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Training Director's Guide

Why should Residents in my program apply for an APAF Fellowship?

The APA/APAF Fellowships are designed to work with a resident's training to produce the future leaders of Psychiatry. APA/APAF Fellowships complement and enhance residency training by providing Fellows with:

  • Mentorship from experts in the field
  • Professional Development opportunities throughout the year and at the APA Annual Meeting
  • A National Network of Support from their peers and APA Members

APA/APAF Fellowships produce well-rounded psychiatrists uniquely positioned to be leaders in the field. Alumni have risen to leadership positions within organized psychiatry and continue to innovate the field through their thought leadership.

A training director plays an important role in helping residents become successful APA/APAF Fellowship applicants. Refer to individual fellowship pages for complete application requirements.

Beyond writing a successful reference letter, training directors should be familiar with the following:

Training Director’s Reference Letter

Please provide us with no more than a one-page letter of recommendation addressing the following:

Detailed information regarding the applicant’s clinical work and leadership activities and include, as subheadings, the criteria listed under five Candidate Competencies:

  1. Specific and candid evaluation of the nominee’s performance as a resident,
  2. An appraisal of his/her activities in which leadership qualities have been shown,
  3. Information on any special commendations, details of academic accomplishments,
  4. An estimate of the nominee’s potential contributions to the APA nationally and locally, and
  5. Any other information that would assist the committee in making its selection

A letter addressing the trainee’s potential contribution to the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.

A one-page letter addressing the following:

  1. Comment on the trainee along each of the following areas:
    1. Leadership
    2. Creativity/Innovativeness
    3. Interpersonal Skills
    4. Clinical Skills
    5. Academic Ratings
    6. Interest in Identifiable Sub-Specialty
  2. Applicant’s special strengths and weaknesses
  3. Other information which would aid the committee in its evaluation
  4. The name of the individual who will provide on-site mentorship to the applicant. Please describe the qualifications of this person.
  5. Please include your Name, Title, Address, Phone, Email, and Date.

A letter from the applicant’s training director or department chair addressing the trainee’s potential contribution to the field public psychiatry. The training director/department chair’s letter must confirm support for applicant’s volunteer work in a correctional facility.

A letter from the department chairperson or training director.

A letter from the applicant’s training director or department chair addressing the trainee’s potential contribution to the field public psychiatry.

Letter from the nominee's department chair detailing:

  • Nominee's accomplishments and activities
  • Institutional resources available to support the nominee's research endeavors should the award fund be insufficient to cover both the resident's salary and related research expenses

This applicant must be nominated by the chairperson of a department of psychiatry only, and must be the sole resident per residency program nominated.

A one-page letter addressing the following:

  1. Comment on the applicant along each of the following areas:
    1. Leadership
    2. Creativity/Innovativeness
    3. Interpersonal Skills
    4. Clinical Skills
    5. Academic Ratings
    6. Interest in Identifiable Sub-Specialty
  2. Applicant’s special strengths and weaknesses
  3. Other information which would aid the committee in its evaluation
  4. The name of the individual who will provide on-site mentorship to the applicant. Please describe the qualifications of this person.
  5. Please include your Name, Title, Address, Phone, Email, and Date.