Triple Board Training and New “Portals” into Child Psychiatry Training

Abstract

Originally an experiment in medical training, the triple board program has established itself as a permanent and successful training program. It offers a viable 5-year alternative to the traditional 7 to 8 years of residency training required for board eligibility in pediatrics, general psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. One primary objective of this course was to address for workforce shortage of child psychiatrists by recruiting medical students who may otherwise have pursued general pediatrics. The second objective was to bridge the gap between child psychiatry and pediatrics by training physicians proficient in the culture, language, and content of both specialty fields. Although the shortage crisis continues, both objectives were met. The success of the triple board experiment has facilitated further consideration and support for the development of other novel training portals into child psychiatry.