Rural Psychiatry Residency

Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine Rural Psychiatry Residency

The Rural Psychiatry Residency Program is committed to training our residents to provide compassionate, high-quality care in rural and underserved areas, while improving the health of the communities we serve and addressing health care inequities through direct patient care, community outreach, education, leadership and scholarly inquiry.

Our Mission, Vision and Core Values

The Rural Psychiatry Residency Program is committed to providing an inclusive, safe and innovative learning environment in order to train the next generation of psychiatrists for excellence in clinical practice, scholarship and leadership and service to our communities. Our vision is to enhance the health of our communities by providing outstanding psychiatric care in the communities we serve, while addressing health care inequities through community outreach, the education of health care professionals and scholarly inquiry. We train our residents to provide compassionate, high-quality care in rural and underserved areas.

Our mission of guiding the training of the next generation of psychiatrists is supported by the following core pillars:

• Resident Education
• Patient Care and Advocacy for our communities
• Leadership and Scholarly Activity
• Well-Being

Best Medical Schools Serving Rural Areas

School of Medicine ranked No. 7 nationally for most graduates practicing in rural areas

Resident Experience

Psychiatry residents train for the majority of the first two years in Bridgeport, CT and Westport, CT. Bridgeport is one of the largest and most ethnically-diverse cities in Connecticut while Westport is a seaside town with old New England charm.

Residents complete the last two years of their training in northwest Connecticut caring for a rural, underserved and socioeconomically diverse population. The patients and the local community are warm and welcoming, and along with the hospital staff and faculty, are committed to educating the next generation of physicians.

Years 1 and 2

Residents spend most of their first two years at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT and St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health Services in Wesport, CT. These sites enable residents to see a diverse patient population from all over the state. Residents will also spend one block at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital to prepare for practice in rural settings.

Years 3 and 4

Residents complete the last two years of their training at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, a 122-bed community hospital in Torrington, CT. Other trainees at the hospital include residents of the new Quinnipiac Rural Family Medicine Residency Program, scheduled to welcome its first class to Torrington in July 2025.

Innovative and Resident-Centric Curriculum

The innovative curriculum within the Rural Psychiatry Program provides residents with a broad scope of educational experiences that prepares them to continue their training or excel in whatever practice environment they pursue. We offer excellent resources alongside a wide range of opportunities for individualized learning and training. 

Our program features a half day each week of dedicated time for didactic learning from psychiatry faculty and community providers. Didactics include various seminars and workshops, tutorials, hands-on learning, simulation sessions and resident activities including journal club, professionalism, wellness and scholarship.

Residents have multiple experiences in inpatient and outpatient settings, psychotherapy training, community engagement, as well as multiple elective and supervisory opportunities to prepare for independent practice.

Training is designed to build a strong foundation for rural psychiatric practice and leadership. Forensic psychiatry and community psychiatry experiences are embedded in various rotations throughout training, as are scholarship opportunities, quality improvement projects and safety initiatives.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We commit to building a culture of health and racial equity, fair treatment, access, opportunity and advancement for all. We value the uniqueness of each person and embrace diverse backgrounds, opinions and experiences. We make space for intellectual, racial, social and cultural diversity and treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are dedicated to ensuring our communities, patients and colleagues across our care system feel accepted and valued, thus establishing a sense of belonging within our program and healthcare sites.