It is increasingly more difficult to separate the science of the mind from the science of the body. Medical illnesses interwoven with psychiatric disorders require unique approaches. From the patient with chronic renal failure, dependent on dialysis and suffering from depression to the chronic schizophrenic patient with uncontrolled diabetes, the halls of medicine echo with the need for a specialty of collaboration.
The East Tennessee State University Combined Internal Medicine/Psychiatry residency provides a tailored, credentialed training experience allowing individuals the opportunity to develop skills in both disciplines. With the support of the dean of the James H. Quillen School of Medicine, Dr. Franks, a partnership between the internal medicine and psychiatry departments was forged in 2001. Our residency program will provide interested residents with the opportunity to develop the clinical skills to tackle complex medical issues.
With the inception of the Med/Psych program, our philosophy has been to train residents so that both disciplines can be integrated successfully. Dr. Hetal Brahmbhatt, director of the Med/Psych program, has fostered this philosophy. Our vision includes serving the region of East Tennessee and surrounding areas with comprehensive, individualized health care as we forge new territory in the advances of medical treatment.
Location
The Quillen College of Medicine is located in the foothills (elevation ~1500') of the Appalachian Mountains in Johnson City, Tennessee (pop. ~55,000, Tri-Cities Region ~400,000). The area enjoys four full seasons, replete with early spring, temperate summers, amazing fall colors and winters with significant snowfall. The campus of ETSU is within 10 miles of excellent trout fishing, canoeing, hiking, camping, swimming and a full range of outdoors activities. The area offers a rich mixture of Appalachian Culture (storytelling, pottery, writing, song, crafts) and contemporary American Culture (museums, symphony, ballet, auto-racing, college sports, and numerous fine dining and shopping establishments).
Future Plans
The Romans believed you could ensure good endings if you began an endeavor with prayers to Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of gates and doors. On this website he looks to the future of this Program
Within the next 5 Years we will have graduated our first few classes of residents, some of which will continue in the area as new faculty for the Program. There are plans for at least 2 Med/Psych units in the local area. As the Program and our experience grows, the future bright.
