Welcome from our Program Director

With a need never so great
Interest in the field never so high
Jobs never so secure, and
Our impact on patient’s life never so lasting,
This might just be the best time ever to train in psychiatry,
And for that congratulations on making the right choice at the right time.

As I reflect on over two decades in psychiatry, I’m continually amazed by the field’s transformation and the immense need for dedicated professionals like you. I’m delighted you’re considering a career in psychiatry—a field where your impact can be profound. Here in Arkansas, the need for psychiatrists is greater than the national average, a reality made even more clear by the COVID-19 pandemic. While telehealth is helping, there’s still so much more to do, especially for our rural communities.

At the Baptist Health-UAMS Psychiatry Program, we’ve come a long way. We are no longer a new program; we have a lot to show for our efforts. Our graduates have successfully secured spots in competitive fellowships, and others are providing exceptional care across the country. Our residents are truly amazing—they’ve excelled in scholarly activities, including winning the prestigious ACGME Back to Bedside grant under the mentorship of Dr. Holly Agud, our Associate Program Director. Our faculty have taken leadership roles in regional and national platforms to advocate for mental health.

We are deeply committed to ensuring our residents develop all the skills they need to become well-rounded psychiatrists who contribute to the community. Our individualized approach to training, with a strong focus on wellness and experiential learning in patient safety and quality improvement, ensures you get the highest level of exposure to every facet of psychiatry.

Our mission is to train well-rounded psychiatrists who are committed to patient care and skilled at collaborating with other mental health professionals in integrated behavioral health settings. We offer a comprehensive training experience with diverse clinical rotations and a robust didactic series. You’ll receive hands-on training in a full suite of interventional psychiatry treatments, including ECT, TMS, and Spravato. Our newly added rotations in Collaborative Care and Telehealth, group psychotherapy supervision, and inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry have further strengthened our curriculum. I have a personal commitment to training residents to be active consumers of evidence- based practice. To support this, we ensure protected time for didactics on Thursday afternoons. We have also launched a unique curriculum focused on “milestone papers”—a curated list of the top 50 papers every psychiatry resident should read. It’s truly an exciting time to train here.

Our residents also benefit from a well-developed wellness program, which includes structured mindfulness activities and a vibrant house system that helps everyone connect with faculty outside of work. Whether scaling Pinnacle Mountain, tackling escape rooms, or enjoying the local culinary scene, our residents find the right balance between work and quality of life.

Like me, you’ll discover that Arkansas is a well-kept secret. We have paid particular attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce, as we believe our physician body should reflect the patient population we serve. We also train our residents to tailor treatment options based on the social determinants of health in our patient population.

We are so pleased you are considering the Baptist Health-UAMS Psychiatry Program for your training. We look forward to reviewing your application through ERAS.

 

Prasad R. Padala, M.D., M.S., FACHE

Program Director, Baptist Health-UAMS Psychiatry Residency
Professor of Psychiatry and Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)

 

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