Residency Program

Psychiatry Residency Program

Welcome to the University of Southern California (USC) Psychiatry Residency Training Program! We hope that in the pages to follow, you will sense our enthusiasm and passion for training the next generation of psychiatrists.

**Bo Fu, MD**
Residency Program Director

The University of Southern California Psychiatry Residency Training Program aims to train psychiatrists from diverse backgrounds who are expert in providing culturally-competent, evidence-based, comprehensive care to patients from across the social, economic, and cultural spectrum who are dealing with complex, comorbid conditions (psychiatric, substance use, medical, legal). While the program aims to imbue all residents with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to care for psychiatrically complex patients, it also provides those who are interested with training to become administrative leaders, clinician educators, and clinician scientists. Graduates will thus be able to advance mental health care by providing direct patient care in psychiatric settings, consultation-liaison services (inpatient, integrated outpatient, and telepsychiatry), and physician leadership in academic centers, healthcare organizations, and policy and advocacy

Application Process

Since its inception in 1943, the USC Psychiatry Residency Training Program has had exceptional strength in public sector and community psychiatry. Over the years, our department has greatly expanded clinical, teaching, and research opportunities for our residents.

The training program is primarily based at two state of the art medical centers: the Los Angeles General Medical Center and the private Keck Hospital of USC. These clinical facilities and associated sites provide unparalleled exposure to a rich and diverse clinical population. Our highly dedicated faculty take great pride in their roles as educators and mentors. Most importantly, our residents are dedicated learners, clinicians, teachers, and scholars, who are critically involved in all aspects of our program. They are our greatest ambassadors!

We look forward to sharing our program with you at this important and exciting time in your career.

Applicants to the USC Psychiatry Residency Program must apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). All internship positions will be offered through the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and only accept intern applicants through the NRMP Match.

Requirements for application include:

Common application

Personal statement

Medical school transcript

MSPE/Dean’s letter

Letters of recommendation (minimum of 3)

Photograph

United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) transcript

Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) status report (foreign graduates only)

NRMP Program Number: 1033400CO
Contact Program Coordinator,
Penny Pourat:  psychres@usc.edu.

Salary

Residents are employees of the County of Los Angeles. Resident salaries are determined in negotiations between their legal bargaining unit, the Council of Interns and Residents (CIR), and the LAC Department of Health Services.

For residents starting October 1, 2022:

PGY1	$67,821.15
PGY2	$69,611.02
PGY3	$73,227.72
PGY4	$78,910.92

Subsequent raises each October 1 of current contract as below:

	Oct 1, 2023	Starting Oct 1, 2024
PGY1	$70,025.34	$72,301.16
PGY2	$71,873.37	$74,209.26
PGY3	$75,607.62	$78,064.87
PGY4	$81,475.52	$84,123.48

Benefits

Housing	$10,000 annual housing allowance
Bonus	$2,000 for interns progressing to second residency year
Educational Stipend	$1,180 per year. Additional $500 yearly for conference costs, $150 yearly for poster printing, and free biostatistician consultation
Meals	$28 per day at Los Angeles General Medical Center, $21 per day at Keck Hospital of USC; meals are reimbursed during off-campus rotations at $27 per day
Parking	Provided at no cost at Los Angeles General Medical Center and Keck Hospital
White coats/scrubs	Provided
Vacation	Up to 24 days paid vacation each year
Sick Leave	Up to 8 days per year
Professional liability insurance	Provided (Los Angeles County self-insures)
Moonlighting	Allowed starting PGY3 year for residents in good standing
Maternity/Paternity leave	Available
Medical/dental benefits	Choice of several offered plans; family coverage available at additional cost
Life insurance	$2,000 term policy is provided; additional insurance may be purchased

Advocacy

We also recognize that health justice and medical systems exist in larger contexts outside of the hospital or academia. Residents and faculty are active in local, national, and global projects to promote equitable psychiatric care and healthcare reforms. Furthermore, our program aims to establish sustainable and equitable partnerships with community organizations.

Residents are actively engaged in advocacy through:

Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR): Advancing better health care for our patients and community using our collective bargaining power as a national housestaff union
Southern California Psychiatric Society (SCPS): Advocating locally and at a state level for legislative changes to support improvements in mental health care
Los Angeles General Medical Center Healthcare Administrators Scholars Program (HASP): Enhancing knowledge of healthcare administration with experts in public policy, business and engineering, and Los Angeles community leaders
American Psychiatric Association Fellowships: Expanding professional networks to work with leaders in organized psychiatry