We have enjoyed hosting dozens of applicant interviews over the past several months. Even in a virtual format, we sense the excitement and interest in these future residents. Below are questions frequently asked during interviews.
What are the strengths and challenges of your residency program?
One of the most important strengths of the program is each faculty member’s sincere interest in teaching medical students and residents. Our faculty has garnered over 450 years of clinical experience to pass onto the next generation. Many of our faculty members have extensive experience teaching in academic and university settings and have garnered multiple teaching awards.
Our faculty members have practiced across multiple psychiatric settings including private practice, community-based, inpatient, outpatient, correctional, intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization, and volunteer outreach programs.
Mississippi State Hospital is the largest publicly funded psychiatric hospital within the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and has partnerships with multiple mental health organizations providing care to over 1,600 Mississippians annually.
Our campus is already a premiere training site for multiple disciplines. Residents will be part of a unique community of learners from various disciplines including psychology, nursing, social services, and recreation therapy.
Our hospital already functions efficiently with our current committed medical professionals. At our program, residents’ primary objective will be education. We do not rely on the resident workforce to cover clinical duties.
Due to Mississippi’s rural communities and shortage of primary care physicians, psychiatry residents will have strong training in primary care, pertinent to the health of psychiatric patients who may rely solely on his/her psychiatrist for care.
Resident leadership opportunities are plentiful in a new program. Our residents will provide substantial influence related to the shaping and steering of the educational and clinical experience for future residents. Residents will have a front-row seat to administrative psychiatry experiences and will hold positions on numerous hospital committees which influence policy and reform.
Despite being a new residency program, the Mississippi State Hospital was established in 1935 and has served individuals suffering with mental illness compassionately and effectively with evidenced based treatments since that time. We are confident that our hospital and community partnerships will provide residents with a unique and invaluable residency experience.
Describe the ideal resident for your program.
Ideal qualities for residents include: innovation, flexibility, resilience, leadership, empathy, and dedication. As we become the fertile crescent of psychiatric training in Mississippi, strong leadership, commitment, and enthusiasm will be valued.
As stigma continues to hover over mental health issues in our state with documented shortages of psychiatrists, our program aspires to train future board-certified psychiatrists who have a passion for treating the most vulnerable populations in rural communities across the state and southeastern United States.
Are there plans for a mentorship program for the residents?
Our program pairs each resident with a faculty member as part of our mentoring program. The mentor functions to ease the transition to residency by providing social and academic support. In addition, our program offers multiple didactic courses and seminars on financial advising, well-being, ethical dilemmas, board preparation, and transitioning to post-residency practice.
Will there be away rotations?
There are rotations during the PGY-1 and PGY-2 years which will take place at our affiliated locations. The PGY-3 outpatient experience will occur at affiliated locations. All affiliated locations are within a 30 minute commute from the hospital.
Do you have plans for fellowship programs?
The Mississippi State Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program anticipates future fellowship development opportunities.
What benefits will be offered through the program?
As a state employee, residents will enjoy the many benefits of government employment including a comprehensive benefits package. For reference, you may view the Salary and Benefits section by clicking here.
What is the call schedule?
Since education will be the primary focus for all PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents, there will be no call assigned on primary site psychiatric rotations. Call assignments may occur at affiliated sites, which will adhere to ACGME duty hours.
What psychotherapy experience is offered?
Our residency program offers a strong psychotherapy experience. Courses such as An Introduction to Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy are included in the core didactic series which parallel residents’ psychotherapy clinics. Residents will work closely with psychotherapy supervisors to attain excellence in a continuum of psychotherapy experiences.
What types of procedural experiences are offered?
Mississippi State Hospital houses the state’s most robust electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) service. Residents will receive the first introduction to ECT during the PGY-1 year and rotate through an ECT rotation during their final year of training preparing them for continuation of ECT privileges during their post-training career.
Are residents allowed to moonlight?
PGY-1 year residents are not allowed to moonlight. PGY-2, PGY-3, PGY-4 residents who are in good standing are allowed to moonlight with written permission from the Program Director. However, residents must adhere to the ACGME 80-hour per week duty-hour limit and be fully licensed by the State of Mississippi to practice medicine independently, with proof of independent malpractice coverage provided to the GME office. Residents are encouraged to read and be familiar with the program’s moonlighting policy.
Will there be team building activities?
The program hosts a full-day semi-annual retreat. Residents are excused from all clinical duties during this time. The retreat provides an opportunity for residents to meet in one location, get to know one another, and socialize in a non-clinical setting. Residents are encouraged to discuss their experiences over the year and offer suggestions for change. There are indoor and outdoor challenge courses to foster team-building skills and camaraderie. The program also schedules group wellness events to encourage residents and faculty to relax and connect with one another outside of the workplace. Events include potlucks, movie dinners, and holiday celebrations.
Does your program participate in the NRMP MATCH?
We do! Our NRMP Program Code is 2296400C0 and our ACGME Program ID is 4002700109.
Still have questions? Please reach out to us at (601) 351-8555 or GME@msh.ms.gov.