Physician - Psychiatry - Child & Adolescent

The Child & Adolescent Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist provides psychiatric consultation, assessment, and treatment recommendations for children and adolescents receiving care in medical and surgical settings. This physician works collaboratively with pediatric teams, nursing staff, psychologists, social workers, and families to address the emotional, behavioral, developmental, and psychiatric needs of medically ill youth.

The role includes evaluation and management of acute psychiatric concerns in hospitalized children and adolescents, support for patients and families coping with illness, and guidance to medical teams regarding psychiatric diagnosis, behavioral management, psychopharmacology, and disposition planning.

This position will involve covering consults at Children Rehab and Main Campus Monday through Friday.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide psychiatric consultations for pediatric inpatients and, where applicable, emergency department or outpatient specialty referrals.
• Perform comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, including assessment of:
  • mood and anxiety disorders
  • suicidality and self-harm risk
  • agitation and aggression
  • delirium and altered mental status
  • functional neurological symptom presentations
  • somatic symptom and related disorders
  • adjustment to acute or chronic medical illness
  • medication-related psychiatric symptoms
  • developmental and behavioral concerns
• Develop diagnostic impressions and treatment recommendations in collaboration with primary medical and surgical teams.
• Recommend and manage psychopharmacologic interventions when indicated, with attention to medical comorbidities and drug-drug interactions.
• Provide crisis intervention, safety assessment, and disposition recommendations.
• Support behavioral management planning for patients with complex psychiatric and medical presentations.
• Collaborate closely with:
  • pediatric hospitalists
  • subspecialists
  • intensivists
  • emergency medicine physicians
  • nursing staff
  • psychology
  • social work
  • child life specialists
  • case management
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and multidisciplinary teams regarding diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning.
• Participate in family meetings and interdisciplinary care conferences.
• Document consultations, follow-up visits, and treatment recommendations in the electronic medical record in a timely manner.
• Assist with transitions of care and coordination of outpatient psychiatric follow-up or higher levels of care.
• Contribute to education of trainees, medical staff, and allied health professionals regarding pediatric mental health in medical settings.
• Participate in quality improvement, program development, and hospital committee work as needed.
• Take part in call coverage and weekend/holiday rotation as assigned.

Qualifications

• MD or DO from an accredited medical school
• Completion of residency training in General Psychiatry
• Completion of fellowship training in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• Board certified or board eligible in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• Eligible for medical licensure in Ohio
• DEA registration and ability to prescribe controlled substances
• Experience or strong interest in consultation-liaison psychiatry, pediatric hospital psychiatry, or integrated care

Preferred Qualifications

• Fellowship or additional experience in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Pediatric Psychiatry, or Psychosomatic Medicine is an advantage
• Experience working in academic medical centers or children’s hospitals
• Interest in teaching medical students, residents, and fellows
• Experience in collaborative care, trauma-informed care, and systems-based practice
• Familiarity with psychopharmacology in medically complex pediatric populations

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong diagnostic and clinical skills in child and adolescent psychiatry
• Ability to assess psychiatric symptoms in the context of medical illness and developmental stage
• Expertise in suicide risk assessment and crisis intervention
• Knowledge of delirium, catatonia, somatic symptom disorders, and functional neurological disorders in youth
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced hospital environments
• Excellent communication and interdisciplinary collaboration skills
• Sensitivity to cultural, developmental, and family systems factors
• Commitment to patient-centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based care

Typical Clinical Scope

The psychiatrist may be consulted for patients with:

• depression, anxiety, or trauma-related symptoms during hospitalization
• suicidal ideation or suicide attempts
• eating disorders with medical complications
• delirium or encephalopathy
• psychosis or mania in medically ill youth
• behavioral dysregulation interfering with medical care
• conversion disorder or functional neurological symptoms
• adherence difficulties in chronic illness
• psychiatric symptoms related to medications such as steroids, antiepileptics, or immunologic treatments
• complex family, social, or disposition concerns

Academic and Administrative Duties

Depending on the institution, responsibilities may also include:

• supervising residents, fellows, or advanced practice providers
• teaching didactics or bedside consultation skills
• participating in research or scholarly activity
• helping develop CL psychiatry protocols and pathways

Schedule and Work Environment

• Primarily hospital-based clinical work
• Weekdays shared call responsibilities
• Weekend rounding at Inpatient Child Psychiatry Unit (Fairview)
• Opportunity for academic, teaching, and program development time depending on role design

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation is typically commensurate with experience, training, academic rank, and geographic region. Benefits may include:

• health, dental, and vision insurance
• retirement plan
• paid time off and CME allowance
• malpractice coverage
• relocation assistance
• academic appointment, where applicable

Interested candidates can submit a CV and Cover Letter to Jennifer Friedler, Senior Physician Recruiter at [email protected]