Child Psychiatry Residency Training Program
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Shayne Tomisato, M.D., Director
Phone: (480) 344-2026
Fax: (480) 344-0219
Daunese Suniga, Program Coordinator
We would like to introduce our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Program to you. We are a community-based program that is committed to education and the highest level of patient care. Our residents have access to a wide variety of exceptional and unique training experiences. Residents are trained in acute care and psychopharmacology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, one of the ten largest children’s hospitals in the country. Neurology rotations take place at Barrow Neurological Institute, an internationally recognized leader in neurological research and patient care. Rotations at Childhelp Children’s Center (an integrated investigation and treatment center for child maltreatment), Southwest Human Development (a non-profit agency specializing in treating children ages 0-5) and HuHuKam Memorial Hospital (a health care setting within the Gila River Indian Community) offer unique experiences with specialized populations.
While offering diverse training opportunities, we pride ourselves in providing residents with a warm, supportive, family-friendly environment where they are able to grow as psychiatrists. Our relatively small size (3 residents per year) allows us to be very responsive to resident needs and interests. Residents have routinely been able to create electives based on special interests.
Training is balanced, with an understanding that familial, social, spiritual and cultural factors all impact family presentation. Supervision and didactic time is extensive throughout both years of training. Seminars in psychopharmacology, child psychiatry and psychotherapy all occur on a year-round basis. All residents receive experience in research, producing a senior research project that is submitted for publication under the mentorship of Jacob Venter, M.D., who has recently returned from teaching at Harvard University.
Our child residents are a diverse and quite welcoming, collegial group. Their focus on excellent patient care and academics is illustrated by a 100% first-time Board-pass rate for graduates. We appreciate your interest in the program in which we are so invested. Please contact us for further information and visit to discover firsthand the desert beauty of Phoenix and the many benefits of training in child psychiatry at MIHS.
Download Common Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Application
Information
Program Overview
The MIHS Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Program is fully accredited by the ACGME. This two-year training program enrolled its first residents in July 2003. Currently, the program consists of 6 positions, 3 per training year.
The program offers comprehensive training in child and adolescent psychiatry with rotations in a variety of settings, providing a balanced clinical training experience. Rotations include inpatient, residential treatment, outpatient, and specialty clinics. During the residency, all call is from home and moonlighting opportunities are available. Supervision is emphasized and trainees receive a minimum of two hours of weekly ongoing individual supervision, in addition to rotation-specific supervision.
Year 1
This Chart illustrates time spent at each rotation during Year 1.
During the first year, emphasis is placed on mastering clinical care in the inpatient setting. Inpatient rotations include an acute inpatient unit at Phoenix Children's Hospital as well as two separate residential treatment centers (Devereux Arizona and The New Foundation). The outpatient experience begins in the first year as well, at the Desert Vista Behavioral Health Center. The aim is to provide a longer-term treatment experience with a variety of patients, exposing residents to the evolution of therapeutic progress in their patients.
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Year 2
This Chart illustrates time spent at each rotation during Year 2.
During the second year, residents master outpatient treatment in various settings. The outpatient experience started in the first year expands at the Desert Vista Behavioral Health Center during the second year. Residents also rotate through several offsite settings for a wide range of clinical experiences. Residents are trained and supervised in a number of different treatment modalities, including individual child psychotherapy (psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, supportive and play therapy), parent guidance, crisis intervention, and pharmacological treatments. Opportunities are also available for residents who are interested in providing family and group treatments. Outpatient clinical work exposes residents to working with children of all ages, backgrounds, and diagnoses in a range of settings.
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Didactics
The didactic curriculum is scheduled throughout the two years of training. First and second year residents attend classes together twice a week, for a total of 8 hours of didactics per week, including psychiatric grand rounds. Time to attend classes is protected. The curriculum is designed to ensure a comprehensive training experience, exposure to the major theories of child development and psychiatry, and integration of different models of care in an evidence-based fashion.
Residents are evaluated according to the Core Competencies as described by the ACGME. Mid-point and endpoint evaluations ensure opportunities for feedback and enable residents to address any areas that may benefit from increased attention. Feedback, acquired anonymously from residents, is used to improve the quality of teaching in the program.
Requirements for graduation include satisfactory completion of rotations, didactics, observations, a literature review, and an original research project of the resident's choice.
Child & Adolescent Development - This series covers child development from conception to early adulthood. Topics include physical development, CNS development, cognitive development, and gender differences. Classic papers are presented. Theories of personality, social, and intrapsychic development are discussed. Common childhood problems are addressed (fears, sleep, divorce, death, siblings, peers, eating problems). This course is held weekly over a 6-month period each year.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - This seminar covers the range of childhood psychiatric disorders as well as contextual presentations of child patients (i.e., family problems, school problems). Skills in evaluating children and adolescents at different developmental stages are taught, with an emphasis on learning board-style presentation skills. Assessment and treatment planning, as well as legal issues and ethics, are discussed. This seminar is held weekly over two years.
Psychopharmacology - This seminar teaches residents psychopharmacologic management of symptoms of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders using case-based, evidence-based, and problem-solving approaches. This seminar is held weekly over two years.
Psychotherapy Conference - Initially, a review of different types of treatment and psychotherapy techniques is conducted. Related reading is assigned, including presentations on different methods of psychotherapy. Readings and video presentations are supplemented with discussion of specific cases. Utilization of resident web-cam recordings of therapy sessions helps residents to refine therapy skills. Models discussed in conference include psychodynamic, play therapy, cognitive-behavioral, family therapy, parent guidance, supportive therapy, group therapy, interpersonal and behavioral approaches. This seminar is held weekly over two years and led by an attending psychiatrist and clinical psychologist.
Clinical Case Conference - During each clinical case conference, one case is reviewed with a focus on diagnoses, formulation, data gathering and therapeutic recommendations. Residents and staff present, with resident and faculty discussion. Legal and ethical issues are discussed when pertinent to the case. Psychological testing and school observations may also be reviewed. Conferences generally occur weekly.
Reading Seminar (Journal Club) - Current articles in child and adolescent psychiatry are assigned. Residents present on varied topics with discussion by residents and faculty. Critical evaluation of papers, studies, and research are covered. Evidence-based practice is emphasized. This seminar occurs monthly.
MIHS Psychiatry Grand Rounds - Weekly grand rounds presentations include research presentations, presentations of topics by selected experts, clinical case material, certification trainings, and faculty/resident presentations. Residents present their literature reviews in this setting during Year 1 and present their research results during Year 2. Residents are expected to attend presentations on child topics. Adult topics are optional.
The following mini-courses are also presented in a 2-year rotation:
- Administrative Psychiatry
- Career Development
- Child Neuropsychiatry and Neurodevelopment
- Child Psychiatry and the Law
- Consult-liaison Psychiatry
- Cross-cultural Child Psychiatry
- Ethics in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Models of Care
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Teaching
Residents, particularly in Year 2, are given many opportunities to develop their teaching skills. Second year residents teach identified classes in child development and child psychiatry to their fellow adult residents. There are also opportunities to teach other staff during consult-liaison months. Chief resident responsibilities alternate between Year 2 residents,encouraging growth in administrative and teaching skills. Past residents have also completed teaching electives.
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Research
Helping all residents to become comfortable with the process of research is a high priority within the residency. To facilitate this development, all residents are given dedicated research time in both Year 1 and Year 2. Residents are mentored in this process by Jacob Venter, M.D., who has recently returned from teaching at Harvard University. Residents present their literature reviews at MIHS Psychiatry Grand Rounds during Year 1 and present their research results at this same venue during Year 2. Senior research projects need to be submitted for publication or presentation and several residents have had posters accepted by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry yearly meeting.
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Affiliated Institutions
Maricopa Medical Center and 
Desert Vista Behavioral Health Center - Maricopa Medical Center has two campuses. The Desert Vista campus, located at 570 West Brown Road in Mesa, Arizona, is the home site of the MIHS Child Psychiatry Residency. Seminars and primary supervision are provided in this suburban location. Residents are provided with large individual offices (which have a web cam available for taping therapy sessions) and a library at this location. A rich educational experience is offered in the continuity clinic here. Residents see cases with a variety of diagnoses, ages, cultures, and socioeconomic status and provide treatment with a range of modalities. It is in this location that most experience with longer-term therapy is obtained. Residents also accompany faculty in their MedPro Faculty Clinic, allowing residents to experience a busy outpatient setting with a primary focus on psychopharmacology. At the main campus of Maricopa Medical Center, residents receive emergency experience in a medical setting during the MMC Emergency and Consultation Rotation. Residents also rotate at the main campus for their MMC Outpatient Pediatric Consult-liaison rotation.
Phoenix Children's Hospital - Phoenix Children's Hospital is one of the ten largest children’s hospitals in the country. As a free-standing entity it provides comprehensive medical and psychiatric services to children representative of the diverse populations living in Maricopa County. Residents gain experience in the provision of acute inpatient care to children with serious mental illness under the supervision of Eric Benjamin, M.D. Residents also gain experience in pediatric inpatient consultation under the supervision of Randall Ricardi, D.O. In addition to interactions with psychiatric supervisors, nurses, and behavioral health staff, residents have the opportunity to interact with social workers, family therapists, psychologists, special education teachers, and recreational therapists in this setting. Residents attend daily staffings and educational conferences. Faculty members are involved in research, and PCH is available for a research elective.
Devereux Arizona - Devereux is a residential treatment center where residents provide care to children and adolescents with severe mental illness. Devereux also has an on-site school for special needs children, which is attended by students from Devereux and from the community. During their inpatient rotation, residents are supervised by the medical director, Robert Shuch, D.O. Residents provide individual psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy treatment to patients as well as participating in team treatment planning, family therapy, group therapy, behavioral therapy, and other interventions. Residents have the unique opportunity of participating in adolescent dialectic behavioral therapy. In addition, residents are trained in the responsibilities of the medical director through modeling and supervision with administrative experiences
The New Foundation - The New Foundation is a residential treatment center, therapeutic group home, and outpatient site providing organized and comprehensive services to adolescents with substance abuse, psychosocial problems, and psychiatric diagnoses. Residents are accompanied by supervisors Sheila Wong, M.D., Medical Director, and Erum Ali, M.D. Residents gain experience in an environment that specializes in treating dually diagnosed adolescents through a variety of treatment modalities and interventions (including psychotherapy, family therapy, case management, and group therapy). Residents have the opportunity to co-lead substance abuse treatment groups and experience case-based teaching by substance abuse clinicians.
St. Joseph's Hospital / Medical Center
Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) - Residents gain experience in pediatric neurology under the supervision of highly qualified scholarly faculty at the renowned Barrow Neurological Institute. Residents rotate through an inpatient child neurology unit and child neurology outpatient clinics where they participate in teaching rounds and case discussions with faculty and with adult and child neurology residents.
Children's Rehabilitative Services (CRS) - CRS is part of a statewide program which provides comprehensive rehabilitative services to children and their families. The Phoenix clinic is located on the campus of St. Joseph’s Hospital. The child psychiatry resident works with Dr. Bob Klaehn, the consulting child psychiatrist, and the staff psychologists in providing care to children with developmental, neuropsychiatric, and chronic medical illnesses including mental retardation, pervasive developmental disorders, seizure disorders, neurofibromatosis, cerebral palsy, static encephalopathy, asthma, osteogenesis imperfecta, sickle cell anemia, and diabetes, among others.
Childhelp Children's Center - The Child Maltreatment Rotation is a unique experience in working with a multi-agency child maltreatment team. Pediatricians, social workers, police, and Child Protective Services all participate at the Childhelp Assessment Center. This teaching and observing rotation educates residents about abuse, neglect, domestic violence, forensic interviewing, and court testimony. Residents do not carry independent cases or provide direct treatment. On a given day, residents may observe a forensic interview by a criminologist and physical examinations by pediatricians to evaluate abuse, be involved with medical chart reviews for possible abuse and neglect, participate in formal case conferences and informal case discussions, or observe court testimony.
Southwest Human Development Good FIT (Families, Infants, and Toddlers) Center - The mission of Southwest Human Development is to serve very young children and their families and assist in their development. Residents evaluate and treat toddlers and preschool-age children under the supervision of and accompanied by Erum Ali, M.D. Residents gain experience in the specialized assessment and diagnosis of young children, including the use of the Diagnostic Classification 0-3, developed by the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. Specific family and child treatment modalities effective in this population are observed. Residents are involved in psychiatric and developmental evaluations, outpatient treatment, observation and consultation in preschools, collaboration with infant mental health professionals, and exposure to home-based mental health services.
Maricopa County Correctional Health Services / Durango Juvenile Detention Center – At the Durango Juvenile Detention Center residents have the opportunity to experience treatment delivery in a juvenile correctional setting. They are accompanied by Robert Shuch, D.O. Residents gain experience in working with sociopathy and co-morbid psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents. Residents learn to identify and consider legal issues relevant to child and adolescent psychiatry. In addition to involvement in psychiatric evaluations and treatment, residents may participate in multidisciplinary case conferences/meetings, court/forensic consultations, and collaboration with mental health, medical, and correctional professionals. Treatment approaches include psychosocial, behavioral, and psychopharmacologic strategies.
Osborn School District: SCOPES - The SCOPES program in the Osborn School District provides consultation to schools and treatment to children and families. The program is research-based and grant-funded. Residents are supervised by Jacob Venter, M.D. Residents have the unique experience of providing treatment in collaboration with teachers in the school setting itself. The provision of services in the school environment increases access to mental health services for children and families. Residents receive a unique experience and perspective on optimizing mental health care for today's children. Evaluations are comprehensive and involve family interviews and observation of family dynamics. Residents participate in and provide psychiatric evaluations, consultations with school and staff, parent feedback and family interventions, social skills training with children, and parent training.
Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital - Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital is located within the Gila River Indian Community. Residents are supervised by Lisa Cobourn, M.D., who accompanies them at Hu Hu Kam. Residents gain experience in school and systems consult-liaison by providing consultation to schools and hospital/clinic staff. Residents have the unique opportunity to work with Head Start and the local schools in this Indian Community setting, and gain cultural knowledge and understanding. The Native American Community Outpatient elective also trains residents to provide culturally sensitive and effective care to children and families. Residents have the opportunity to work with a traditional Native American healer in this setting.
The following outside elective rotations are also available:
- Arizona Department of Health Services / Division of Behavioral Health Services - Administrative Child Psychiatry Elective
- Department of Developmental Disabilities - Administrative Child Psychiatry Elective
- Society of St. Vincent De Paul - Outpatient Clinic Elective
(Any currently required rotation site can be used for an elective as an extension of same rotation activities or modified/expanded activity.)
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Physician and Psychologist Faculty
Shayne Tomisato, M.D.
Director of Child Fellowship
ABPN Certified in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry
Child Psychiatrist - Fellowship at University of North Carolina
Psychiatric Residency: Duke University
Interests: treatment of anxiety and depression, psychotherapy and parent-child relationships
Lisa Cobourn, M.D.
Associate Director of Child Fellowship
ABPN Certified in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry
Child Psychiatrist - Fellowship at University of Michigan
Psychiatric Residency: University of Michigan
Interests: ethics, cross-cultural psychiatry, psychotherapy, and
treatment of anxiety disorders
Jacob Venter, M.D.
Associate Director of Child Fellowship
Research Director of Child Psychiatry
ABPN Certified in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry
Child Psychiatrist - Fellowship at Harvard Medical School
Psychiatric Residency: Maricopa Medical Center
Interests: psychopharmacology and treatment of pervasive developmental disorders, metabolic/genetic disorders and
head injuries
Jennifer Weller, Ph.D.
Associate Research Director of Child
Arizona State University - Clinical Psychology
Internship - University of New Mexico Children's Psychiatric Hospital
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Medical Professional Associates of Arizona Interests: psychological testing and treatment of internalizing disorders
Erum Ali, M.D.
ABPN Certified in Psychiatry
Child Psychiatrist - Fellowship at Maricopa Medical Center
Psychiatric Residency: Maricopa Medical Center
Interests: parent-child relationships and treatment of externalizing disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, and regulatory disorders in young children
Anne Marie Cardinal, MSW
Arizona State University
Interests: research, particularly in the area of school intervention programs and cultural issues
Mary Cost, Psy.D.
Argosy University / Arizona School of Professional Psychology
Internship - Medical Professional Associates of Arizona
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Medical Professional Associates of Arizona
Interests: parent and family work and treatment of pervasive developmental disorders
Evan Duffy, M.D.
ABPN Certified in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry
Child Psychiatrist - Fellowship at Maricopa Medical Center
Psychiatric Residency: Maricopa Medical Center
Interests: working with underserved populations
Robert Klaehn, M.D.
ABPN Certified in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry
Child Psychiatrist - Fellowship at University of Wisconsin
Psychiatric Residency: University of Wisconsin
Interests: systems of care and treatment of young children and individuals with developmental disabilities
Joanna Kowalik, M.D.
ABPN Certified in Psychiatry
Child Psychiatrist - Fellowship at Maricopa Medical Center
Psychiatric Residency: Maricopa Medical Center
Interests: research and treatment of bipolar disorder, PTSD, and ADHD
Robert Shuch, D.O.
ABPN Certified in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry
Child Psychiatrist - Fellowship at University of New Mexico
Psychiatric Residency: Maricopa Medical Center
Interests: psychopharmacology and forensic psychiatry, working with adolescents in residential treatment
Sheila Wong, M.D.
ABPN Certified in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry
Child Psychiatrist - Fellowship at Maricopa Medical Center
Psychiatric Residency: Maricopa Medical Center
Interests: psychopharmacology and treatment of ADHD, mood and anxiety disorders
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Fellows
Eugene Ikhimiukor, M.D.
Second Year Fellow
Medical School – University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Psychiatric Residency: Maricopa Medical Center
“I enjoy soccer, table tennis and cooking and look forward to an outpatient practice treating both adults and children.”
Shabnam Woerner, D.O.
Second Year Fellow
Medical School - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Psychiatric Residency: Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
"I enjoy working with both children and adults and plan to move to the Northwest after completing residency."
Christina Gesmundo, M.D.
First Year Fellow
Medical School – University of the East, Philippines
Psychiatric Residency: Maricopa Medical Center
“I enjoy camping, tennis and soccer and hope to work with both children and adults in an outpatient setting.”
Mary Maymana, M.D.
First Year Fellow
Medical School – University of Arizona College of Medicine
Psychiatric Residency: Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
“In the future I would like to provide psychiatric services to underserved children and families in Arizona.”
Wendy Watson, M.D., MPH
First Year Fellow
Medical School – University of Arizona College of Medicine
Psychiatric Residency: Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
“I enjoy hiking, singing, traveling and snorkeling/scuba diving. I hope to work with underserved families in the public health arena.”
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To Apply for Position
Applications are accepted as early as 12 months prior to the onset of training. Residents may start their Child Psychiatry Training after completing their third year of an ACGME-accredited General Psychiatry Residency. Residents later in their careers are also accepted. Residents must be eligible for a full Arizona license. The program participates in the National Resident Matching Program.
Resident benefits and contracts are described here.
Download Common Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Application and mail to:
Daunese Suniga
Program Coordinator
570 W. Brown Rd.
Mesa, AZ 85201
Or e-mail to: daunese_suniga@medprodoctors.com .
Links to Helpful Sites
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Last updated on
May 19, 2009
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