How to apply to the Child + Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center

We offer two first-year fellowship positions each year. Our total class size includes four fellows—two Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) fellows and two Triple Board residents.

We accept applications only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and applicants must participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). We do not offer pre-match positions.

Application deadline: Tuesday, November 1

Our selection process is holistic. We value each applicant’s unique experience, background, and commitment to child and adolescent mental health. We strongly encourage applications from individuals underrepresented in medicine and those dedicated to advancing mental health equity.

Application requirements

To be considered, your ERAS application must include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation (including at least one from psychiatry or child/adolescent psychiatry)
• Dean’s letter and medical school transcript
• Medical School Performance Evaluation
• Letter from your current program director listing completed rotations

Additional requirements for international medical graduates:

• ECFMG certification is required
• We only sponsor J-1 visas

Please note: Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

If you have questions or would like more information, email us at mikayla.gregorio@tuftsmedicine.org.

Where our child psychiatry fellows work after training

Our fellowship graduates go on to successful careers in a wide range of settings, including academic medical centers, community hospitals, private practice and public mental health systems. They are leaders in clinical care, research, education and advocacy for children and adolescents with mental health needs.

We take pride in supporting our fellows’ career goals through mentorship, networking​ and opportunities for professional growth. Many alumni hold faculty positions, lead innovative programs​ or contribute to shaping child and adolescent psychiatry at local, national​ and international levels.

Our alumni have built diverse and rewarding careers after completing the fellowship. They work in many different roles and settings, including:

• Ireen Ahmed, MD
  Residency: Triple-Board Program at Tufts Medical Center
  Current position: Attending at Boston Children's Hospital
• Cassandra Scott, MD
  Residency: The Boston Triple Board Training Program
  Current position: Child Psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center
• Alison Seats, MD
  Residency: The Boston Triple Board Training Program
  Current position: Attending Psychiatrist at ERC in Denver, Colorado
• Michaela Margolis, DO
  Residency: Jefferson Health Psychiatry Residency Program
  Current position: Child Psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center
• Vivian Shie, DO
  Residency: Albany Medical Center Psychiatry Residency Program
  Current position: Child Psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center
• Anjan Marella
  Residency: Albany Medical Center
  Current position: Psychiatrist at Carney Hospital
• Chayanin “Jing” Foongsthaporn
  Residency: University of Hawaii Program – University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine
  Current position: Child Psychiatrist at Queen’s Medical Center
• Taylor Dodds
  Residency: Arnot Ogden Medical Center Program
  Current position: Child Psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center
• Han Yue
  Residency: Boston University Medical Center Program
  Current position: Instructor of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance
• Tinu Hirachan
  Residency: One Brooklyn Health System/Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center Program
  Current position: Inpatient Attending at New Hampshire Hospital
• Sina Shah-Hosseini
  Residency: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center Program
  Current position: Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist at Seattle Children’s Hospital
• Jyotsna Kilani
  Residency: UMASS Chan-Baystate Program
  Current position: –
• Ana Paula Tovar
  Residency: Westchester Medical Center Program – New York Medical College
  Current position: Psychiatrist at Avalon Mental Health
• Caroline Fu
  Residency: Louisiana State University Program
  Current position: Staff Psychiatrist, Team-based Outpatient Psychiatry Program at Massachusetts General Hospital
• Shirin Vartak
  Residency: Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences/Griffin Memorial Hospital Program
  Current position: Staff Psychiatrist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital
• Huda Alyahyawi, MD
  Residency: St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center
  Current position: Outpatient Psychiatrist in Saudi Arabia
• Yu-Hsuan Chen, MD
  Residency: Tufts Medical Center
  Current position: Providence Medical Group Behavioral Health, Anchorage, Alaska
• Nicole Christiansen, MD
  Residency: Tufts Medical Center
  Current position: Outpatient private practice in Portland, Oregon; Consulting Child Psychiatrist at OHSU
• Timothy Clark, MD
  Residency: Tufts Medical Center
  Current position: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at St. Ann’s Home & School, Methuen, MA
• Munya Hayek, MD
  Residency: Tufts Medical Center, Triple Board Program
  Current position: Instructor in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, MA
• Howard Hernandez, MD
  Residency: Case Western Reserve University at MetroHealth Medical Center, OH
  Current position: Community Mental Health in East Boston, affiliations with Massachusetts General Hospital, Psychiatrist at Fenway Health
• Simreet Khaira, MD
  Residency: Tufts Medical Center
  Current position: Commonwealth Psychology Associates, Outpatient Psychiatry
• Amaka Nwaka, MD
  Residency: Maimonides Medical Center, NY
  Current position: Outpatient Psychiatry, Maryland
• Emily Porch, MD
  Residency: University of California (Davis) Health System Program, CA
  Current position: Kaiser Permanente Outpatient Psychiatry
• Revital Racin, MD
  Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Program, VA
  Current position: Private Practice, outpatient psychiatrist in Brookline, MA and Newton, MA
• Zelma Rahim, MD
  Residency: University of Massachusetts Medical Center – Baystate Regional Campus
  Current position: North Shore Outpatient Psychiatry
• Neha Sharma, MD
  Residency: Rutgers University (previously UMDNJ – Newark Campus)
  Current position: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program Director
• Mudassar Tariq, MD
  Residency: UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School
  Current position: Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Texas Children’s Hospital
• Maria Pia Rogines Velo, MD
  Residency: Tufts Medical Center
  Current position: Private Practice
• Sigalit Hoffman, MD
  Residency: Tufts Medical Center
  Current position: Massachusetts General Hospital / McLean Hospital
• Jenevieve Treiser, MD
  Residency: Tufts Medical Center
  Current position: Private Practice, Coral Gables, Florida
• Karen Saroca, MD
  Residency: Tufts Medical Center, Triple Board Program
  Current position: Boston Children’s Hospital – Tufts Triple Board Program Director
• Sandra Lucio, MD
  Residency: Texas A&M College of Medicine – Scott and White Program
  Current position: St. Ann’s Residential Program
• Marcia Wilson, DO
  Residency: CEME/Palm Beach Consortium for GME
  Current position: Academic Appointment at East Tennessee State University

Meet our current child + adolescent psychiatry fellows

Our current fellows come from diverse backgrounds and bring a wide range of clinical interests and experiences. They are passionate about learning, growing, and contributing to the field of child and adolescent mental health. Through hands-on clinical work, teaching and research, our fellows develop the skills and knowledge needed to become skilled, compassionate clinicians and leaders.

Child + adolescent psychiatry fellowship leadership + mentors

Our fellowship is guided by a team of dedicated faculty and staff who are leaders in child and adolescent psychiatry. They bring a wealth of clinical expertise, research experience and a passion for teaching that ensures our fellows receive top-quality training. Each faculty member is committed to mentoring fellows closely, offering personalized guidance to support their professional and personal growth throughout the program.

Our diverse faculty come from a variety of clinical backgrounds, including inpatient, outpatient, consult-liaison and community mental health. This variety allows fellows to learn from experts in many subspecialties and develop a broad, well-rounded skill set. Our team also includes researchers and educators who encourage fellows to explore scholarly work and engage with the latest advances in pediatric mental health.

We foster a collaborative and inclusive learning environment where open communication and teamwork are highly valued. Our faculty and staff work together with fellows to create a supportive space where questions, discussion and exploration are welcomed. This approach helps trainees build confidence, leadership skills and a deep commitment to compassionate care.

Our people are not only experts in child and adolescent psychiatry but also passionate advocates for mental health equity and innovation. They inspire fellows to become future leaders who will advance the field and improve the lives of children, adolescents and families in our communities and beyond.

Key strengths of our faculty and staff include:

• Clinical expertise across a wide range of child and adolescent psychiatry subspecialties
• Strong commitment to personalized mentorship and professional development
• Active involvement in research and education to promote scholarly growth
• A supportive and inclusive culture that values teamwork and open communication
• Dedication to mental health equity and innovative care practices

Comprehensive fellowship rotations in child + adolescent psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center

Our fellowship offers diverse clinical rotations across outpatient, inpatient and community settings. Fellows gain hands-on experience diagnosing and treating children and adolescents with a wide range of psychiatric conditions while addressing psychosocial factors. Fellows work alongside expert teams in Boston-area hospitals and specialty clinics.

Outpatient rotations

Fellows develop proficiency in diagnosing and treating psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents while considering psychosocial influences on mental health. Rotations focus on conducting patient intakes, creating differential diagnoses, developing treatment formulations and providing longitudinal care. Fellows receive supervision from two assigned supervisors each week.

• ADHD Clinic: Outpatient clinic focused on diagnosing and managing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents
• Autism Behavioral Clinic (ABC): Observational experience focused on team- and family-based approaches for children with refractory autism. Fellows do not provide treatment in this clinic
• Center for Children with Special Needs (CCSN): Fellows work with children with developmental delays and autism for half-days each week during the first year. They work with a team of experts and are monitored by a group of people.
• General Psychopharmacology Clinic: A clinic that helps people with mental health problems with medication.
• Integrated Behavioral Health Clinic with General Pediatrics: Clinic integrating behavioral healthcare into pediatric primary care
• Mood and Anxiety Disorder Clinic: Outpatient clinic focused on assessment and management of mood and anxiety disorders
• Outpatient Psychotherapy Clinic: Trainees conduct initial interviews for children, adolescents and families referred for psychotherapy or psychotherapy with medication management. Fellows learn clinical interviewing, building therapeutic alliances, goal-setting and psychodynamic approaches under faculty supervision
• Tufts Medicine Pediatrics: Provides comprehensive pediatric care with attention to family, school and community factors
• Outpatient consultation service: Fellows provide psychiatric and psychosocial consultations to pediatricians through the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program, the Tufts Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department and the Psychopharmacology Clinic. Fellows create treatment plans and provide longitudinal recommendations

Inpatient rotations

• Cambridge Health Alliance: Three-month first-year rotation at the Child and Adolescent Assessment Units. Fellows gain experience in assessment, diagnosis, formulation, treatment planning and psychosocial interventions. Training includes individual, group, family and pharmacological treatment, complemented by weekly interviewing seminars
• St. Ann’s Home and School: Three-month rotation caring for children ages 5-12 on the Community-Based Acute Treatment (CBAT) and Transitional Care Unit (TCU). Fellows manage admissions, rounds, treatment planning, family meetings, discharge planning, school collaboration and milieu treatment, with supervision from board-certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists

Community rotations

• Boston Children’s Hospital: Fellows evaluate and treat patients with complex medical, psychiatric and psychosocial conditions. Responsibilities include psychiatric evaluations, treatment planning, recommending pharmacological and non-pharmacological care and coordinating with primary teams, families and social workers. Daily supervision is provided
• Boston STARR Program (Stabilization, Assessment & Rapid Reintegration): Fellows consult with a short-term residential program serving youth affected by domestic and community violence, trauma, ADHD and mood disorders, providing assessments and treatment recommendations
• Josiah Quincy Elementary School and Newton Public Schools: Fellows provide psychiatric consultation to teachers, principals, guidance counselors and special education staff. They assess psychosocial and psychiatric issues, address school-based challenges and provide written and verbal recommendations while maintaining confidentiality
• Lowell Juvenile Court Clinic: Fellows learn psychiatric and psychosocial consultation in a court setting, including evaluating children/adolescents, reviewing legal documents and providing clear, concise courtroom testimony. Fellows also learn about relevant laws, court processes and family and community involvement

Structured didactics + collaborative conferences in child and adolescent psychiatry

At Tufts Medicine, our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship offers a comprehensive didactic curriculum designed to deepen clinical expertise and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Weekly seminars, including skills building and knowledge base sessions, cover a wide array of topics such as child development, ADHD, mood disorders and trauma-informed care. Fellows also participate in monthly Neurobehavioral Conferences alongside Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology divisions, enhancing their ability to approach complex cases from multiple perspectives. This structured educational framework ensures fellows are well prepared for the diverse challenges in child and adolescent mental health care.

Fellowship weekly schedule + training calendar

Monday: N/A

Tuesday: 

• 12:00-1:00 pm: Neurobehavioral Conference (monthly)

Wednesday — Weekly Didactics:

• 9:00-10:15 am: Skills Building Seminar
• 10:30 am-12:00 pm: Knowledge Building Seminar
• 12:00-1:00 pm: Fellows lunch
• 1:00-2:00 pm: Journal Club & Case Conference

Thursday:

• 12:00-1:00 pm: Psychiatry Grand Rounds (weekly)

Friday: N/A

Interdisciplinary conferences for child psychiatry fellows

Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds

Psychiatry Grand Rounds are open to the entire department and take place on Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. Guest speakers present special topics and current research in psychiatry, neuropsychology, neurology, medicine and basic sciences such as molecular biology and genetics. Discussion is encouraged.

Neurobehavioral Conference

The divisions of Development Behavioral Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry meet monthly to discuss topics and cases that are relevant to all three fields. A fellow from each division presents a case and leads the discussion.

Weekly Wednesday Didactics

• Skills Building Seminar: Skills Building Seminars are composed of both video reviews and case conferences, which are presented by fellows on a rotating basis. These may include interviews with child/adolescent patients, family interview sessions and consultation issues. Also included within this seminar series are talks from invited speakers to discuss various topics of interest. Past topics have included: Applied Behavior Analysis, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Adoption and Narrative Family Therapy.
• Knowledge Base Seminar: Knowledge Base Seminars are part of a two-year curriculum designed to provide fellows with a comprehensive education on a wide variety of psychiatric issues. During the summer months (July and August), first and second-year fellows are separated; first-year fellows attend Summer Orientation and Introduction to Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, while second-year fellows attend Transition to Practice seminars.  For the remainder of the year, all CAP fellows attend seminars together. Topics include: Child Development, ADHD, CD/ODD, Depression, Bipolar, Anxiety, OCD, Attachment, PTSD, Poverty, Advocacy, Med/Psych and Consultation / Liaison, School Consultation, Forensics, High Risk Children & Adolescents.
• Journal Club and Case Conference: Journal Club is held monthly. One fellow is assigned to provide the article and lead the discussion. Historical papers in the field of Child Psychiatry are reviewed, as well as contemporary articles to answer clinical questions. During Case Conferences, fellows are assigned on a rotating basis to present an outpatient treatment case to an interdisciplinary group.
• Seminar Series: In addition to the above-mentioned lectures, fellows are expected to attend 4-6 series of lectures that are focused on specialized topics. These topics include:
  • PsychopharmacologyPsychotherapy, including CBT, DBT, Mentalization Based Therapy, Play Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
  • Family Therapy
  • Neuropsychological testing
  • Attachment-Based Child Development (ABCD Series): This unique series is taught using a flipped classroom model in collaboration with the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric division.

Some of these series are run by faculty in the division. Psychopharmacology and psychotherapy lectures are often presented by invited speakers from other institutions, in order to gain exposure to viewpoints from a variety of practitioners within the community, as well as from other academic institutions.

Sample didactics

• Interactive and interdisciplinary didactics
• Difficult Conversations of Racism and Social Inequities in Child Psychiatry Training

Information for applicants

• Two PGY I positions per year are offered
• All applications must be received via ERAS (no paper applications)
• All applicants must register with NRMP - We do not offer pre-match acceptance
• Application Deadline is December 1st

Application requirements

1. Need passing scores on USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK and 2 CS.
   • No minimum number of attempts
   • No minimum score requirement other than passing
2. 4 letters of recommendation (2 from Psychiatry, 1 from Pediatrics, 1 from choice)
3. Dean’s Letter and Transcript from Medical School
4. The following requirements are for International Medical Graduates only:
   • ECFMG certification by the time of interview
   • US Clinical experience is recommended, but not required
   • Only sponsoring J-1 Visas

For Additional Information on Tufts Triple Board Training Program Contact:

Mikayla Gregorio
Residency Training & Education Coordinator
Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Tufts Medical Center
p: 617.636.1636
f: 617.636.1277
e: mgregorio@tuftsmedicalcenter.org

Please visit the BCRP website for additional application information here.

Triple Board trainees enjoy the best of not just two, but THREE worlds! Residents in our program enjoy excellent perks and benefits, and a host of extracurricular academic opportunities in a top-tier medical city. Retreats in each of the three specialties, as well as Triple Board-specific retreats and gatherings, allow us to get to bond with each other and our colleagues. Come find out what our residents are up to on the Triple Board Instagram!

Salary

Triple Board trainees enjoy all of the benefits and perks of Boston Children’s employees. Salaries follow the Boston Children’s trainee compensation schedule, and employment benefits such as health insurance, retirement, and others are the same as any trainee at Boston Children’s.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the salary schedule is as follows:

Cost-of-Living Stipend + Lease Guarantee

We all love Boston, but we acknowledge that it is pretty expensive to live in.

As Boston Children’s employees, Triple Board trainees additionally benefit from an incredibly helpful yearly cost-of-living stipend amounting to $10,000 disbursed in one installment each summer. This stipend is meant to offset the fairly high cost of living in Boston.

Additionally, making the move to Boston can be expensive in and of itself, as most rentals in the city require deposits and first/last month’s rent with new lease signings. Boston Children’s provides assistance with this, even though leases are typically signed before your start date in the program. For more information, see Boston Children’s GME Lease Guarantee.

Our history

The Boston Children’s Hospital - Tufts Medical Center Triple Board program has the benefit of providing an integrated training experience across two world class institutions.  This partnership increases resources and opportunities for resident training experiences and is strengthened by ongoing professional collaborations across Boston Children's Hospital and Tufts Medical Center.

Tufts Medical Center has had a number of medical firsts. More than 200 years ago, the roots of our Medical Center were planted by several compassionate Bostonians, including American patriots Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. In 1796, these public-minded individuals founded the Boston Dispensary, a facility dedicated to the care of the poor. Between 1856-1899, the Dispensary established the first medical clinic, the first dental clinic and the first lung clinic in the United States. By 1918, the Dispensary had created the first evening pay clinic, a well-child clinic, a preventative health clinic and the first food clinic.

In 1929, the Boston Dispensary entered into an arrangement with the Boston Floating Hospital for Children and Tufts College Medical School, to form New England Medical Center (which we know today as Tufts Medical Center).  Since then, Tufts Medical Center has been on the forefront of medical innovation with advances like establishing the world’s first pediatric trauma center, inventing artificial milk (later called Similac) and discovering the modern syphilis test.

History of Boston Children’s and the BCRP

Our neighborhood

Boston is the largest city in New England but it’s easy to quickly find your way around. Tufts Medical Center is located in downtown Boston, next to Chinatown and the Theater District and within walking distance of the South End, Back Bay, Boston Common, Downtown Crossing and Faneuil Hall neighborhoods.

We share the Tufts Medical Center campus with several Tufts University science and professional schools, including Tufts University School of Medicine. The campus is close to a number of historical sites, fitness facilities, hotels and restaurants.

The Tufts Medical Center Orange Line stop is located across from the main hospital entrance on Washington Street. Other nearby MBTA stops are Downtown Crossing (Red Line, Orange Line) and Boylston (Green Line). Tufts Medical Center is a 15-to-20-minute cab ride from Logan Airport and within walking distance of South Station.

Because Tufts Medical Center is located in the heart of Chinatown, we have a strong focus on working with this community and its residents. We created the Asian Health Initiative to identify public health issues of particular prevalence or concern in the Asian community and to work collaboratively with neighborhood organizations to address health issues in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way.

The Longwood Medical Area

Living in Boston

Boston is a vibrant city that is full of history.  From the Boston Tea Party to the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, our city has seen some of the pinnacle times in our nation’s growth. Walking along the streets of Boston (we recommend the Duck Boat Tour or a walk along the Freedom Trail) you can still visit many of the city’s famous landmarks.

Boston is also home to a wide number of universities and major health care institutions. In fact, the city has the nation’s highest concentration of colleges, with many alumni who stay after graduation to work and live in the city. This large population of young adults creates an atmosphere of people who are eager to network, get to know one another and have fun.