"There were so many reasons why the Rural and Public Mental Health Track first sparked my interest and kept that spark burning. From the track’s willingness to put a spotlight on underserved populations to their support of my growth as a physician (especially regarding my focus in LGBTQIA+ health), there’s been a place for me in this track. I’ve had the chance to see the important, lesser-known face of community psychiatric care and to see how providers strive for excellent care and address the imperfections that come with any system or structure. I feel like our program is supportive but also gives you the opportunity to create your own sites and learning opportunity, which I’m grateful to Dr. Duong for facilitating. I also love meeting new RPMH residents every year and seeing what they add to the program. There is such a diversity in what drives somebody to rural and/or public mental health, and I’m excited to see how we can continue to grow our track!"

"My interest in the rural psychiatry track stemmed from my experiences as a medical student working in colonias along the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. There, I witnessed the challenges of working with an impoverished population, reduced rates of health insurance, stigmatization of mental health conditions, and lack of access to referral resources. However, I also realized that the reward of providing reliable and compassionate mental health care to some of the most underresourced individuals in my state far outweighed the challenges and obstacles. Thus, I felt the Rural and Public Mental Health Track at UTSW would provide me the best residency training to serve such rural communities while also learning about public mental health policy, advocacy, and telepsychiatry." Read more about Dr. Narapureddy's resident life.

 

"Serving populations disproportionately impacted by mental illness is most important to me. The Rural and Public Mental Health Track at UT Southwestern is empowering me with the knowledge to not only address the medical concerns of my patients but also tackle and strategize against the significant economic barriers to mental health care. I have witnessed these disparities firsthand; my family lives in a rural town with only one general practitioner within a 60-mile radius and no access to psychiatric care. Their experience led me to pursue an M.B.A. in healthcare management and pursue the RPMH Track. Through this track and all of its rotations, I will learn various approaches to understanding and combating the problems associated with the 'business side of medicine.' I believe the RPMH Track will best prepare me to follow my passions and serve resource-poor communities."

"The Rural and Public Mental Health Track was my top choice because of the focus on the last mile of care. I grew up in a small Texas town, and I empathize when patients have to drive hours to get specialty care. Residents are able to work in many different clinics and sites that provide care to patients in communities outside of the large cities. I believe the RPMH Track also provides an educational experience for residents that will prepare them to work in clinical settings no matter where in the country."

"Caring for the underserved has always been a priority for me, which is what drew me to the UTSW Rural and Public Mental Health Track. Much focus is placed on mental health care delivery in urban areas where the needs are great, but often at the expense of furthering disparities in rural areas and with the most vulnerable, who often depend on state mental health care services. This track provides rich opportunities to interface with public mental health systems at state and county levels and deliver quality care in innovative and creative ways to address these disparities. I believe this training will prove invaluable in shaping me into a compassionate physician with knowledge of the latest telepsychiatry, mental health policy, and business advancements to best meet my patient's needs throughout my career, whether they are in an urban or rural context."

"I chose to pursue the RPMH track because of the opportunity to train at diverse clinical sites and to gain experience working with patients that are severely underserved. So far, I have had the chance to work with patients that are facing unique circumstances that I would not have otherwise seen in Dallas. I was fortunate enough to have completed my medical school rotations with my school’s rural medicine program, and I am grateful that I can continue that training, now with a psychiatric focus, here at UTSW. It is rare to see a psychiatry residency have an established path to prepare future psychiatrists to work in rural and/or community mental health. I feel as though the RPMH track has allowed me to foster my interest in public health and serving those most in need."

"During my time as a medical student, I was able to appreciate the role that health care disparities (especially those in mental health) play in poor health outcomes in the US. Addressing disparities and the social determinants of health has long been an animating force for me. My work on projects addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, improving transportation access, and delivering global health care has taken me as far as Washington DC and given me a keen awareness of the multitude of ways that social factors can impact people's health. As a psychiatrist, I hope to bring this mindset to my practice to maximize the health of our community. I found the RPMH track to be great opportunity to learn how to do that, through its mentorship and networking opportunities and its diverse training settings embedded within underresourced populations."

"My interest in the rural and public mental health track stems from my experiences in undergrad working in rural health clinics and gap years as a health policy fellow in Washington DC. I witnessed the challenges of health care in underresourced settings, without an adequate clinician workforce, funding, or technology. I advocated for legislation like the National Health Service Corps that can ameliorate shortages and learned about leveraging technology to provide more access to care. I chose the RPMH track to gain experience providing mental health care and then take these learnings to advocate for my patients, whether it’s through direct clinical care, on community health boards, or at a national level. I look forward to my training that will ultimately prepare me to serve communities in diverse settings while also learning about public mental health policy, advocacy, and telepsychiatry."