Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program
This fellowship works with these departments and clinics:
Psychology and Psychiatry, Addiction Services Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, Partial Hospitalization Program
We offer a two-year ACGME accredited child psychiatry fellowship program for candidates who have successfully completed at least three years of adult psychiatric training at an ACGME accredited program. We are a small program with a large faculty, and we like it that way. Our focus is education, not service. We are a unique program that provides you the ability to create your own individualized education to help you become a very competent Child Psychiatrist. Our fellows have rich and diverse clinical rotations to treat patients in different levels of care (Inpatient, CL, PHP/IOP/Outpatient) and extensive community rotations in our community agencies. Our fellows work with child psychiatrists, child psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors. Our fellows can work on their own research project or work with psychologists in our departmental research projects. Our fellows can attend the annual AACAP meeting and have opportunities to present with faculty.
What They‘re Saying…
“The child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Akron Children’s Hospital offers robust, clinically diverse experiences in a very welcoming environment. Faculty are approachable and collaborative. The structure of learning encourages increasing autonomy and ample opportunity to develop a personalized clinical style, without forfeiting access to attendings’ support and guidance. It is very apparent that each fellow is valued as an individual, and the program is personalized to prepare trainees for their distinct career goals.”
— Jonathan Pentz, MD, First year fellow, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
What we offer:
- Ability to create your own individualized education
- Positive, nurturing and supportive environment
- Food stipend
- Free gym membership
- Dedicated faculty
- Mentorship
- Rich, diverse rotations in Akron Children’s and in the surrounding community
- Strong didactics
- Resources for board preparation
- Manageable work load and hands on experience
- Reasonable call schedule (1 weekend/month, 1 holiday day/1 yr.)
- Cross-training with developmental pediatricians and child neuropsychologists
- Multiple wellness programs in the hospital
- Training in:
- Intensive Services (Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient), serving 12-18-year olds
- Eating Disorder Clinic
- Gender Affirming Clinic
- Integrated Care Program working with pediatricians
- Residential treatment
- Substance use disorders
For more information, contact:
Sumru Bilge-Johnson, MD
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Director
Lois and John Orr Behavioral Health Center
Department of Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology
Phone: 330-543-4382
Email: sbilge-johnson@akronchildrens.org
Michelle Burgner
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Coordinator
mburgner@akronchildrens.org
Michael Redovian, MD
Associate Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
mredovian@akronchildrens.org
You must meet the following criteria to apply for our pediatric psychiatry fellowship program:
- MD or DO degree
- Passed all 3 USLME/COMLEX steps within 10 years and provide a complete score report
- Completion of 3 years of ACGME-accredited training in general psychiatry
- Ohio medical license and DEA number
- Evidence of U.S. citizenship, permanent residency or J-1 Visa
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Letter of recommendation from current program director
How to Apply
To apply for our fellowship program, you must submit your application through the Electronic Residency Application system (ERAS).
For more information, contact:
|
Sumru Bilge-Johnson, MD |
Michelle Burgner |
First Year Clinical Rotation Schedule
| 1 month | Adolescent medicine (80%) Didactics (10%) |
| 3 months | Consultation liaison (C/L) (80%) Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC) (10%) Didactics (10%) |
| 3 months | Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) (80%) Didactics (10%) |
| 3 months | Inpatient (80%) Pediatric Outpatient (10%) Didactics (10%) |
| 1 month | Pediatric neurology (80%) Pediatric outpatient (10%) Didactics (10%) |
| 1 month | Residential treatment (80%) Pediatric outpatient (10%) Didactics (10%) |
| 9 months | Outpatient (10%) |
The first year of our program focuses on building a foundation of knowledge and skills in pediatric psychiatry. You'll learn how to identify psychiatric syndromes and formulate a treatment plan in inpatient, outpatient, C/L and residential settings. Throughout the year, attending faculty members will guide you in developing your skills in interviews, development of diagnoses and creating an individual treatment plan for your patients. You will also have a dedicated faculty member as your outpatient clinic supervisor.
Second Year Clinical Rotation Schedule
| 12 months | Community Child Psychiatry (CGFS) (30%) Didactics (10%) |
| 12 months | Akron Children's Child Psychiatry OP Clinic (20%) Psychotherapy clinic (10%) |
| 1 months | ACH Substance Abuse outpatient clinic and IOP (20%) |
| 2 months | Developmental Pediatrics, 2 months; Autism Clinic 1 month (20%) |
| 2 months | Summit County Juvenile Court (10%) |
| 2 months |
Summit County Children Services |
| 12 months | Electives Hannah Perkins, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Pain, Pediatric Rheumatology. CGFS: Incredible years, FIRST program, High Risk and TAPs program |
| 1 month | CARE Center - Child Abuse (10%) |
| 2 months | Sleep Clinic (10%) |
| 5 months | School (10%) |
| 7 months | Research/QI Project (10%) |
During the second year of training, we focus on systems of care in community agencies and increasing knowledge and skills in outpatient child psychiatry. Rotations will emphasize clinical, consultative and leadership skills in various community environments (Child Guidance and Family Solutions, Community Health Center for substance abuse, School systems, Children’s Services, Juvenile court). Our goal is to identify the role that community-based child psychiatrists play in addressing the needs of children and teens who have been diagnosed with mental illness.
As a second-year fellow, you'll assume greater responsibility for the care of your patients. You'll also gain knowledge in areas such as neurological and other organic disorders, mental retardation, developmental disabilities, learning disorders, all major classes of DSM-5 conditions, psychosomatic disorders, behavioral and adjustment problems, and acute crises leading to psychiatric presentation. During the second year, all fellows are required to have a scholarly research activity and present at Post-Graduate Poster Day.
Working with a multidisciplinary team, you'll hone your skills in:
- Long-term and time-limited psychotherapy
- Play therapy
- Family therapy
- Pharmacotherapy
- Crisis intervention
- Group therapies (DBT skills)
- Art Therapy
Electives
| Pediatric Eating Disorder Rotation |
An Eating Disorder outpatient program at Akron Children’s Adolescent Medicine Clinic |
| Pediatric Pain Clinic | An elective to learn pain disorders and treatment at Akron Children's |
| Pediatric Gender Affirming Clinic | An elective to learn about LGBTQ population, diagnoses, treatment working with multidisciplinary team |
| Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic |
An elective to learn pediatric rheumatology disorders, diagnoses, treatment and mental health comorbidities |
| Hanna Perkins School | An early childhood school (toddler - kindergarten) specializing in psychoanalytic principles and techniques |
+CGFS electives: Incredible years, FIRST program, High Risk and TAPs program
Didactics
Weekly didactics are an integral part of our fellowship program. Specific topics and conferences cover topics such as:
| Administrative psychiatry | Cognitive/behavioral therapy |
| Psychodynamic therapy | Family therapy |
| Group therapy (DBT) | Art therapy |
| Systems of care | Adult and child boards review |
| Evaluation and treatment of mental health disorders | Child development |
| Forensic child psychiatry | School consultation |
| Substance abuse disorders | Clinical case conference |
| Neuroscience curriculum | Journal club |
| Peer review; Medical ethics | Practice habits |
Meet our faculty.
Akron Children’s accredited fellowship programs offer:
Stipends
(Effective July 1, 2025)
PL-4 – $75,794
PL-5 – $77,309
PL-6 -- $78,856
Vacation
House offices are granted 3 weeks of vacation or 15 customary working days.
Conference Time
Fellows are entitled to 5 days of conference time each year for medical conventions and courses outside the hospital.
Educational Allowance
Fellows are provided $1,500 annually for use toward medical-related journals or books, conferences, and license renewals.
Research and Scholarship Travel
The Department of Pediatrics encourages and supports investigator-initiated research by subspecialty fellows. Therefore, the Department supports research-related travel when the fellow is in good academic and professional standing, and when prior written approval of the program director is documented. All hospital policies relating to travel must be followed.
Although the policy relates to presentation at a national forum, requests for support for presentation at a regional forum are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, funding may be available to offset costs for professional conferences (travel, lodging, registration, meals) if not presenting scholarly activity.
Professional Liability
Professional liability insurance is provided by the hospital.
Health Benefits
Fellows, and their dependents, are eligible to enroll in the hospital’s health, dental, and vision insurance programs. Costs are shared between the fellow and the hospital. Benefits are available immediately.
Retirement Benefits
Fellows may participate in the Hospital’s 403(b) Plan from their date of hire. Match dollars are not available to fellows.
Other Benefits
- Group Term Life Insurance equal to one time the fellow’s annual income, with an option to purchase additional coverage in increments of annual earnings.
- Dependent Life Insurance coverage and Medical Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Voluntary Universal Life, Accident & Critical Illness through Trustmark & Home& Auto through Met Life.
- Employee Assistance Program available to all fellows and their families.
- Short and Long Term Disability benefits available, effective for three months following start date.
Medical License & DEA
Fellows are required to obtain an Ohio State Medical License and DEA certificate prior to beginning training.
Parking
A key access card for convenient parking is provided at no charge.
Lab Coats
One embroidered lab coat is provided, if desired.
Meals
Fellows are given $70 every week for use in the hospital cafeteria.
Relocation expenses
The hospital provides reimbursement for initial relocation expenses, up to $1,000, subject to current tax laws.
Smoke, Electronic Cigarette and Tobacco Free Campus
Akron Children’s is a tobacco-free healthcare system. Prospective employees who test positive for nicotine will have their offer of employment rescinded and will not be permitted to start work.
