Community Psychiatry Residency Program Rotation
Please note that we will begin to consider international applicants in the future after we successfully launch.
Rotation Name: Healthy Rural California Psychiatry Rotation
Contact information: info@healthyruralca.org
Length of Rotation & When the Rotation is Offered
Rotation length is 2-4 weeks and offered from March 2023 – indefinitely.
How to Apply
To apply and see our available electives, please select Healthy Rural California from the Institution drop-down menu on VSLO: https://vslo.aamc.org/vslo/index.html#/public/find-electives
We will be accepting US IMG beginning July 1 2024 for our first cohort of psychiatry residents.
We are looking to accommodate J1-Visas beginning July 2025 onward.
Healthy Rural Cailfornia is accepting Year 4 medical student rotations who are interested in our new Psychiatry and Family Medicine Residency programs at this time. Students must apply through VSLO.
We are beginning to work with clinical partners to start Medical Student Year 3 rotations. Year 3 clinical rotations required by medical schools around the country are a heavy lift for Healthy Rural California and our clinical partners. We hope to have rotations available later in 2024, and more definitively for the ’25-’26 academic year.
Rotation Description
Students will get experience working in the inpatient and outpatient setting with rural psychiatry patients. They will also gain experience with addictions. This rotation will introduce students to the clinical area of underserved patients in a limited-resource environment.
Required Pre-requisites
No prerequisites.
Course Learning Objectives:
a) Understanding the unique challenges of practicing psychiatry in rural settings
b) Understanding the patient demographics and issues in rural areas, including addictions and poor access to care
c) Becoming comfortable with interviewing and presenting patients in a rural inpatient setting
d) Getting experience providing care to continuity patients in the outpatient setting
Process for reviewing student interest in rotations:
a) A few experienced faculty/ admissions committee members serve as screeners and will work together to determine that the student meets the criteria for the rotation. An informal interview with the student will be conducted by the Program Director/Associate Program Director.
Process for offering feedback:
a) The site director will meet with the students before and at the end of the rotation to receive narrative feedback. Preceptors working with the student for more than three days will complete clinical performance rating/checklist with narrative assessment. The final grade will be determined by the course directors after collective review of clinical evaluations, and a final written evaluation including formative and summative feedback will be provided to the student.
Housing & Additional Information
AirBnb available above program office, potential for rooming with community members. Chico is a magnet to individuals seeking an environment where you can live and work while enjoying unparalleled access to outdoor recreation and the social spirit of an involved community. It is also the home to Bidwell Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world.
Sample Schedule (Subject to Change Based on Availability)
Priorities: Works within the state hospital continuum of care utilizing a professional, multi-disciplinary team to assess, treat, stabilize and/or restore those that are at risk for higher levels of 24- hour care. A “clients first” organization specializing in providing community-based individualized mental health and restoration services to adults with mental illness.
Sutter Yuba Behavioral Health: Provides services to individuals and families who are experiencing serious or ongoing mental health and/or substance use disorders in Yuba and Sutter Counties.
Northern Valley Harm Reduction Coalition: Northern Valley Harm Reduction Coalition (NVHRC) began as a community led effort committed to reducing harm and providing evidence-based education, advocacy, and direct services to all community members within Butte and the surrounding counties.
Shalom Free Clinic: A small independent clinic, run by volunteers – has no affiliation with any religion, or any other organization. They serve people in the community who don’t have health insurance, structured by “walk in” appointments.
Priorities Inc: Priorities specializes in providing community-based, individualized mental health and restoration services to adults with mental illness. Priorities works within the state hospital continuum of care utilizing a professional, multi-disciplinary team to assess, treat, stabilize and/or restore those that are at risk for higher levels of 24-hour care. Priorities is dedicated to promoting self-esteem, dignity, and hope for each of the clients it serves.
Willow Glen Care Center: Willow Glen Care Center provides transitional, short term and
long-term levels of residential care, and serves multiple levels of behavioral health
programming for adults and the elderly mentally ill.
Paradise Life Resources: A resource center for adult counseling, children, family
counseling, and couples looking for professional emotional and psychological support.
To plan your travel to Chico, the closest airport is Sacramento International Airport (SMF). Chico is located about 1.5 hours drive north of the Sacramento airport. For reference, the SF airport is a 3 hour drive from Chico. Locations to stay overnight in Chico include the Odelia Suites on AirBnB, which are directly about Healthy Rural California’s offices in Meriam Park of Chico.
Healthy Rural California Community Psychiatry Resident Program – First Medical Student Rotation 
Natalie DeBell
MD Candidate, Class of 2024
UC Davis School of Medicine Rural PRIME
