Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship
The Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (PLFSOM), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, is a one-year ACGME-accredited program designed to provide comprehensive clinical, educational, and academic training in geriatric psychiatry. The program accepts two fellows each year and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of clinical and academic leaders in the care of older adults with mental health and neurocognitive disorders. Applications are now open.
Program Highlights
Comprehensive Clinical Training
Fellows develop expertise in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of late-life psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders while caring for older adults across a broad spectrum of clinical settings. The program emphasizes evidence-based, patient-centered care and prepares fellows to manage the complex medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial needs of aging populations.
Collaborative Training Partners
The fellowship is offered through strong partnerships with leading healthcare organizations, including:
- El Paso Veterans Affairs Health Care System at Fort Bliss
- Bienvivir All-inclusive Senior Healthcare (BASH), a nationally recognized Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
- University Medical Center (UMC) of El Paso
- Texas Tech Physicians outpatient clinics
Diverse Clinical Experiences
Fellows gain hands-on experience in a variety of care settings, including:
- Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit at University Medical Center
- Outpatient geriatric psychiatry clinics
- Consultation-liaison psychiatry
- In-home patient care
- Community-based services
- Long-term care facilities
- Veterans' healthcare settings
Curriculum and Learning Opportunities
Core Areas of Study
The curriculum provides comprehensive training in:
- Biological and psychosocial aspects of aging
- Adaptive and maladaptive responses to aging
- Late-life psychopathology
- Psychiatric aspects of medical and neurocognitive disorders
- Evidence-based psychopharmacology
- Psychosocial and community-based interventions
- Sociocultural, ethnic, legal, and ethical issues in geriatric psychiatry
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Fellows work alongside an experienced multidisciplinary team that includes:
- Geriatric medicine faculty
- Family medicine physicians
- Neuroradiology specialists
- Behavioral geriatric neuropsychiatrists
- Nurse practitioners
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Other allied health professionals
This collaborative approach fosters comprehensive, team-based care for older adults.
Structured Didactics
Educational activities include:
- Comprehensive didactic seminars
- Geriatric medicine and geriatric psychiatry journal clubs
- Case conferences
- Grand rounds
Leadership, Teaching, and Professional Development
Under the supervision of board-certified faculty, fellows develop leadership skills by serving as team leaders across multiple clinical settings. They also teach and supervise medical students, psychiatry residents, and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals while providing continuity of care throughout the fellowship.
The program places a strong emphasis on developing clinician-educators with specialized interests in geriatric neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences.
Research and Scholarly Opportunities
Fellows have access to a broad range of clinical and research electives related to aging. Working closely with dedicated faculty mentors, fellows complete scholarly or research projects that support academic and professional development.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Examination for Added Qualification in Geriatric Psychiatry upon successful completion of the fellowship.
Why Train With Us?
Located in El Paso, Texas—one of the largest and most vibrant U.S.–Mexico border communities—the fellowship offers a unique opportunity to care for a culturally diverse and underserved population while developing advanced clinical expertise and cultural competence.
In addition to exceptional clinical training, fellows benefit from:
- A supportive, collaborative academic environment
- Competitive salary and benefits
- Affordable cost of living with no state income tax
- More than 300 days of sunshine annually
- Opportunities for long-term academic and professional growth in an expanding medical community