Psychiatric Residency
The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy's Mental Health Program provides a one-year, post-doctoral residency in psychiatric pharmacy practice. This residency combines clinical and administrative components to provide the resident with the necessary skills to pursue leadership roles in the field and to use critical thinking in applied problem-solving. Upon successful completion of this program, the resident will have expert skills and competencies in psychiatric pharmacy practice.
The Mental Health Program was established in 1983 as a cooperative effort of the Mental Hygiene Administration (MHA), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, State of Maryland and School of Pharmacy. The primary objectives are the improvement of pharmacy services in the state mental health facilities and the education of pharmacy students in mental health. The Mental Health Program has been instrumental in aiding facilities in adhering to state and federal regulations and standards, and in the development of the School of Pharmacy's curriculum in mental health.
Goals
The Psychiatric Pharmacy residency program has the following comprehensive resident goals:
- Provide pharmaceutical care to patients with psychiatric illness.
- Serve as a productive member of an interdisciplinary team.
- Develop teaching skills.
- Develop management and leadership abilities.
- Provide drug information and medication use education.
- Promote life-long learning through self-assessment and self-development.
Clinical Services
The Mental Health Program places the University of Maryland faculty and staff at four MHA and an ICF-MR facility in the state of Maryland. These include Spring Grove Hospital, the Carter Center, Springfield Hospital Center, and the Rosewood Center. In addition, the Program operates the State of Maryland Clozapine Authorization and Monitoring Program and coordinates the Statewide Mental Health Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. The program has affiliations with the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents; the Perry Point Veterans' Administration Medical Center; Maryland Psychiatric Research Center and the University of Maryland Medical Center. These sites are utilized for required and elective rotations for the resident. Duties include, but are not limited to interdisciplinary team participation, drug regimen review, involuntary movement screening, and consultation.
Rotations
Multiple sites are employed in the Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice residency to expose the resident to a variety of mental health settings and experiences. The University of Maryland Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice program utilizes various State of Maryland facilities to fulfill the educational and experiential components of the residency.
Required rotations: Inpatient Acute Psychiatry, Developmental Disabilities and Neurology, Substance Abuse and Ambulatory Care.
Elective Rotations: Forensic Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Geriatrics, Substance Abuse, Administration, Psychiatric Consult Liaison, and Research.
In addition to these unique experiences, the resident in Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice is expected to participate in Pharmacotherapy Rounds, the Residency Management Seminar series, teaching activities and Journal Club. For more information about these specific activities, please click here.
Program Director
Bethany DiPaula, Pharm.D., BCPP
Assistant Professor and Director of Pharmacy
Springfield Hospital Center
6655 Main Street
Pharmacy Department
Sykesville, MD 21784
Phone: 410.970.7135
bdipaula@rx.umaryland.edu