Ayotunde Ayobello — 1st year New Haven Fellow

Hello there!

My name is Ayotunde and I am excited that you are considering Yale for your Child and Adolescent training! It is truly a special place I am sure can help you achieve your unique goals and career aspirations. First, a little bit about myself! I came to Yale as a "fast tracker" after completing the first 3 years of my adult psychiatry residency training at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Prior to that, I spent 6 years in sub-zero weather, completing medical school in Russia and Ukraine! One of the things that initially attracted me to Yale was the world class reputation of the Yale Child Study Center. What got me hooked however, was the people! You would be hard pressed to find another program with genuinely sincere and supportive faculty and staff who are all so enthusiastic about your learning, growth and well-being. As you consider if Yale would be a good fit for you, I am happy to give you a glimpse into a day in the life of a 1st year fellow on the New Haven track.

My typical day usually begins around 8 a.m when I stroll out of my apartment and make the 10 minute walk to the Yale New Haven Hospital campus. Yes, New Haven is a very pedestrian/bike-friendly city and living downtown has given me the opportunity incorporate some activity into my daily schedule. (also give my car a deserved break!) I arrive at "Winnie 1", our Child and Adolescent Inpatient Unit, around 8:15am, a decent amount of time before our daily table rounds at 9 am. I spend these extra minutes sipping on some coffee, reviewing progress notes on my patients and catching up on events from the previous night. Table rounds begin at 9 am and run for about an hour, during which we discuss any new admissions to the unit, treatment plans, behavioral concerns and other staff observations. Rounds are truly interdisciplinary with excellent input from experienced nursing staff, clinical psychologists, therapists and educators. After rounds finish at 10am, I typically start seeing my kids, deciding to either have my interviews in our spacious sun room or head out to our charming playground where I can engage the kids in a game of basketball or football. I find interacting with children on the playground invaluable as I get an up-close view of their social interactions, temperament and behaviors.

I typically finish up all my interviews before 12pm and then quickly step out of the unit to grab some lunch before our mid-day didactics. One of my favorite parts of being on the New Haven campus is the diverse array of food carts just a stone's throw away from the unit! There is a plethora of options, ranging from Thai to Mediterranean to Ethiopian, and It is entirely possible to enjoy food from a different continent every single day of the week. Plus it's super affordable too!! After I grab some lunch, I head back to the unit and settle in for our 1pm didactic session, usually led by one of our exceptional faculty. We have engaging and interactive sessions on topics ranging from ADHD Psychopharmacology to "Graphic Novels and Psychiatry". These are truly unique and incredibly rich lectures from leaders in their various fields. After finishing didactics, I head back to the fellows room where I start working on my notes, making phone calls and discussing/sharing ideas with my co-fellows. If you love to teach, this is also a great time to engage medical students and other learners rotating on Child Psychiatry.

My days usually end around 5pm when I begin my walk back home, very frequently taking a detour to explore a new art gallery, street festival or whatever New Haven has in store for me that day. My days are rich and full and I get home knowing that I have the privilege to do it all over again the next day.