2022-2023 University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry Residency Program Criteria

Applications are considered for a PGY-1 match position through the NRMP and ERAS only, if the following minimum requirements are met:

1. USMLE Step 1/COMLEX Level 1 = passed by 3^rd attempt
2. USMLE Step 2 CK/COMLEX Level 2 CE = passed by 2^nd attempt
3. Must have taken and passed USMLE Step 1/COMLEX Level 1 in order to apply.  (Your score for USMLE Step 2 CK/COMLEX Level 2 CE must be available and posted in ERAS by February 1, 2022.)
4. Recommendation letters from at least 3 physicians in the U.S. who have worked with you recently.
5. Demonstrated interest in psychiatry through work in this or your native country.

Graduation date should be within 10 years (July 1, 2012)

* We sponsor the J-1 Exchange Visitor Medical Trainee Category visa only.
Please check to be sure that you completely understand the requirements for a J-1 visa before applying to our program.

** International Medical Graduates must obtain ECFMG certification by NRMP Match week (2^nd/3^rd week of March) and must have the actual ECFMG certificate in hand in order to complete the J-1 visa process.

US citizenship or permanent resident status preferred.

The application deadline is October 15, 2022.  Preference given to applications received by September 30, 2022.

Application Procedure

Welcome to the website of the University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences residency program. We hope you enjoy your virtual visit with us and find what YOU are looking for. The material on the site should help you understand what WE are looking for. We value intellectual curiosity in our residents. We seek residents with a strong interest in human behavior as it relates to psychiatry. We consider these attributes to be the building blocks for the development of future psychiatrists. 

Successful residents will have both the aptitude and the attitude to succeed in this specialty. The ability to understand and retain the ever-growing body of knowledge generated in psychiatry is an obvious pre-requisite. The attitude one brings to this study will greatly determine the quality of the experience. In acquiring a medical education, students have inevitably taken many “prerequisite” courses prior to choosing a specialty. Enthusiasm for seemingly unrelated and mandatory areas of study can vary. However, by the time one has arrived at their chosen field of study, the excitement and passion for the specialty should be palpable. Residency is not a time for complacency but is instead the opportunity to become fully immersed in one’s area of greatest professional interest. It is OK (desirable even) to be excited by the opportunity to learn and grow in one’s appreciation of the field. Our task is to create and maintain a residency environment that supports and nourishes this passion. 

Our program provides the medical field with physicians who can further the knowledge and understanding of human behavior and mental illness. We recognize that personal and professional growth is a key aspect of psychiatric education. Our program seeks a balance in the educational opportunities and approaches available to residents. We are fortunate to offer a wide variety of clinical settings with diverse patient populations. We have formal didactic sessions, journal clubs, grand rounds, case conferences, M&M’s, and a dedicated supervising faculty. Long before we all became telepsychiatrists, we were successful in recruiting residents wished to be among the “early adopters” and willing to embrace new technologies and techniques while holding firmly to what is known to be timelessly true. The latest fads and fashions in the field can be acknowledged while still retaining exposure to the hard won and time-tested effective concepts that are unchanging. However, science is not “settled” here. To the degree allowed, we still encourage questions and discussion. We help residents develop to the limits of their ability. Residents have different career interests and pursuits. We help our trainees recognize their potential in their areas of interest and achieve their goals. 

Residents are active members of our department and community. They serve on committees within the University and professional organizations.  In these roles they directly address the multiple issues facing the changing field of medical education. The Residency Association is a governing body for the group which meets regularly and serves as an avenue for communication and advocacy within the program.  It also oversees the selection of on-call assignments. Residents are heavily involved in the recruitment and selection of their new colleagues. They play a role in the development and review of curricula. Resident driven initiatives are common. From quality improvement activities to philanthropic projects, we embrace change and new ideas. 

The local environment is inevitably a major factor in any major life decision. Residency is no different. Louisville has been a city that has allowed many to flourish beyond the academic environment. It has offered natural beauty - our park system was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park in NYC and the Biltmore House grounds. Prior to the covid response, there were top quality cultural events (one of the nation's top regional theaters, a ballet and Broadway shows), college sporting events (and a minor league baseball team with a picturesque ballpark), professional soccer, world famous horse racing, museums, the zoo, great restaurants and fun neighborhoods. Louisville can be a wonderful place to call home.