Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship

The Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Training Program at Paul L Foster School of Medicine (PLFSOM) at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to train two fellows each year in this subspecialty of psychiatry. We are now accepting applications to its one-year hands-on clinical, educational, and academic program. Our fellowship program’s mission is to train the next generation of clinical and academic leaders in the field of geriatric psychiatry. We have two positions available each year.

The program was built in collaboration with El Paso Veterans Affairs Health Care System at Fort Bliss, Bienvivir All-inclusive Senior Healthcare (BASH), a pioneer and national model for Programs of All-inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE), the University Medical Center (UMC) of El Paso, and the Texas Tech Physicians outpatient clinics. Our program provides in-depth opportunities to care for older adults in diverse clinical sites, including inpatient general hospital settings in the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) unit at UMC, outpatient, consultation-liaison, in-home, community-based, and long-term care settings that enable the trainees to acquire the expertise needed to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide range of late-life mental and neurocognitive disorders. The fellows also gain comprehensive knowledge in the adaptive and maladaptive responses to the biological and psychosocial changes associated with aging, psychopathology beginning in and continuing into late-life, psychiatric aspects of medical and neurocognitive disorders, evidence-based pharmacotherapy, psychosocial- and community-based interventions in treating late-life mental and neurocognitive disorders, and the sociocultural, ethnic, legal and ethical issues pertinent to geriatric psychiatric disorders and their treatment in a vibrant and multicultural city in the West of Texas.

The fellows will work closely with the geriatric medicine, family medicine, and neuroradiology faculty and trainees, behavioral geriatric neuropsychiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, and other professional members in various multidisciplinary settings. The fellows also will be required to attend comprehensive didactic seminars, geriatric medicine and geriatric psychiatry journal clubs, case conferences, and grand rounds to enrich their learning process.

The fellows, under the supervision of faculty that are Board Certified in their respective subspecialties of expertise and will have unique opportunities to function as team leaders in different settings, and teach and supervise medical students, residents, and other members of the multidisciplinary team. The fellows also will have ample exposure in providing continuum of care across different clinical environment and developing skills as clinician educators with emphasis in geriatric neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences in their continuity clinics at the rotating sites. The fellows will have access to a broad base of clinical and research elective activities relevant to aging, and the opportunity to work with dedicated mentors in completing scholarly or research projects. Upon successful completion of the program, fellows will be eligible to take the ABPN’s Examination for Added Qualification in Geriatric Psychiatry.

 

Interested applicants should send a current curriculum vitae and cover letter describing their interest and career goals in geriatric psychiatry by email to fellowship director Dr.Ricardo Salazar, M.D. at ricardo.salazar@ttuhsc.edu. Additional requirements include three letters of recommendation (with one from the general psychiatry program director that includes a training summary), the original transcript of Steps 1, 2, and 3 scores, a medical school transcript, a copy of a medical school diploma, an ECFMG certificate (for international medical graduates), and visa status information (for international citizens).Texas Tech University System is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community and strongly encourages applications from women and minorities. J-1 visa applicants are welcome.

Highlights of the community and position include:

  • Top 10 Best Places to Live for Quality of Life, US News and World Report, 2016;
  • One of the Best Overall Places to Live, US News and World Report, 2017;
  • #1 safest city in America with population over 500.000;
  • Multicultural environment with rich history, food, arts and entertainment;
  • No local or state income tax, low housing costs, great schools, and high desert climate with scenic mountain landscape;
  • Average of 300 sunny days per year;
  • Competitive salary and benefits package;
  • Most important of all, dynamic and collegial colleagues eager to collaborate.

Program Coordinator
Celia Ayers
Department of Psychiatry
5001 El Paso Drive
El Paso, Texas 79905
Phone: 915-215-4404
Fax: 915-215-8657
ceayers@ttuhsc.edu

 

Jacob Israel, M.D.

Founder Fellow Award

Jacob Israel, M.D.

Dr. Jacob Israel was the pioneer and first graduate of the department’s Geriatric Fellowship program. He was born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. He educated pre-professional and professionally up to medical training in his hometown. He practiced for almost 10 years in the field of Family Medicine, has spent a couple of years teaching at the Maximum House of Studies. He moved to the USA and started as a scribe in a Family Medicine practice, and later matched to the Texas Tech Psychiatry Program. He considers himself lucky to be blessed with both a 20-year marriage and an uncommonly wise and intelligent daughter. He will continue his commitment to the geriatric psychiatry fellowship program practicing community geriatric mental health and be part of the community faculty in our department.