Teaching Health Center (THC) Graduate Medical Education (GME) Payment Program - The Cahaba-UAB Rural Psychiatry Residency, a new 4-year program, aims to address the critical shortage of mental health professionals in rural, underserved counties in Central Alabama, including Bibb, Chilton, Perry, and Wilcox. Utilizing a Longitudinal Integrated Curriculum (LIC), the residency program provides comprehensive psychiatry and behavioral health training through Cahaba Medical Care Foundation (CMCF), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves a diverse patient population, primarily uninsured or underinsured individuals with limited access to mental health services. The program’s dual objectives are to deliver immediate, high-quality mental health care to these communities and to encourage graduates to continue practicing in similar underserved areas across Alabama, ensuring long-term healthcare improvements. Name of the Graduate Medical Training Program: Cahaba-UAB Rural Psychiatry Residency Discipline of the Residency Program: Psychiatry Type of Application: New Eligible Entity Type: FQHC, Cahaba Medical Care Foundation Operation of Residency Program: Operated alone by CMCF Year Program First Began Training Residents: 2025 Organization Website Address: www.cahabamedicalcare.com The program is sponsored by Cahaba Medical Care Foundation, which has submitted the application for ACGME accreditation. CMCF has a strong track record in medical education, having successfully operated the Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency since 2013, with an ongoing commitment to healthcare workforce development in rural areas. The rural psychiatry residency will build on these established foundations and partnerships to provide diverse, high-quality training experiences. Total Resident FTE Positions Requested for All Post-Graduate Years: 12 (3-3-3-3) Resident FTE Positions Requested for the First AY of Funding (2025-2026): 3 (3-0-0-0) Rotation Sites: UAB Hospital, Birmingham, AL: A world-renowned tertiary care center providing extensive clinical experience and faculty support, integral to residents' training. UAB Medical West, Bessemer, AL: Core hospital offering Family Medicine Inpatient Service and Labor & Delivery training, essential for rural track residents. Bibb Medical Center, Centreville, AL: Primary admitting hospital for rural psychiatry, providing inpatient emergency experience. Cahaba Medical Care, Centreville, AL: FQHC offering diverse rural psychiatry training at multiple clinical sites, with a focus on integrated care, outpatient psychiatry, and community health in underserved areas. This robust training framework will ensure that graduates are well-prepared to meet the mental health needs of rural Alabama, thereby strengthening the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
