Yale Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program

Addiction Psychiatry Fellows rotate at various supervised clinical placements and gain experience treating a full range of co-occurring psychopathologies and substance use disorders in adults and adolescents.

The Apt Foundation

The APT Foundation, a private non-profit corporation founded by the Yale Department of Psychiatry in 1970, provides outpatient and residential services for individuals with substance use disorders. A cornerstone treatment facility in New Haven and beyond, the APT foundation is committed to an open access model offering de-stigmatized substance use treatment, primary healthcare, psychiatric services, an intensive outpatient program, adult education and vocational services to all persons seeking treatment including those living with HIV/AIDS. The Foundation is also home to a progressive, cutting-edge research unit with a portfolio of basic, clinical, epidemiological, and quality improvement research protocols related to understanding the socio-cultural, psychological and neurobiological underpinnings of addiction.

The Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC)

CMHC is a collaborative endeavor of the Yale University School of Medicine and the State of Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and is a major teaching and research center. Several clinics within the CMHC are dedicated to the treatment of patients with substance use disorders and include the Substance Abuse Treatment Unit (SATU) and the Forensic Drug Diversion Clinic (FoRDD). Both sites are known for nationally and internationally renowned clinical research with major studies and pilot projects. The aims of the research program are the development of effective service delivery programs and innovative treatments for substance use disorders.

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

VACHS is a Level IA VA facility (general VA hospital) and a major teaching site for Yale Medical School, providing a full range of medical, surgical and psychiatric services. VACHS Department of Psychiatry offers a full array of psychiatric treatment modalities, including specialized substance use treatment services, services for individuals with PTSD, serious mental illness, interventional psychiatry, and many psychosocial services including housing and vocational rehabilitation services. Specialty substance use treatment services include outpatient treatment, methadone and buprenorphine clinics for opioid use disorder, specialized services for patients with substance use and co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and ambulatory detoxification. The VA is a site for nationally and internationally renowned clinical research with NIH as well as VA funded studies and pilot projects. The aims of the research program are the development of innovative new treatments-both pharmacologic and behavioral treatments, effective service delivery programs, laboratory studies and health services studies.

Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH)

YNHH is the main teaching hospital for Yale Medical School and has a full range of medical, surgical and psychiatric services. Psychiatric services include inpatient, partial hospital, interventional psychiatry and consultative services. YNHH is also the home to a number of NIH and other funded research psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy research protocols.

Throughout fellowship, trainees from both the Yale Addiction Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine fellowships in addition to other interprofessional learners join together weekly for formal learning with a highly interactive and competency-driven curriculum. The fellowship curriculum is designed by incorporating multiple learning techniques including lectures, simulations, reflective practice, peer-based learning and feedback, experiential and problem-based team learning.

A massive open online course titled, Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers, was created to provide entry-level, foundational SUD education to incoming fellows. Throughout the year, our robust didactic curriculum includes over 170 classes taught by over 70 Yale faculty members. Additionally, workshop training in evidence-based therapies including Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUDs are held in the fall with ongoing clinical supervision offered by proficient therapists. Partnering with the Yale Simulation Center, fellows are able to practice core clinical skills and receive faculty debriefing through participation in several clinical simulations. Field trips offer exposure to community based clinical sites throughout the year. The so-called ‘Scavenger Hunt’ is a self-guided, team-based, exercise that allows fellows to progress through essential skills, experiences and competencies.

In addition to our core learning activities, fellows are encouraged to participate in the many available electives throughout Yale School of Medicine ranging from additional psychotherapy training to in-depth neuroscience and pharmacogenetics to advocacy and writing workshops.

Weekly Didactic Courses

At Yale, we believe a key leadership skill is the ability to effectively communicate information and to teach colleagues, health professional students and the public about SUD prevention and treatment. Throughout training, fellows learn teaching skills by observing faculty teach and by gradually assuming responsibility for teaching functions. Fellows also receive specific instruction and mentoring on presentation content and style. Each fellow presents a clinical case conference after which the group meets to provide constructive feedback using a model based on motivational interviewing.

We strongly encourage all fellows to learn from and participate in the academic life at Yale. Opportunities for scholarship include participation in ongoing research, designing and implementing quality improvement projects, developing presentations for local and national meetings, and publishing articles. It is expected, with faculty support and supervision, an academic project will be developed and completed during training. For those interested in continuing a research training we offer several funded research fellowships including a NIDA funded T32, two VA funded fellowships, Interprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Addiction Treatment and Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) fellowship.