Welcome to the University of Colorado Psychiatry Residency Training Program.
We invite you to look through our website to gather more information about our clinical training sites, rotations, current residents and residency eligibility and application process.
Connect with our program by visiting our Instagram page. Here you can learn more about our residents, faculty, program, and life in beautiful Colorado. https://www.instagram.com/cupsychresidency/
Applications are accepted from graduates of United States and Canadian medical schools (MD and DO) and equivalent international medical schools.
To ensure that the process for selecting residents is consistent with guidelines established by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the University of Colorado Denver Graduate Medical Education Committee (GME), and to be compliant with University policies, appropriate federal and state statutes and regulations, this program has the following eligibility requirements.
1. The University of Colorado School of Medicine recognized that residents are trainees, not employees. As such, applicants much be able to meet conditions of the institutional house-officer (resident) training agreement and must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, or possess the appropriate documentation to allow residents to legally train at the CU School of Medicine.
2. Applicants must possess sufficient command of English to permit accurate and unimpeded communication.
3. Applicants must provide documentation of the following:
- Graduation from a medical school in the United States or Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME); or
- Graduation from any college of College of Osteopathic Medicine accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or
- Graduation from medical school outside of the United States or Canada and possessing a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) prior to appointment; or
- Graduation from medical schools outside the United States and completion of a Fifth Pathway Program provided by an LCME - accredited medical school; or
- Have an active an unrestricted physician license to practice medicine in Colorado.
4. Applicants must be eligible for either a physician training license or an active and unrestricted physician medical license as granted by the Colorado Medical Board.
5. Applicants must successfully pass a criminal background investigation (criteria specified in University of Colorado Denver and GMEC background investigation policies) and any affiliated training facility background investigation as necessary.
6. Applicants for PGY-1 positions must be no more than 3 years past their graduation date from medical school.
7. Applicants for PGY-2 positions (if currently available) and above must be currently active in the practice of medicine, either in an accredited training program or in clinical practice.
8. Applicants from medical school outside of the United States or Canada must have relevant US clinical training experience.
9. There is no minimum USMLE Step 1 or COMLEX Level 1 score requirement. However, passing scores must be obtained in no more than two attempts. Original transcripts must be provided.
10. Successful completion of USMLE Step 2 (CS & CK) or COMLEX Level 2 (CE & CP) is required to start the program. Passing scores must be obtained within two attempts. Original transcripts must be submitted by May 1.
A Resident Selection Committee for each training program evaluates all eligible applicants. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of their preparedness and experience; academic credentials; ability and aptitude; communication and interpersonal skills; and on personal qualities such as integrity, learning motivation, and work ethic, and the ability to function within parameters expected of a practitioner in the specialty.
To determine the appropriate level of training for applicants wishing to transfer from another training program, the program director must receive written verification of previous training experiences and a statement from the resident’s current program director regarding the performance evaluation of the transferring resident prior to acceptance into the program.
Programs will review and select applicants in a manner consistent with provisions of equal opportunity employment and must not discriminate with regard to sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability or any other applicable legally protected status.
We offer 15 PGY-1 positions each year. We typically receive around 1,300 applications and interview approximately 145 candidates.
We only accept PGY-1 applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS): https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/eras/ and participate in the National Resident Matching Program (https://www.nrmp.org/ ).
The Psychiatry Residency offers several tracks that can be applied to during the recruitment phase. More information on each track can be found on the Research and Clinical Training Tracks page of our website. The offered tracks have separate program codes for NRMP and ERAS. Please apply to each program you would like to be considered for:
| CU Track Name | NRMP Program/Track Listing | NRMP Program Code |
| Psychiatry | Psychiatry | 1076400C0 |
| Pathways Resident Research Track | Psychiatry/Research | 1076400C2 |
| Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Track | Psychiatry/CAP | 1076400C3 |
| Community Public Psychiatry Track (CommPPT) | Psychiatry/Comm Public | 1076400C4 |
All applications are reviewed for consideration of invitation to interview. Applications will be available to the program on September 25, 2024.
All applications must include the following:
- Original graduate transcript(s), when applicable
- Original medical school transcript(s)
- Original Dean's Letter (MSPE)
- Certified copy of medical school diploma, if applying for PGY 2 position.
- Copies of state medical license(s), DEA certificate, when applicable
- Documentation of any post-graduate medical education completed elsewhere
- Documentation of ECFMG certification, when applicable
- Documentation of status, for international applicants
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement
- Three professional letters of recommendation
- A formal letter from the current Program Director outlining rotations completed and anticipated to be completed, when applying for a PGY 2 position
- Documentation of successful passing scores on USMLE part 1 (and part 2 CS and CK once available), or COMLEX equivalents
Applicants are responsible for requesting all supporting documentation above.
All interviews for the 2024-25 application season will be held virtually through Zoom. Applicants will be invited through ERAS to schedule interviews after applications are released to the program on September 25, 2024 and the Selection Committee has reviewed applications.
Interviews are scheduled by invitation and will take place in October- January.
Due to the large number of applications received, we are unable to interview all applicants. You will receive an email through ERAS on the status of your application by January 17, 2025.
The University of Colorado Psychiatry Residency will be participating in or hosting the following pre-recruitment events for 2024-25. Please see the details and links below to sign up for any of these opportunities to learn more about our residency.
CU Psychiatry Residency Virtual Meet and Greet Events
September 4th or 17th, 2024 from 6-7 pm MST.
Please join our residents to learn more about our program and ask questions about applying for residency during one of our virtual meet-and-greet events. You may sign up to participate using this link: Click here to sign up!
Connect with our Residents
Please visit our Instagram page to learn more about our residents, faculty, program and life in beautiful Colorado. https://www.instagram.com/cupsychresidency/
Other helpful links
CU GME Benefits- https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/graduate-medical-education/CUGME-benefits/benefits
CU GME Stipends- https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/graduate-medical-education/CUGME-benefits/stipends
The Minority and Allied Residency Council (MARC, as part of the CU Office of Diversity and Inclusion)- https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/deans-office/diversity-inclusion
CU Housestaff Association- https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/graduate-medical-education/programs/housestaff-association
CU Department of Psychiatry-In the News- https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/psychiatry/about/in-the-news
National Residency Matching Program (NRMP)- https://www.nrmp.org/
Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS): https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/eras/
Contact Us
Department of Psychiatry Residency
1890 North Revere Ct, F546
AHSB, Suite 4100, Rm 4102
Aurora, CO 80045
Phone: (303) 724-6021
Sara Dillard
Program Coordinator
Phone: (303) 724-6019
Email: Sara Dillard
Kimberly Kelsay, MD
Program Director
Phone: (303) 724-6021
Email: Kimberly Kelsay