc.edu 

References 

Chamberlain, L. (2007, March 28). 2 Cities and 4 Bridges Where Commerce Flows. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/realestate/commercial/28juarez.html