Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship

Message from the Training Director 

Welcome to the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC) and MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor. Our two-year fellowship program is accredited by the ACGME for six positions. The program offers training in varied settings including community mental health, an academic medical center and in a free standing psychiatric hospital. Outpatient and consultative services are located primarily at MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, Maine’s premier referral and training hospital.

Inpatient rotations take place at MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor, a private, psychiatric hospital which offers psychiatric treatment, physician training, and medical research opportunities. MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor dedicates 40 beds to child and adolescent programs and is the only hospital program in Maine where children with developmental disorders can receive intensive inpatient treatment. Both MHMMC and MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor serve a wide geographic area, providing care to a socio-economically and culturally diverse patient population.

We take pride in graduating outstanding child and adolescent psychiatrists who are attuned to the familial, cultural, and social systems involved in child and adolescent health. In addition to training in psychopharmacology, we emphasize the value of psychotherapy through case-based learning, didactics, and supervision. Fellows participate in a two year family therapy seminar while also advancing their skills in multiple other therapy modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and play therapy. 

We teach collaborative care models of consultation to inpatient pediatricians, primary care physicians, school providers, and juvenile justice workers. Our program provides exposure to many treatment settings and modalities of treatment, yet is flexible enough to allow fellows to develop their own professional interests, whether in clinical care, education, advocacy, or research.

We have a diverse and dedicated teaching faculty including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and skilled supervisors from the community. Ongoing departmental research on the genetics of mental health, developmental disabilities, early childhood trauma and early psychosis continues to be recognized in academic publications, conferences and in the media. We support our trainees’ involvement in quality improvement projects and research within our department and throughout MHMMC and MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor. Additionally, we encourage fellows to participate in the many opportunities available to teach. 

MHMMC is affiliated with the Tufts University School of Medicine and fellows are involved in teaching our medical students on their core psychiatry rotations and elective rotations in psychiatry. Fellows are also involved in teaching general psychiatry residents and pediatric residents and have shared learning opportunities with other trainees such as social work interns.

The greater Portland area is a wonderful place to live and work. With easy access to the coastal beaches, the Lakes region and the nearby White Mountains, there are countless activities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Regional public schools are excellent, and Maine is a safe and supportive environment for families. Portland is a vibrant city with a great art, music and food scene. 

The MaineHealth Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship nurtures personal development along with professional excellence. We look forward to showing you what we have to offer.

Erin L. Belfort, MD, DFAACAP
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Fellowship Training Director
207-662-2426