Few professional decisions pose a bigger challenge than choosing the right residency program. It is a matter of finding compatibility with a residency program that is most attuned to your natural talents, your professional aspirations, and, equally important, your personal circumstances. As you review this program and contemplate your choice, I hope you will be excited by the potential that a career in psychiatry offers. Furthermore, I hope that you will be excited and impressed by the strength, opportunities, and balance of our residency program in the areas of education, clinical experience, and research excellence.
It is indeed a great time to pursue a career in psychiatry. According to the World Health Organization, four out of the ten leading causes of disability worldwide are mental disorders. Moreover, mental illness often goes undetected and untreated. Our department is committed to enhancing the scientific understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders, both through its internationally renowned research and through collaborations with other institutions nationally. Residents in our program are exposed to this innovative atmosphere during their training and have the opportunity to participate in shaping the future of psychiatry themselves through their own clinical work and research contributions.
We place great emphasis on the manner and the atmosphere in which our educational mission is carried out. Our department prides itself on providing a program where academic rigor and excellence coexist with a collegial and supportive learning environment. We consider this a notable strength of our program. Our program is large enough to provide a diverse, multidisciplinary faculty that teaches a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to psychiatry, yet is small enough that close and rewarding learning relationships are readily established, even with the most senior faculty. We provide a program that enables our graduates to understand and utilize the fund of neuroscientific knowledge available to our field. At the same time, the important psychosocial aspects of care and psychotherapy competency also are emphasized. Of equal import, the institution is enthusiastic about our department and the increasingly vital role that it plays at the medical center. We certainly are pleased by that enthusiasm and that enthusiasm is backed up by the accomplishments of our faculty members and trainees.
We also are very proud that our department and associated residency programs have a culture that is friendly and supportive. We enjoy good working relationships, frequent social gatherings, and the pursuit of personal development alongside professional accomplishment. The size of our department, the Midwestern culture with the informal lifestyle of Iowa City, and the people who comprise the University of Iowa's Department of Psychiatry all contribute to making our residency a friendly and fun place to work and play.
We wish you every success in your quest for the right program for you. We are confident that as you consider our program, you will find educational excellence, academic expertise, and friendship among colleagues. We are delighted that you are considering our program and we will be very pleased to provide you with any information to assist you in your choice.
Catherine L. Woodman, MD
Associate Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine
Director, Residency Training, Department of Psychiatry
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Catherine L. Woodman, MD
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