Dr. Smita Naidoo
It may only be year two of UBC’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Program, but word is getting out, and residents are lining up.
“I have never looked back,” says Smita Naidoo, a PGY5 resident in the subspecialty training program.
Dr. Naidoo, who moved from the soggy shores of Vancouver to the equally soggy shores of Dublin, Ireland to pursue her MD, is now completing her postgraduate training at UBC and is one of a handful of residents in the CAP subspecialty training program – which exposes residents to a variety of issues related to child and adolescent development and psychiatric disorders.
“In child and adolescent psychiatry, you are constantly amazed by the challenges that children and youth face and what an impact mental health can have on families,” says Dr. Naidoo. “Learning the expertise of how to navigate these challenges, and provide children and youth and their families with coaching and support is critical.”
The CAP program, which follows the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) requirements for clinical training, sees residents complete a number of clinical electives and rotations in inpatient, ambulatory, community and emergency care.
Child and adolescent psychiatry subspecialty residents also complete a three-month rotation in Consultation-Liaison, a placement that Dr. Naidoo is currently completing at B.C. Children’s Hospital under the supervision of Andrea Chapman, the program director and a former grad of UBC’s MD and postgraduate residency training programs.
Early diagnosis and treatment is critical
Dr. Chapman is thrilled about the response that the CAP Program is having among residents and faculty alike. And, as a child and adolescent psychiatrist who has been at the forefront of profession for over two decades, she’s excited to see residents have the opportunity to gain sub-specialty training this field.
“Mental health issues are huge determinants on children’s developmental trajectories so the appropriate attention and intervention at a stage where you can make a change and influence is so important,” she says.
The importance of early diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders among children and adolescents is one lesson that Dr. Naidoo has already taken away from her residency.
“It can be as basic as food refusal, having chronic sleep problems, or not being able to keep up to their peers at school — mental health issues in children and youth are often disguised, which can make them really complicated to diagnose,” says Dr. Naidoo. “But mental health issues – like anxiety and depression — need to be treated as diligently as diabetes or other chronic illnesses because, just like any chronic illness, it will become more severe when it’s not treated. And it can unfortunately lead to disastrous results.”
The need for more child and adolescent psychiatrists is great
Dr. Smita Naidoo with CAP program director, Dr. Andrea Chapman
According to Dr. Chapman, in B.C. there’s a need for more child and adolescent psychiatrists, who not only have the specialized training, but also the time to devote to complex psychiatric issues.
The important role that specialist and sub-specialists, like Dr. Chapman, play in the overall healthcare system is widely recognized.
“A sustainable healthcare system includes the training of specialty and subspecialty physicians,” says Dr. Roger Wong, associate dean of postgraduate medical education. “The growth and demographics of B.C.’s population means that demand for physicians trained in subspecialties, particularly those who focus on medical conditions affecting aging and younger populations, will continue to increase.”
UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Postgraduate Subspecialty Residency Programs cover a variety of fields, ranging from gynecologic oncology to critical care medicine and geriatric psychiatry. Together, these programs are training physicians who provide specialized skills and knowledge that benefit patients, often with significant health challenges, across British Columbia. Subspecialty-trained physicians also offer support to family physicians providing front-line patient care across the province through professional consultations and referrals.
CAP Program offers strong mentorship and research opportunities
Dr. Naidoo, who will be among the first cohort of residents to graduate from the CAP program, is excited by the endless opportunities afforded by a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. Until then, she’s taking advantage of all that residency at UBC has to offer.
“The program is very flexible and really caters towards mentorship and research. If you have an interest in research, they will make sure to accommodate you. And if you want to network and get exposed to different things – they’ll help you do so,” says Dr. Naidoo, who is not only working on a research project of her very own, but has also linked business arms with a marketing editor to write evidence-based children’s books on mental health issues.
“We want these books to be non-stigmatizing. I would love to see mental health books not in the self-help section, but in the child section of a regular book store,” says Dr. Naidoo. “The plan is to give parents, teachers — even physicians — a really clear way of communicating about mental health issues.”
And with the support from co-residents and clinical instructors, Dr. Naidoo is well on her way to seeing her plans come to fruition.