NYU Langone’s Department of Psychiatry offers a one-year Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship in which trainees assess and treat a highly diverse population of patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions.

As a fellow, you develop expertise in clinical, educational, and administrative addiction psychiatry, under the leadership of Anil A. Thomas, MD, program director. The fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Clinical rotations occur at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Manhattan campus. Year-long didactic training is also a key part of our program.

Clinical Training for Fellows at Bellevue

As a fellow, you rotate through several units and services at Bellevue.

Dual Diagnosis Training Unit

During this rotation on the dual diagnosis training unit, you lead a multidisciplinary team that provides psychiatric, substance abuse, and medical care to patients with co-occurring disorders, including psychotic, mood, anxiety, and personality disorders. Rotation on this service is full time and lasts two or three months.

Ancillary Withdrawal Service and Virtual Buprenorphine Clinic

The ancillary withdrawal service and virtual buprenorphine clinic rotation allows you to gain clinical expertise in managing withdrawal states, especially from opioids, alcohol, and sedative hypnotics. You engage and manage patients virtually. Rotation on this service lasts four weeks.

Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals Program

The Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals (CATCH) rotation allows you to work with consultation–liaison psychiatrists and other clinical staff who engage patients with substance use disorders admitted to the medical and surgical floors. Rotation on this service is four weeks.

Chemical Dependency Outpatient Program

During the chemical dependency outpatient program rotation, you learn about psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological management of patients with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. The program emphasizes treating homeless alcoholics and patients with opioid addiction. Rotation on this service is part time and lasts six months.

Opioid Treatment Program

During the opioid treatment program rotation, you learn about intensive integrated substance abuse, psychiatric, and medical therapies for opioid dependence. You also gain experience in outpatient management of opioid dependence and learn about the regulatory- and systems-based aspects of opioid maintenance programs. Rotation on this service is part time and lasts six months.

Clinical Training for Fellows at the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System

As a fellow, you rotate through several units and services at the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Manhattan campus.

Dual Diagnosis Inpatient Unit

During the dual diagnosis inpatient unit rotation, you learn how to manage patients withdrawing from alcohol, opioids, and sedative hypnotics while evaluating and treating co-occurring psychiatric conditions. You assess ongoing treatment needs and refer patients to care following discharge. Rotation on this service lasts four weeks.

Outpatient Substance Abuse Recovery Program

During the outpatient Substance Abuse Recovery Program (SARP) rotation, you learn about psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological management of patients with substance-related and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. You also facilitate or co-facilitate groups focusing on relapse prevention and cognitive behavioral interventions. This rotation is part time and lasts six months.

Opioid Replacement Therapy Program

On this rotation at the Opioid Replacement Therapy Program (ORTP), you prescribe medications for the outpatient management of opioid-dependent veterans and manage any co-occurring psychiatric disorders. You also learn about the regulation of opioid maintenance programs and their role in the overall continuum of care. This rotation is part time and lasts six months.

Fellowship Didactic Curriculum

Our didactic curriculum is organized around a series of weekly seminars that continue throughout the year. The topics cover all aspect of addiction psychiatry. Journal club occurs weekly and group supervision for outpatient management is also scheduled. Our faculty provide you with extensive instruction in clinical assessment and management of patients with addictive spectrum and co-occurring disorders. You also receive basic science training relevant to addictive illness in biochemistry, pharmacology, epidemiology, social theories, genetic models, and behavioral conditioning models. Scholarly activities abound and you undertake at least one scholarly project, researching a topic of interest and presenting your findings at a seminar at the end of the academic year.

Fellowship Eligibility Requirements

Our program accepts five fellows each academic year, and we welcome all interested individuals to apply. We are committed to fostering a community that reflects the diversity of those we serve, valuing diversity of thought, experience, and perspective.

We seek mature, motivated candidates who have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited general psychiatry residency program. Applicants are evaluated based on various factors, including writing ability, research experience, leadership potential, temperament, and career goals. Above all, we strive to build a well-rounded class of fellows who will thrive in and contribute to our dynamic academic and professional environment.

Fellowship Application Process

Starting July 2021, we will only accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service^® (ERAS^®), which requires the following materials:

• your CV
• a personal statement
• a letter from your current program director
• an official medical school transcript
• two letters of recommendation
• your photograph

International medical graduates who wish to apply to our fellowship must also submit the following documents:

• a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates^® (ECFMG^®) certificate
• proof of visa status or U.S. citizenship

J-1 sponsorship is available through the ECFMG^®.

Letters of Reference

We require at least three letters of reference from people who are familiar with the nature and quality of your work. One of these letters must be from the director of your general psychiatry residency program.

Interviews

Interviews are arranged by invitation only and take place from July through September. They generally take a full day if in-person interviews are implemented. Interviews are significantly shorter if they are virtual because of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) precautionary protocol. Interviews include meetings with the program director, faculty who supervise the various rotations, and current fellows.

Offers

Offers are made to candidates starting in late September (exact date to be determined). An official letter is issued upon acceptance of the offered position. The offer of employment is not final until the candidate is credentialed by NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Office of Graduate Medical Education. Read more about terms of employment and our graduate medical education policies and services.

Contact Us

For more information about the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship, please contact Dr. Thomas at anil.thomas@nyulangone.org.

For questions about the application process, please contact Nyron Peat at Nyron.Peat@nyulangone.org.

If you would like to request an alumni verification for our Psychiatry Residency and Fellowship Programs, contact us at psycheduverifications@nyulangone.org. Alumni verifications are typically processed 7 to 10 business days from receipt of payment. Please send a check or money order, payable to NYU Grossman School of Medicine, for the $100 alumni verification fee to the following address:

NYU Grossman School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry One Park Avenue Room 8-241 New York, NY 10016 Attn: Residency/Fellowship Verification