Program Overview

BrainHealth USA Van Nuys is proud to announce that we have officially begun the application process for ACGME accreditation of a new four-year Psychiatry Residency Training Program. While BrainHealth USA does not yet have a residency cohort in place, we are actively laying the groundwork to ensure that when our residents arrive, they will step into an environment built to serve historically neglected populations.

Vision

This proposed innovative program is designed to take four residents in its first cohort and train psychiatrists who are deeply committed to health equity, community engagement, and culturally sensitive care. We plan to cultivate the next generation of psychiatrists who understand the systemic, social, and economic factors that shape mental health outcomes. We envision producing graduates who will lead the effort to bring compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care to communities that have traditionally struggled to access these resources.

Planned Curriculum and Training Structure

The proposed four-year Psychiatry Residency Program will encompass comprehensive training in Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry amongst others.

Research

Every resident will be paired with a faculty mentor and guided to complete a research project, ensuring that scientific inquiry and evidence-based practice inform their clinical approach.

Serving Underserved Communities

A central pillar of our proposed program is to prepare residents to meet the needs of underserved communities with compassion and cultural competence. Along with Pacifica Hospital of the Valley where residents will complete rotations in Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry, we plan to also leverage multiple of Brainhealth’s own training sites, each offering distinct patient populations:

• Van Nuys: The program’s central training hub and where residents will work in a community based setting to provide high quality psychiatric care.
• Downtown Los Angeles: Rotations focused on care for homeless and vulnerable populations, allowing residents to address complex social determinants of mental health.
• Brainheath– DMH Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) Partnership: Intensive training in emergency and crisis psychiatry with the Brainhealth’s MCOT in association with the Department of Mental Health, equipping residents to manage acute psychiatric presentations and effectively collaborate with community stakeholders.
• Gardena: A community-centered environment where trainees can develop culturally attuned approaches to mental health.

Faculty and Mentorship

As we build our program, we have carefully selected faculty who embody our vision. Our teaching staff will be comprised of experienced psychiatrists dedicated to mentorship, didactic excellence, and ongoing professional development. They will model a holistic approach that sees patients not just as diagnoses, but as individuals influenced by a complex interplay of cultural, social, and economic factors.

Looking to the Future

Although the program is not yet accredited, BrainHealth USA is actively engaged in the accreditation process with the ACGME. Our leadership team has diligently assembled a strong curriculum, faculty roster, and infrastructure. We plan to provide patient-centered care, and train psychiatrists who can effectively serve communities that have historically been overlooked. BrainHealth USA’s proposed Psychiatry Residency Training Program is more than just a new educational offering, it is a driven initiative aimed at reshaping mental health care in Los Angeles. We aim to produce a generation of psychiatrists who will bring lasting, positive change to the lives of underserved individuals and families.

Join Us in Our Journey

We invite stakeholders across the mental health continuum to share our excitement as we build our residency program. By fostering clinical excellence, championing research, and supporting innovative care delivery, we plan to turn the vision of equitable, accessible mental health services into a reality for the communities that need it most. Together, we can transform mental health, one patient at a time.

Contact Information

 Learn more about our pursuit of ACGME accreditation and the development of the BrainHealth USA Van Nuys Psychiatry Residency Program. If you’re a prospective resident, or you’re interested in a faculty role and considering joining our team, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out by filling out the contact form below: