Geriatric Psychiatry Program

This one year program is accredited by the ACGME for up to two residents. Salary funding for these residents is provided by the Veterans Administration at the PGY V level. Applicants to this program will have completed a general psychiatry program or will be completing one prior to entry into this program. Applicants must also have completed Part 3 of the USMLE and be eligible for a Florida medical license.

Clinical Rotations

The hospital clinical experiences are based at the James Haley VA Medical Center Hospital in Tampa, Florida and consist of rotations through outpatient, inpatient, nursing home, and consultation services. In addition, two to three half days each week are spent at sites outside the VA system. These include the USF Memory Disorder Clinic at the Johnnie B. Byrd Alzheimer's Disease Center, the outpatient clinic at the University Psychiatry Center and a Clinical Trials rotation at the Suncoast Gerontology Center or the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, both at the Byrd Institute. A joint outpatient clinic with Geriatric Medicine /Palliative Care at USF is also being developed.

Teaching Activities

Weekly activities include geriatric psychiatry seminar, geriatric medicine seminar at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center Hospital and Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds. Monthly activities include journal club and case conferences.

Research

There are many opportunities for research which include

• Byrd Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute
• Florida Mental Health Institute,
• Suncoast Alzheimer's & Gerontology Center,
• and several ongoing studies within the department

Faculty

• Maria T. Caserta, M.D., Ph.D.
  Professor and Director of Geropsychiatry, Geropsychiatry Training Program
  Medical Director, Memory Disorders Center
  Board certified in General Psychiatry with Added Qualifications in Geriatric Psychiatry
• Jean Fils, M.D.
  Assistant Professor
  Board certified in General Psychiatry with Added Qualifications in Geriatric Psychiatry
• Julia Winston M.D.
  Assistant Professor and Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry Service, James A. Haley VA Hospital
  Board certified in General Psychiatry with Added Qualifications in Geriatric Psychiatry
• Jaffrey Hashimie M.D.
  Staff Psychiatrist, James A. Haley VA Hospital
  Board Certified in General Psychiatry with Added Qualifications in Geriatric Psychiatry
• Regina Velasco, D.O.
  Assistant Professor and Staff Psychiatrist Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient Service, James A. Haley VA Hospital
  Board certified in General Psychiatry with Added Qualifications in Geriatric Psychiatry
• Jonathan Stewart M.D.
  Professor and Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry Service, Bay Pines VA Hospital
  Board Certified in General Psychiatry with Added Qualifications in Geriatric Psychiatry

Current Fellows

• Elizabeth Vidal, MD
  Medical School: University of Miami
  Residency: University of South Florida, Chief Resident in Psychiatry
• Sandra Rodriguez-Davila, MD
  Medical School: University of Puerto Rico
  Residency: LSU and University of Chicago, C-L/ER Chief

General

Funds may be available for attendance at one or more national conferences during the course of the year. The resident is encouraged to attend relevant lectures sponsored by other disciplines and departments such as the Institute of Aging, the Florida Mental Health Institute, and College of Public Health which are all on campus.

Maria T. Caserta, M.D. Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavorial Medicine
Director, Geriatric Psychiatry Training Program

Contact Information

For more information about our Geriatric Fellowship contact:
Education Coordinator: Kay Isaac (kisaac@health.usf.edu)