Award Recipient
Mark E. Kunik, M.D., MPH received the Geriatric Psychiatry Outstanding Educator Award in 2023.
Graduation Lunch 2023
About the Program
The Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. Fellows develop expertise in the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of geriatric illnesses using systems-based care throughout the continuum of care. Recovery-based care principles are emphasized in the training. The fellowship offers rich experiences in interdisciplinary clinical care as well as clinical research with a network of faculty investigators.
During their training, fellows are supervised by clinicians with specialty training in geriatric psychiatry, consult liaison psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, geriatric medicine, and neuropsychology in a wide range of clinical venues. Interdisciplinary collaboration is a critical aspect of geriatric practice; fellows work closely with nurses, psychologists, and social workers with geriatric expertise in interdisciplinary teams.
Admissions and Benefits
Fellowship applicants must have completed an ACGME/ACGME(I)-accredited psychiatry residency program to be eligible for the geriatric psychiatry fellowship. Applicants may apply, and are encouraged to do so, in their PGY3 of general psychiatry residency. Psychiatrists with J1 visas are eligible for participation in this one-year (PGY5-6) training program.
- BCM house staff application
- Certificates of completion from any previous residency training program(s)
- Copy of medical school diploma
- Copies of USMLE scores (1, 2, and 3)
- Curriculum vitae
- Dean’s letter from medical school
- Official transcript from medical school
- Personal statement
- Valid ECFMG certificate, if graduated from medical school outside of United States
Applicants should also send a completed application.
Send all written correspondence, including applications, to:
Ny'Nika A. Graham
Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Coordinator
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza - BCM350
Houston, TX 77030
View stipends and benefit information on the Baylor College of Medicine’s graduate medical education website. Stipend levels are at the national average, but Houston's cost of living ranks among the lowest of metropolitan areas in the United States.
Maintaining your physical and emotional wellness is a prerequisite to professional success. Our residents have access to a number of programs to support their well-being. View wellness resources.
Information about vacation and leave of absences is available on the graduate medical education website.
Educational Scholarship
Fellows complete a quality improvement and an educational project. Development and execution of the projects are done under the close supervision of faculty with expertise in research and education. Fellows are encouraged to present their findings to faculty and at conferences.
Saima Aslam, MD (2013-2014):
- Instruction of Montreal Cognitive Assessment to inpatient nursing staff that included bedside administration demonstration and observation.
- Measurement of follow-up of community referrals provided by geriatric psychiatrists. Dr. Alam compared the rate of follow-up for community resources by caregivers between those provided informational flyers and those who were not.
Aaron Short, MD (2015-2016):
- Presentation of seminars for neuropsychology case conference, PGY I residents (normal aging), and PGY II residents (polypharmacy)
- Protocol to minimize benzodiazepine prescriptions in older adults using the VHA Psychotropic Drug Safety Initiative
Melissa Sanchez, MD (2018-2019):
- Book chapter: Kraus-Schumann C, Sanchez M, Benson K, Asghar-Ali AA, “Psychotherapy and Cognitive Disorders” In Psychotherapy for Late Life Psychiatric Disorders (Editors: Rajesh Tampi, Brandon Yarns, Kristina Zdanys, Deena Tampi). Cambridge University Press. Cambridge University Press, 2020: 139-149.
- Instructed outpatient staff on appropriate measurement for orthostasis and collected pilot data that provided incidence of orthostasis in the geriatric mental health clinic. Conducted educational sessions for nurses and prescribers based on findings.
Esi Bentsi-Barnes (2020-2021):
- Workshop training for clinicians on how to respond to discriminatory requests
- Geriatric psychiatry PGY4 course for psychiatry board review
Lindsay Page (2020-2021):
- Three-part training on dementia aimed at people who identify as LGBTQI+
- Geriatric psychiatry PGY4 course for psychiatry board review
Ashish Sarangi (2021-2022):
- Geriatric psychiatry curriculum for U of MO residents that spans three-years of training
- Behavioural interventions training in CLC to improve Veteran experience and reduce use of pharmacological agents
Alexandra Sibley (2021-2022):
- Case report on SIADH related to anti-depressant use
- Re-initiation of STAR in CLC
Bose Ojo (2022-2023):
- ECT training materials for students observing ECT
- Sleep group for Veterans in CLC
Venkatesh Sreream (2022-2023):
- ECT training materials for students observing ECT
- Sleep group for Veterans in CLC
Affiliated Institutions
The training occurs at the Michael E. DeBakey Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center and the Baylor Psychiatry Clinic. The MEDVAMC is one of the nation’s largest VA hospitals and a member institution of the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical center. The BPC is the faculty and trainee clinic for the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences where fellows have a year-long longitudinal outpatient clinic to ensure that they can competently care for older adults over a longitudinal period.