Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program

The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia blends modern psychiatry with the richness of one of the first child and family community mental health centers in the nation. We offer a two-year, ACGME-approved Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program.

The mission of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program is to train competent, passionate child and adolescent psychiatrists who will serve as model clinicians, educators and advocates within the field of medicine and other disciplines. Our dynamic program will provide you with a thorough understanding of child and adolescent development, psychopathology, etiology and natural history, and medical and behavioral treatments.

Fellows participate in a wide range of clinical, research and didactic activities. Didactic seminars occurring during a protected day emphasize normal development, phenomenology, psychopathology, psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic interventions, consultation strategies, and research methodology. A wide range of theoretical perspectives and modalities are emphasized for the care of infants, preschool children, grade-school children, adolescents and their families.

Fellows will have the opportunity to work with children of all ages in a wide variety of treatment settings. Additionally, fellows will gain experience in research, quality improvement/patient safety processes and education to help them become a critical consumer of new information, at the very least, or a contributor, if so desired. 

• Anik Jhonsa, MD, Program Director CAP Fellowship
• Katrina Fletcher, MD, Program Director, Post Pediatric Portal Program
• Consuelo C. Cagande, MD, Fellowship Advisor
• Jamie Hom, MD, Assistant Training Director
• Stephanie M. Davidson, MD, Assistant Training Director

The first year includes several acute care rotations and some outpatient and research experience. Fellows will rotate through child and adolescent inpatient units at an area facility, a therapeutic preschool partial hospital program, and pediatric consultation and liaison psychiatry, pediatric neurology, developmental behavioral pediatrics and outpatient service at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

First year fellows will have an outpatient continuity clinic where they will follow two to four patients. The continuity clinic allows fellow the ability to care for patients and understand the unique roles a psychiatrist assumes in different settings.
 
Each Thursday is committed to didactic seminars and teaching conferences that cover basic and advanced academic topics at the core of child and adolescent psychiatric training for both fellow years.

Rotation schedule >>

First year rotations include:

• Two weeks of orientation
• Sixteen weeks of inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry
• Eight weeks of consult/liaison at CHOP
• Ten weeks of outpatient clinics, preschool clinic and research
• Eight weeks of pediatric neurology
• Ten weeks of developmental/behavioral pediatrics

Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Chioma Iheagwara, DO

Fellows provide patient care by gathering essential information about their patients, making informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, and developing and carrying out patient management plans. For more information, please visit the Belmont Behavioral Hospital website.

Consultation/liaison

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Aateqa Ismail, MD

The rotation with the Behavioral Health Integrated Program (BHIP) allows fellows the opportunity to practice pediatric psychosomatic medicine at the premier Children’s Hospital in the nation. Fellows work with attending physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, therapists and trainees at all levels, in all of the pediatric services at CHOP to address the mental health needs of patients who are admitted to CHOP for a medical illness. While on service, the fellow has the opportunity to demonstrate administrative and educational leadership, while learning the principles of psychosomatic medicine as a multidisciplinary specialty.

Community Mental Health Rotation

Young Scholars Daycare Center Head Start

Evelyn Ridgeway, PhD

In the first year, fellows will rotate through Early Head Start/Young Scholars Daycare Center. Settings for this rotation include Young Scholars Daycare Center/Families First Early Head Start infant and toddler classrooms, client’s homes, and the offices of the Early Head Start at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The focus of this program will be to provide fellows with experiences to facilitate deeper understanding of early child development in the context of family and community that can be assimilated into the provision of culturally competent care.

Young Child Clinic

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Stephanie Drabble, LCSW

First year fellows will learn how to evaluate children less than 5 years of age while considering the impact of development, temperament, parent-child interactions, attachment and experience on the child’s social, emotional and behavioral presentation. Fellows will develop an understanding of the preventative nature of early childhood evaluation and treatment.

Outpatient clinics

Continuity and Assessment Fellows Experience (CAFÉ)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Terri Randall, MD
Stephanie Davidson, MD
Jaclyn Chua, DO

In this clinic, fellows have the opportunity to enhance their skills assessing patients and families under the direct supervision of an attending psychiatrist. In addition, fellows will provide psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic care for patients and understand the unique roles of a psychiatrist in the outpatient setting. 

Research

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Rhonda C. Boyd, PhD

The purpose of this rotation is for fellows to explore research opportunities at CHOP and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. By the end of the rotation, fellows are expected to have identified a project and a research mentor who they will work with during  the second year of fellowship.

Neurology

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Alyssa Rosen, MD

Fellows will have an opportunity to learn to evaluate children and adolescents with psychiatric manifestations of pediatric neurologic conditions. The rotation occurs in the outpatient clinic and is supervised by the pediatric neurology faculty, who have expertise clinically and/or in basic and clinical neuroscience research.

Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Nathan J. Blum, MD
Mary Pipan, MD

Fellows will have the opportunity to see manifestations of behavioral difficulties that are evaluated in the context of temperament, attachment and normal development, as well as disorders that result from abnormal development. Broad exposure to the psychological evaluations of learning disabilities and developmental disabilities are incorporated into this rotation.

For more information, please visit the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship Program.

The second year includes an intensive outpatient experience, consultative work and electives along with time dedicated to outpatient treatment with children, adolescents and families. Case conferences and seminars continue to be an important training focus. 

Elective rotations include opportunities to participate in evaluations of speech and hearing, intellectual disabilities and pervasive developmental disorders, observations at early intervention centers and pediatric subspecialty rotations, forensic child and adolescent psychiatry and opportunities to act as evaluators and therapists in a behavioral treatment or college health center. Individual supervision is provided by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine faculty members and continues during the first and second years.

Rotation schedule >>

Outpatient clinics

Addiction Psychiatry

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Terri Randall, MD
Shazia Savul, MD

The addiction psychiatry rotation is designed to give fellows an opportunity to increase their knowledge of adolescent addiction and gain skills in the assessment and treatment of youth with substance use disorders. Adolescent with substance use disorders often have co-morbid disorders. Treatment guidelines emphasize the importance of treating both psychiatric and substance use issues concurrently which fellows will have the opportunity to do during this clinic.

Neurodevelopmental Clinic

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Raghuram Prasad, MD

Fellows will develop knowledge and experience in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of patients who present with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, Tourette’s, and genetic disorders with neurodevelopmental complications.

Psychopharmacology Clinic

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Amy Kim, MD
Jamie Hom, MD
Raghuram Prasad, MD

Psychopharmacology clinic provides fellows a longitudinal experience in treating children and adolescents who require psychotropic medications as part of their overall treatment plan with consultation and direct supervision from attending psychiatrists. In the didactic portion of the course, fellows learn about neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, advanced psychopharmacology, and informed consent. In addition, fellows learn an evidenced-based approach to selecting medications, monitoring treatment response and managing side effects.

Psychosis Clinic

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Jerome Taylor, MD

Fellows will assess psychotic symptoms and come up with a differential diagnosis, bio-psycho-social formulation, and appropriate treatment plan based on the comprehensive clinical presentation of the youth and his/her family.

Eating Disorders Clinic

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Laurel Weaver, MD, PhD

The Eating Disorders Clinic is a rotation where fellows, with direct attending supervision, will assess and treat patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Fellows will gain experience in working with systems and families to aid the recovery of their patients. Fellows will also start to understand the medical and psychiatric complexities of eating disorders and will work in conjunction with the Adolescent Medicine team at CHOP. Fellows will have the opportunity to follow their patients from their inpatient admissions to their recovery in outpatient treatment.

Consultative services

Forensics

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Avram Mack, MD
Aateqa Ismail, MD

This unique experience allows fellows to better understand the interface between psychiatry, the family court system and "at-risk" youth. Fellows directly observe court proceedings, complete forensic evaluations and interact with court-involved youth. For more information, please visit The Behavioral Health Forensic Evaluation Center

Schools

Fellows will learn about the role of the mental health consultant within the public school systems, including consultation to the staff and school, and psychiatric evaluations of children 

School-PA

For more information about this site, please visit the Juniata Park Academy website.
Ricardo Eiraldi, PhD

Community Health

Hall Mercer Community Mental Health Center
Jessy Sandoval-Barrett, MD

This rotation provides fellows with the opportunity to perform initial psychiatric evaluations and medication management visits at a community mental health clinic for children and adolescents. Please visit the Hall Mercer website for more information.

Psychotherapy training

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Amanda Riisen, PsyD

During this rotation, fellows have the opportunity to evaluate and provide treatment to children with a variety of anxiety disorders. Fellows receive live, direct clinical supervision, group supervision, and didactic teaching about cognitive behavioral therapy for children.

Family therapy

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Stacey Julye, PhD
Paul Robins, PhD

Psychoanalytic curriculum

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Christie Huddleston, MD

This part of the curriculum is composed of developmental seminars, child observations, live faculty clinical interviews, continuous case seminar, and supervision. The purpose is to emphasize psychoanalytic concepts helpful in diagnosis and dynamic psychotherapy.

Electives

Elective rotations include opportunities to participate in evaluations of speech and hearing, intellectual disabilities and pervasive developmental disorders, observations at early intervention centers and pediatric subspecialty rotations, forensic child and adolescent psychiatry and opportunities to act as evaluators and therapists in a behavioral treatment or college health center. Past electives have included: development of expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy for pediatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; participation in a day treatment of preschool children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders; outpatient evaluation and treatment of children with Neuropsychiatric Disorders; observational experiences working with children with speech/language and developmental disorders; evaluation and treatment of adolescents in a treatment facility; evaluation and treatment of college students in a university student health setting; evaluation and treatment of adolescents at an eating disorder facility.  

Educational seminars/didactics

All first and second year fellows attend didactics one day a week during protected time. Four modules are presented over two years: Infancy and early childhood, childhood, adolescence, and systems. Didactics also include:

• Department of  Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (DCAPBS) Grand Rounds
• Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds
• Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Psychiatry Grand Rounds
• Professor’s rounds
• Multidisciplinary case conference
• Interdisciplinary seminar
• Journal club
• Senior Seminar Series – Leadership Academy
• Psychotherapy Curriculum-Motivational Interviewing; Parent Child Interactional Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Parent Management Training

First year

Andrew Austin, MD
Psychiatry Residency: Cambridge Health Alliance Program
Education: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 

Lipi Gupta, MD
Psychiatry Residency: University of Pennsylvania Health System
Education: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Kevin Hoffman, MD, PhD
Psychiatry Residency: University of Pennsylvania Health System
Education: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Chase Ossenkop, MD
Psychiatry Residency: Albert Einstein Medical Center
Education: University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine

Saad Shamshair, MD
Psychiatry Residency: University of Michigan Health System
Education: University of Maryland School of Medicine

Julie Christensen, MD
Psychiatry Residency: Mayo Clinic
Education: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Rachel Getzenberg, MD
Psychiatry Residency: University of Louisville
Education: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Ashabari Pellechi, MD
Psychiatry Residency: Cooper Rowan University School of Medicine
Education: Tulane University School of Medicine

Rishabh Phukan, MD
Psychiatry Residency: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Education: University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine

Brittany Smith, MD
Psychiatry Residency: Thomas Jefferson University
Education: University of Virginia School of Medicine

First year post pediatric portals

Reshem Agarwal, MD
Pediatric Residency:Children’s National Medical Center
Education: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Alise Peckjian, MD
Pediatric Residency: Tower Health/St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Education: Drexel University College of Medicine

Second year post pediatric portals

Ajjya Acharya, MD
Pediatric Residency: University of California Davis Health
Education: University of Arizona College of Medicine

Olubukola Okafor, MBBS
Pediatric Residency: Vidant Medical Center/East Carolina University Program
Education: University of Ibadan College of Medicine

Third year post pediatric portal

Bruce Leewiwatanakul, DO
Pediatric Residency: Oregon Health and Science University
Education: A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

Kevin Nguyen, MD
Pediatric Residency: Valley Children’s Hospital
Education: UC Davis School of Medicine

How to apply to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program

The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program participates in the National Resident Match Program (NRMP).

In addition to registering with NRMP, please submit the following through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS):

• Fellowship Application
• Personal statement describing yourself and outlining your reasons for pursuing a career in child and adolescent psychiatry
• Three letters of recommendation, from physicians with whom you have worked, preferably during previous training experiences
• Individuals who wish to begin training after less than four years of general psychiatry training, should have the summary of training experience and performance form completed by the training director and returned separately.
• Copies of USMLE 1, 2, and 3 scores

For additional information, please contact the child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship program at PsychiatryTraining@chop.edu.

Other requirements

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. In keeping with this, CHOP has mandated all workforce members (including trainees) on site at any CHOP location for any portion of their time be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

This mandate also applies to workforce members or trainees performing work for CHOP at non-CHOP locations. Additionally, all workforce members based in or regularly scheduled to work at any New Jersey location are mandated to be both vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, with booster timing consistent with applicable guidelines. The CHOP COVID-19 vaccine mandate is in alignment with applicable local, state and federal mandates. CHOP also requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. CHOP is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor seeking priority referrals for protected veterans.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.