Welcome to the Psychiatry Residency Program in Yuma, Arizona
A vibrant city that beautifully blends rich history, diverse culture, and stunning natural landscapes. Nestled on the banks of the Colorado River and surrounded by picturesque desert vistas, Yuma offers a unique lifestyle that enhances the experience of our Psychiatry Residency Program.
Onvida Health is a 430-bed community hospital located in Yuma County, which serves over 200,000 people and covers an expansive area. Onvida Health Outpatient Behavioral Health offers compassionate, professional care for those experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges affecting their daily lives. Our expert psychiatrist provides comprehensive evaluations, diagnoses, and treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs. We specialize in managing a wide range of mental and behavioral health conditions, helping individuals regain stability and improve their overall well-being. With a supportive approach and evidence-based treatments, we are committed to guiding patients toward better mental health in a safe and welcoming environment.
Our training program in Yuma focuses on providing an outstanding education and immersive clinical experiences. As a resident, you will develop the skills to serve the unique demographic and socioeconomic needs of Arizona, alongside those of diverse populations across the nation. During your four-year journey with us, you will have the opportunity to explore your individual areas of interest within psychiatry, supported by a comprehensive curriculum.
Our well-rounded training encompasses neurobiological, epidemiological, psychological, and socio-cultural aspects of psychiatry. By the time you graduate, you will be equipped to fulfill and advance the role of psychiatry in an integrated healthcare system. Our emphasis on compassionate, innovative, and culturally sensitive care prepares you to engage fully in the evolving discipline of psychiatric medicine, both in Arizona and beyond.
In your first year (PGY-1), you’ll be paired with an advisor, allowing you to begin your journey of specialization. As you progress through your training, you’ll delve deeper into your selected field, whether it’s Research, Rural Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent, Geriatrics, Addictions, Psychotherapy, Integrative Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry, Cross-Cultural Behavioral Health, Education, Leadership, or Humanities. We emphasize the importance of mentorship throughout your residency. Our faculty is dedicated to guiding you toward producing a scholarly product by the time of your graduation. With ongoing support from mentors in your chosen field, you will strengthen your knowledge base and contribute to the advancement of psychiatric medicine.
For more information, please contact our Graduate Medical Education office at 928-336-2000 or gmeoffice@onvidahealth.org.
To learn more about working in Yuma, visit onvidahealth.org/living-in-yuma
Contact Our Team
We fully understand the importance of choosing the medical residency program that’s right for you, based on your lifestyle and career goals.
About the Psychiatry Residency Program
The program is led by a full-time, community-based faculty that has received national recognition. Throughout your residency at Onvida Health, you will find a caring, supportive teaching atmosphere and a collegial spirit that will enable you to form long-lasting relationships.
Throughout the four-year Psychiatry Residency Program, residents participate in four hours of weekly core didactic sessions, including lectures, case conferences, and interactive workshops. These sessions are designed to build a strong foundation in psychiatric theory, clinical skills, and interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition, residents are provided with six months of elective time, allowing them to pursue focused training in areas such as child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, forensic psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, psychotherapy, neuropsychiatry, global mental health, research, or integrative psychiatry.
Orientation for incoming PGY-1 residents takes place in July. All residents receive four weeks of paid vacation annually. Residents in PGY1 will be granted two Continuing Medical Education (CME) days, PGY-2 through PGY-4 years are granted five paid CME days each year to support their professional development.To be eligible for the Psychiatry Residency Program at Onvida Health, applicants must meet the criteria outlined in the Resident Appointment Eligibility and Selection Policy.
Applications are accepted and reviewed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), beginning in September each year. Onvida Health participates in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and adheres strictly to all NRMP policies.
Interviews are conducted from October through January. The Psychiatry Residency Program at Onvida Health offers four PGY-1 positions annually.
PLEASE NOTE: APPLICANTS WHO GRADUATED BEFORE 2022 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE PGY-1 CLASS ENTERING JULY 1, 2026.
Your Psychiatry Residency at Onvida Health will prepare you to meet the evolving challenges of mental health care with compassion, clinical excellence, and innovation. This unique program is grounded in evidence-based psychiatric care and highlights the psychiatrist’s vital role in promoting mental wellness across diverse populations.
At Onvida Health, you’ll thrive in a supportive and collaborative environment designed to help you grow into a confident, well-rounded psychiatrist. As a resident, you’ll gain experience in a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient units, outpatient clinics, emergency psychiatry, consultation-liaison services, and community mental health centers. You’ll receive personalized instruction and hands-on training to develop the skills necessary for a successful career in psychiatry.
Technology will also be an integral part of your training. You’ll work with our EPIC electronic health record system and utilize the New Innovations resident education suite to manage your training, schedules, clinical and educational hours, case logs, and educational activities.
Our Psychiatry Residency curriculum is structured to provide progressive responsibility, diverse clinical exposure, and a strong foundation in both the biological and psychosocial aspects of mental health care. Each year builds upon the last, ensuring a comprehensive and well-rounded training experience.
PGY1
- Orientation and Health Service (4 Weeks)
- Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic (8 Weeks)
- Adult Inpatient Medicine (8 Weeks)
- Neurology (8 Weeks)
- Continuity Clinic Outpatient Psychiatry (24 Weeks)
PGY2
- Continuity Clinic Outpatient Psychiatry (28 Weeks)
- Inpatient Psychiatry (24 Weeks)
PGY3
- Outpatient Psychiatry Continuity Clinic (12 Weeks)
- Intensive Outpatient Psychotherapy (12 Weeks)
- Geriatrics Psychiatry Outpatient (4 Weeks)
- Addiction Psychiatry (4 Weeks)
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient (4 Weeks)
- Emergency Psychiatry (4 Weeks)
- Consult Liaison Inpatient (8 Weeks)
PGY4
- Inpatient Psychiatry (12 Weeks)
- Consult Liaison & ER Psychiatry (12 Weeks)
- Outpatient Psychiatry Continuity Clinic (14 Weeks)
- Intensive Outpatient Psychotherapy (14 Weeks)
The final year focuses on leadership, advanced psychotherapy, and preparation for independent practice. Residents take on more supervisory roles and tailor their training to align with career goals.
The Psychiatry Residency program at Onvida Health offers residents a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package:
Salary
- PGY 1 $63,361.44
- PGY 2 $67,473.18
- PGY 3 $70,271.50
- PGY 4 $73,725.06
Benefits
- Temporary relocation housing for up to three months
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Matching 401(k) Plan
- Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
- On-Call Meals
- CME Allowance – PGY1-not to exceed $500/year
PGY2 $1,000/year
PGY3/PGY4 $1,800 - CME Paid Leave – PGY1 Residents receive 2 CME days (as approved by GMEC) 5 days for approved CME for PGY 2 and PGY 3/4 residents.
- Paid Leave – 20 days annually
- Textbooks
- American Board of Family Medicine Board Preparation Materials
- Wellness Program
Onvida Health is committed to helping our Residents balance the increasing demands of the modern healthcare environment. This is why we focus on providing resources that promote Residents’ wellness and satisfaction.
The areas of focus within Onvida Health’s Resident wellness program are:
- Emotional Health – There are times when stressors can get in the way of balancing the demands of professional and personal life. Without help, support and resources, problems can intensify, having an effect on emotional and physical well-being and professional success. Our program offers Residents guidance, assessment and referral to several mental health resources, including individual and couples counseling, substance abuse assessments and counseling, and medication monitoring and assessment. Specialists are also available to meet with Residents to discuss topics such as depression, burnout, suicide, anxiety, time management and disruptive behavior.
- Physical Health – Onvida Health’s internal wellness program, Fit for Life, is available to help Residents focus on key areas of physical health, including nutrition, exercise and tobacco use. Services provided include: One-on-one wellness coaching, self-directed challenges, educational presentations and demonstrations, biometric screenings, newsletters and fitness classes. Residents must have time to attend medical appointments, mental health appointments, dental care appointments, and any other personal care needs. In order to facilitate this, each program will make residents aware of at least 4 different time slots, within the same academic year, when this can be achieved.
- Spiritual Health – Your spiritual care is very important to us. Spirituality demonstrates that people are not merely physical bodies that require mechanical care. Research demonstrates that people finding their spirituality helps them cope with illness, trauma, loss and life transitions by integrating body, mind and spirit. Onvida Health employs a team of full-time chaplains who can help Residents with crisis intervention, critical incident stress management, facilitation of staff communication, conflict resolution and much more.
- Financial Health – As a Onvida Health employee, you are eligible for various financial programs to help you remain financially healthy. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), SupportLinc, provides financial assistance including telephonic consultation with financial professionals to assist with debt reduction, home buying, budgeting and bankruptcy prevention. SupportLinc also provides access to certified financial planners for such planning and long-term goal setting. In addition, Onvida Health offers several other employee benefits, including a qualified retirement plan.
The Psychiatry Residency Program at Onvida Health – Yuma Medical Center is ACGME accredited. Programs will not discriminate with regard to sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected status. Eligible applicants will be considered only on the basis of residency program-related criteria. To be eligible for appointment to the Onvida Health residency program, applicants must either be a United States citizen or permanent resident. We currently do not sponsor visas.
Applications to the Onvida Psychiatry Residency Program will only be accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Please note, we do not accept applications and/or associated documents via mail or e-mail. All residency positions will be accepted through the National Residency Match Program (NRMP), and can be accessed at www.nrmp.org.
How to Apply
- Complete the NRMP match enrollment materials from AAMC
- Complete the ERAS application for residencies
Acquire the following:
- Application/Curriculum Vita
- Medical School Transcript
- Personal Statement
- USMLE or COMLEX transcripts, as applicable
- Three letters of reference from physicians
- Dean’s Letter or Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
- Photograph taken within the last six months
International Medical School Graduates
All IMG applicants must apply through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) using ERAS. Applicants with more than three (3) years away from clinical practice will not be considered. Please note: Onvida Health does not sponsor J-1 or H-1B visas.
Interview Scheduling
If selected for an interview, you will be able to schedule your interview through the ERAS self-scheduler. Once scheduled, you will receive a confirmation email with additional details. If you are unable to attend your scheduled interview, please notify us as soon as possible.
Contact
Onvida Health – Yuma Medical Center
Psychiatry Residency Program Coordinator: Patricia Wagner
Email: pwagner1@onvidahealth.org
Meet the Faculty and Residents
Our Psychiatry Residency Program is led by dedicated faculty who are passionate about teaching and clinical excellence. We invite you to meet the program director, other exceptional physician mentors and the current residents of our Psychiatry Residency Program.
