Ten Year Follow Up of a Psychiatry Residency Program Merger

Alvi A. Azad, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
Julianne Flynn, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
Thomas Matthews, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
Kenneth Matthews, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas
Joseph Chozinski, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas

Abstract

Objective: To report on the successful merger of a civilian and military psychiatry residency. Methods: The reasons for and the history of the merger between the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center psychiatry residencies is described. Results: After some false starts, a bottom-up approach was implemented by first merging seminars, then rotations. Conclusions: Combining two psychiatry residencies in order to capitalize on both their strengths can yield a product even greater than the sum of their two programs and the key to a lasting merger is to start with two independently successful programs with different and complementary strengths.