Issues in General Residency Training Pertinent to Recruitment of Child Psychiatrists: Can We Identify the Problems?

TLDR: Systematic study of these issues may provide directions for fruitful interventions at the level of the general residency likely to increase recruitment into child and adolescent psychiatry.

Abstract: General psychiatry residency processes can influence the recruitment of child and adolescent psychiatry fellows at many levels through a variety of subtle events. General residencies differ in the extent to which they welcome and accommodate students with early interests in child and adolescent psychiatry, provide child and adolescent rotations during the general program that are likely to encourage rather than discourage additional interest in child and adolescent psychiatry, respect and enhance the professional status of child and adolescent psychiatry relative to general psychiatry, and facilitate or impede the transition from general residency to child and adolescent fellowships. Systematic study of these issues may provide directions for fruitful interventions at the level of the general residency likely to increase recruitment into child and adolescent psychiatry.