Psychiatry Residency at UMass Chan-Baystate

We train empathic and effective psychiatrists.
Outdoor smiling group of 2024 Psychiatry residents and faculty

Clinically Stimulating, Rigorous Curriculum, Supportive Environment

Become an effective and empathic psychiatrist with individual mentoring from our expert faculty. During our 4-year residency you’ll have guidance and support as you develop the clinical skills, knowledge base and professionalism needed to excel as a psychiatrist. When you’re done, you’ll join our graduates who have gone on to pursue independent practice, clinical groups, or fellowship training.

Learn From Expert Faculty

Our faculty have appointments at the UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate and are experienced clinician educators recognized for excellence in education by the APA, Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, and Tufts University School of Medicine.

  • We have many years of experience in medical student, graduate, and post-graduate medical education.

  • Many faculty are nationally recognized experts in the fields of Geriatric Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry, and Psychosomatic Medicine, and medical education.

Psychiatry Residency Faculty

Meet Our Faculty

Why Pursue Your Training at Baystate?

Our graduates are accomplished psychiatrists who are now:

  • Staff psychiatrists

  • Medical directors

  • Child and adolescent psychiatrists

  • Fellows spread across the country

We believe strongly that learning occurs best in a setting of mutual respect and consideration for each other as colleagues. Balance of professional growth with other aspects of your life is essential. This holistic balance equips you with the tools needed to succeed in the field.

Come for the Training, Stay for the View

With the amenities of a big city and the ambiance of a small town, Springfield is a beautiful slice of New England, with affordable communities, excellent quality of life, and abundant recreational and cultural amenities. Whether you’re into history, art and culture, outdoor pursuits, or natural beauty, you’ll never run out of things to do.  

The Psychiatry Residency at UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate is ACGME-accredited

Questions? We're Glad to Help!

Email Our Program Administrator

Program-at-a-Glance

Meet Our Team

Sonia Riyaz, MD
Residency Program Director
Sonia.Riyaz@baystatehealth.org

Deepika Sundararaj, MD
Associate Residency Program Director
Deepika.Sundararaj@baystatehealth.org

Debra Bibeau, C-TAGME
Program Administrator
413-794-2535
Debra.Bibeau@baystatehealth.org

Learn More About our Faculty and Staff

Benefits & Facilities

  • We have attempted to maintain salaries in the 75th percentile nationally, and here in western Massachusetts, we enjoy a lower cost of living than in major urban areas. View our complete list of salaries and benefits.

  • 4 weeks vacation/year, meal subsidy, free parking

  • Disability/Malpractice/Health/Life Insurance

  • Electronic Medical Record

By the Numbers

Program & Department Metrics

  • Length of program: 4 years
  • Number of residents/class: 4 | Total number of residents: 16
  • Number of Faculty: 28
  • Faculty sub-specialties include: Psychosomatic Medicine, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine

Baystate Metrics

  • Number of hospital beds: 780
  • Number of residencies: 11
  • Number of fellowships: 28+
Curriculum

Our curriculum progressively guides you in developing the clinical skills, knowledge base, and professionalism essential to becoming a well-rounded, empathic, and effective psychiatrist. You’re are encouraged to identify individual interests throughout training, and devote half-time effort to approved electives in PGY-4.

  • PGY1: Internal Medicine (3), Emergency Medicine (1), Neurology (2), Substance Abuse (1), Inpatient Psychiatry (3), Emergency Psychiatry (1), Geriatric Psychiatry (1)

  • PGY2: Inpatient Psychiatry (6 months), Consultation Psychiatry (3 months), Child PHP(3 months 3/4 time) and Outpatient Psychiatry (3 months, 1/4 time)

  • PGY3: Outpatient Psychiatry (12 months, 80% Adult; 20% Child), Forensic Psychiatry (1 day/week for 1 month)

  • PGY4: Outpatient Psychiatry (12 months—half-time), Elective: Chief Residencies, Consultation Psychiatry, Combat-related PTSD, Women's Mental Health, Administrative Psych, Student Mental Health, Crisis Intervention, Research (12 months—half-time)

Electives

Residents may develop an elective experience in other areas in collaboration with a mentor and the residency program director.

Note: Each year includes 4 weeks of vacation.

Conferences and Rounds

Our weekly, bi-monthly, monthly and ad-hoc gatherings support you every step of the way through your residency.

Weekly 
Resident Psychiatry Case Conference (PG1, PG2)

Bi-Monthly 
Residents Journal Club (All residents)
Process Group (PG1, PG2, PG3)

Monthly 
Psychopharmacology Seminar (All residents)
Adult Outpatient Conferences (PG3, PG4)
Child Psychiatry Conferences (PG3, PG4-optional)
Scholarly Project/Research Seminar (All residents)
Residency Training Administrative Meeting (All residents)
Departmental Journal Club (All residents)
Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds (All residents)
Schwartz Center Rounds (All residents)

Ad Hoc 
Inpatient Psychiatry Case Conference (All residents)

Learn More About our Conferences & Rounds

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Western Mass: A Great Place to Live and Learn

With the amenities of a big city and the ambiance of a small town, Springfield is a beautiful slice of New England, providing affordable communities, excellent quality of life, and abundant recreational and cultural amenities. Whether you’re into history, art and culture, outdoor pursuits, or natural beauty, you’ll never run out of things to do.

Learn About Living Here

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