Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Welcome to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency at the Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota. Our program is committed to training future leaders in child and adolescent mental health who are passionate about clinical excellence, scholarly inquiry, and advocacy for children, adolescents, and families. We offer a robust, balanced training experience across a variety of clinical, academic, and community settings.

Mission

To support the lifelong development of physicians committed to children’s mental health. The program trains compassionate, skilled child and adolescent psychiatrists in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, grounded in evidence-based care, advocacy, and continuous learning.

Aims

Develop clinical excellence in the care of youth with psychiatric, developmental, and behavioral disorders.
Acquire a comprehensive understanding of biological, psychological, developmental, and sociocultural influences on mental health.
Practice evidence-based medicine, integrating critical appraisal of research with clinical decision-making.
Work effectively in interdisciplinary and interagency teams, including schools, pediatricians, social services, and juvenile justice.
Promote equity, inclusion, and advocacy in service to vulnerable and diverse populations.
Engage in lifelong learning and quality improvement to continuously refine clinical practice.
Become leaders in education, research, policy, or systems of care affecting child and adolescent mental health.

Program Curriculum

Our curriculum is structured to ensure progressive mastery of the ACGME’s six core competencies:
Patient Care and Procedural Skills: Deliver developmentally sensitive, family-centered care across inpatient, outpatient, and consult-liaison settings.

Medical Knowledge: Attain deep knowledge of child and adolescent psychopathology, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and relevant neurodevelopmental science.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: Analyze clinical outcomes, incorporate feedback, and apply best practices from scholarly literature.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Communicate effectively with youth, families, and professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Professionalism: Demonstrate ethical integrity, accountability, and sensitivity to cultural and individual differences.

Systems-Based Practice: Navigate and influence healthcare systems, education systems, and community networks to support youth mental health.

View Full Curriculum

Training Sites

Fellows in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry program are fortunate to spend time at 5 facilities in Sioux Falls as well as the Lennox, SD area.

View Sites

Photo Courtesy of Journey Construction

Photo Courtesy of Experience Sioux Falls

Life in Sioux Falls

Get to know the city of Sioux Falls, SD. Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota. It has everything you want out of a big city but with a low cost of living and low crime rates. We hope you'll call it home as you continue your medical education (and who knows, maybe even longer!)

Explore Sioux Falls

What's next?

We invite you to continue learning more about the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program!