Psychiatry Residency at Henry Ford Questions and Answers

Why come to Detroit?

Detroit is thriving, growing and changing. It continues to be home to one of the most diverse urban populations in the US. This results in an incredible learning opportunity for trainees. Lastly, but just as important, Detroit is an incredibly affordable place to live. This means that residents can live comfortably even while in training.

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Why choose Henry Ford?

Detroit is an amazing place to train. Learning to practice psychiatry at Henry Ford exposes one to a diverse patient population in variety of clinical settings. We are a creative, collaborative learning community. Teaching and close clinical supervision are emphasized early in training. Later autonomy allows for individual practice styles to emerge. This balance results in total preparedness for transition to a variety of practice types.

Some highlights include:

• Collaborative learning environment
• Diverse patient population 
• Recreational and cultural opportunities as well as being minutes from popular suburban areas
• Strong and close supervision
• Home call and night float system
• Wellness curriculum
• Strong didactics that focus on a patient-centered learning model
• Voluntary paid shift opportunities
• Yearly resident retreat
• No 24-hour psychiatry on-call
• Many residents transition into practice at Henry Ford

Do residents find the staff to be friendly, helpful, and available?

Yes. We have a core group of teaching faculty who integrate clinical supervision and didactic teaching into their daily work. In addition, we have a larger group of faculty members who interact with residents less frequently and are dedicated to teaching.

Does the program allow me to tailor to my specific interests?

Yes. The program works to foster personal interests within the scope of ACGME requirements.

Do the residents socialize after work-hours?

Yes. Residents socialize after work hours both formally and informally. Formal educational activities include book, journal and research clubs. We hold regular Film Clubs, where staff and residents watch movies and discuss them from a psychological perspective. Staff will join with residents, but the environment remains informal and relaxed for all who attend. The most relaxed social activities happen spontaneously, where residents gather for potlucks, dinners or sports outings. Our work environment stresses collaboration over competition and this fosters friendships which last through residency and beyond.

Is there protected time for didactics?

Yes. There are protected hours every week.

Do residents use an electronic medical record (EMR) system?

Yes. Henry Ford Health has transitioned to a unified electronic medical record system called Epic. It is estimated that by 2020 about 2/3 of all patients receiving care in the USA will have an Epic EMR. It is generally considered to be the gold standard of EMRs, with electronic prescribing and hospital orders built in. Currently, all of Henry Ford Health is using Epic.