Career Choices: Community mental health in an urban/public setting

Dr. Stanciu: How did your career path prepare you to work in such a challenging setting?

Dr. Wadhwania: While at East Carolina University, teamwork and getting the best treatment for the patient was the goal. We treated an underserved population that did not have easy access to resources, and dealt with the same wide range of psychopathology. So my residency prepared me well to work in my current position.

Dr. Stanciu: How would you describe a psychiatric physician who is well-suited for such a setting?

Dr. Wadhwania: A perfect fit would be someone who is able to harness and build resources for the patients in the community and in the practice and wants to continue to build that skill. This individual is someone who is a team player, is flexible, and has a high professional frustration tolerance. The physician’s main aim would be to serve, and his or her mission would not be monetarily driven.

Continue to: What is the typical reimbursement model for your practice, and do you run into difficulties with health insurance providers in this setting?