Skip to content

SAMHSA Minority Fellowship

Funded by SAMHSA

samhsa fellows pose for a group photo

Supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) provides a one-year fellowship to psychiatry residents who are at the PG1 level or higher and are committed to addressing inequities in mental health. This fellowship aims to improve behavioral health care outcomes for racial and ethnic populations by growing the number of racial and ethnic psychiatrists in the nation’s behavioral health workforce. The program also seeks to train and better prepare psychiatrists to more effectively treat and serve people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. If you are interested in becoming a leader and are committed to a career providing culturally sensitive psychiatric care, we invite you to apply.

Program Benefits

  • Funding to support your own innovative and creative Addressing Mental Health Inequities Capstone Project
  • Gain understanding of mental health inequities through the LEAD Institute (Leaders in Equity And Diversity) curriculum
  • Receive mentorship from leaders in psychiatry through the Advocate Protégé Program
  • Attend the Spring Leadership Summit in Washington DC, with the goal of enhancing your leadership skills in psychiatry by advancing your understanding of mental health inequities
  • Attend the APA Annual Meeting with the opportunity to present a poster or oral presentation of your Capstone Project
  • Attend APA Mental Health Services Meeting
  • Attend September Component Meeting, and other educational events, including orientation sessions
  • Gain understanding of APA Governance through service on an APA Council, committee or work group
  • Receive access to a lifetime network of psychiatrists
  • Establish long term relationships with resident fellows with similar career interests and goals

Program Expectations

  • Be in good standing in one's residency program throughout the fellowship
  • Attend the APA Annual Meeting and all fellowship-related activities
  • Contribute to the work of an APA Council or APA leadership group (in-person meetings, conference calls, email discussions and work groups)
  • Participate in orientation sessions and required training
  • Join a minimum of 75% of regular fellowship teleconference meetings
  • Prepare a mid-year and year-end evaluations with the Fellowships team
  • Prepare a mid-year and year-end report outlining use of funds and fellowship experiences
  • Complete all evaluations including Pre-Fellowship Survey, Biannual (mid-year and year-end) Surveys, Post-Fellowship Two-Year Commitment Survey
  • Respond to a yearly short survey on the two-year commitment for the two years after the fellowship ends
  • Contribute items for e-newsletters and/or submit a post to the APA blog

Number of Awards

Up to 45 per year, pending funding

Program Term

October, 1 2024 – September 30, 2025 (One year)

Criteria/Eligibility

  • Be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or noncitizen nationals
  • PGY-1 level or higher at the time of matriculation
  • Remain in training during the entire duration of the fellowship
  • Have a strong commitment to provide culturally sensitive mental health care and to serve marginalized and minoritized communities to help address mental inequities
  • It is not required for applicants to identify as ethnic minorities; however, African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Asian-Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are especially encouraged to apply

You can apply for as many APA Fellowships during an application cycle based on your eligibility. However, participation in more than one APA fellowship simultaneously is not permitted.

Selection Criteria

The selection committee will be looking for the following competencies in applicants:

  • Excellence of the candidate's CV (leadership, creativity, clinical skills, extra-curricular activities, publications/presentations)
  • Strong letters of recommendation (training director's evaluation, other references)
  • Compelling personal statement

Nomination/Application Details

  • Completed online application form
  • Curriculum vitae
  • One-page personal statement explaining how the fellowship will impact the applicant's career
  • Reference from three (3) recommenders to complete questions aimed at evaluating the candidate's fit and potential for the fellowship

Apply Now

Deadline

March 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time)

Disclaimer

  • The APA SAMHSA Minority Fellows (subject to the availability of funds) receive fellowship funds and serve for one year. Extension is not guaranteed.
  • Fellowship awards are subject to future funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Notification

May

Contact

Razan Jaber, M.P.H., Project Manager

Email: [email protected]