Thank you for your interest in the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population requiring health care professionals with specialized training. In Central Texas, we have seen sustained rapid growth in the pre-senior and senior adult population. The 2019 census estimates for Austin indicated that almost 9% of our population is 65 and older, and if we include our surrounding counties, that percentage is even larger. Geriatric psychiatry offers the opportunity to work with and contribute to the health and welfare of older adults while offering exciting opportunities for advocacy and professional growth.
Our program provides robust opportunities for academic and professional growth through a structured, comprehensive clinical curriculum. Additionally, innovative and enhanced clinical exposure is offered through rotations in hospice and palliative medicine, electroconvulsive therapy, consult-liaison psychiatry, inpatient geriatric psychiatry and long-term care. Strong didactics and interdisciplinary case conferences along with extensive teaching opportunities for fellows further augments clinical training, all within a professionally nurturing and supportive learning environment. As a result, our fellows are optimally prepared for successful careers in academics, private practice, or public-sector geriatric psychiatry.
Our diverse faculty members are leaders in research, education and clinical care. We encourage residents of diverse backgrounds and experiences to consider training in Central Texas. We believe that you will find our program exciting, challenging and professionally fulfilling. Thank you for your interest in the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship program. I invite you to learn about our program curriculum on our webpage. We look forward to hearing from you!
Erica C. Garcia-Pittman, M.D., FAPA
Program Director