The administration of residency training programs

The position of training director is perhaps the most difficult job in a department of psychiatry. The training director must implement the values, culture, and philosophy of the department; nurture residents, faculty, and support staff; maintain collaborative ties with the hospital and medical school-allied specialties and administration; and monitor the integrity and quality of clinical and academic training. All this must be accomplished in a role that has considerable authority but no real power. The director needs to understand the context in which training occurs and take into account the limited resources of the health care delivery system and the constraints imposed by the current era of managed care. This article provides an overview of the requirements for successfully achieving these complex goals and objectives.