Robert A. Pierattini, M.D. Chair

OUR MISSION

The Department of Psychiatry is a regional leader in clinical care.  It sponsors nationally recognized research and is committed to educating medical students and training residents.  This three-part mission is carried out in collaboration with Fletcher Allen Health Care, the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the State of Vermont.  Underlying this mission is the belief that integrated, comprehensive care is best for our patients and their families.  Our research efforts grow out of clinical concerns with an eye toward the practical applications of scientific discovery. The energy that fuels our teaching comes from a desire to transmit how the art of caring complements the demands of evidence-based practice.

Teaching

We're proud of the professionalism and enthusiasm of our faculty.  Our residents are provided with many opportunities to teach, to build on what they know, and to become proficient at the practice of psychiatry.  A culture of curiosity is evident in our academic activities which include the core medical student rotations, departmental conferences, and resident seminars.  Education rather than service is the driving force of our residency program.  The residents work hard and participate vigorously on our busy services which include rotations through the Vermont State Hospital and award-winning public sector clinics.  We take pride in the accomplishments of our residents, their support of each other, and their loyalty to the department.  We appreciate them as colleagues and value the enduring bonds we form with them.

Clinical Care

We provide clinical care in a variety of settings. There are two inpatient units and a comprehensive outpatient service. Both voluntary and involuntary patients are admitted to the hospital. Ambulatory patients, from children to seniors are assessed and treated by a multi-disciplinary staff. Within the hospital, the Psychiatric Consultation Service provides care for medical and surgical patients in need of psychiatric services, while the Crisis Service and First Call respond to adult and child emergencies in the community. Seneca Center, the partial hospital program, uses cognitive behavioral therapy groups as its primary treatment modality. Day One integrates comprehensive individual and family treatment of substance use disorders with practices derived from intensive research efforts.

Research

The Department of Psychiatry has substantial depth in three research areas: substance abuse, child psychopathology and geriatric psychiatry. The research in substance abuse is supported by numerous NIH grants including two prestigious MERIT awards and an Institutional Training Award. It is focused on the behavioral and biological basis of dependence, novel treatments for alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, opioid and nicotine dependence, and the treatment of demographically unique addicted populations such as adolescents. Research in child psychopathology is highlighted by the internationally recognized Child Behavior Check List developed here at the University of Vermont and by research in the genetics of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. Research in geriatric psychiatry includes investigations into the neurobiology of aging and the development of cognitive enhancing agents. Resident participation, with significant time allowed through selectives, is strongly encouraged in every research area within and outside the department.

Conclusion

Our modest size is one of our strengths.  It allows us to get to know one another and to help and guide each other. While each of us wears several hats, all of the hats meet regularly and participate actively in the work (and play) that defines our department. We feel connected to each other and pride ourselves on the rich tradition that makes us feel like family.