Psychiatric Prescriber

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at [email protected].

Job Description

The Psychiatric Prescriber is able to apply leadership skills, expert consultation, and high-level clinical responsibility for student care.  Specifically, this role provides comprehensive psychiatric assessment and treatment to students with some of the most complex psychiatric needs on-campus. The Smith College Schacht Center teams work collaboratively and collegially to offer accessible, professional medical and mental health care, in addition to wellness education, to Smith’s diverse population. This position supports a strong work-life balance working 39-weeks in the year while enjoying Summers off, as well as ample personal, sick, and vacation days. More information on Smith College’s benefits can be found here.

Job Summary

The Psychiatrist is responsible for providing comprehensive psychiatric care to students, including initial evaluations, ongoing clinical appointments, crisis interventions, and leadership in psychiatric services. This role involves clinical responsibilities, administrative tasks, and leadership duties to ensure the effective delivery of mental health services to students.
 

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Clinical Responsibilities (65%)

• Perform initial diagnostic/psychiatric evaluations to identify student clinical problems/diagnoses in line with professional psychiatric care standards.
• Conduct psychopharmacology evaluations, prescribe medications as appropriate, and provide follow-up medication monitoring.
• Generate and execute individualized treatment plans promptly.
• Maintain a strong understanding of developmental and mental health challenges affecting late adolescents and young adults.
• Issue lab orders as needed.
• Provide short-term or time-sensitive treatment compatible with the academic calendar.
• Refer students to other service providers, both on and off campus, as needed.
• Provide crisis intervention during office hours and serve as an on-call after-hours clinician, including weekends and holiday/recess periods.
• Provide individual and group therapy as needed.
• Facilitate psychiatric hospitalizations, serve as a liaison with hospitals, and assist with aftercare planning.
• Adjust appointment schedules to meet changing clinical demands throughout the academic calendar.
• Provide documentation and consultation for student accommodations in partnership with the Class Deans’ Office and Office of Disability Services.
• Consult with family members of students as needed.
• Refer students to other service providers, on and off campus as needed.
• Provide and attend in-service trainings.
• Participate in periodic outreach programming.
• Establish and oversee quality assurance protocols related to psychiatric prescribing processes in partnership with Leadership of the Schacht Center.

Leadership, Supervision, and Administration (20%):

• As a member of the Schacht Center Leadership team, participate in strategic planning, policy development, and implementation of psychiatric services.
• Participate in weekly Schacht Center Leadership team meetings to assist with strategic planning, policy development, departmental integration initiatives, and implementation of psychiatric services
• Support oversight of the daily operations of psychiatric services, ensuring efficient and effective delivery.
• Provide clinical supervision to psychiatric staff, including psychiatrists and nurse practitioners.
• Manage at least one full-time staff member, including day-to-day oversight and assignment of duties.
• Under Leadership supervision, hire, train, manage, and address performance issues of staff.
• Recommend changes in policy and procedures as needed.
• Lead the Psychiatric Care Team, facilitating weekly meetings, identifying training opportunities, and providing consultation.
• Attend staff meetings and treatment plan meetings as needed.
• In concert with Leadership of the Schacht Center, serve as the Lead representative in their absence.

Administrative Tasks (15%):

• Maintain clear and timely clinical records in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, including intake evaluations, progress notes, treatment plans, treatment summaries, and crisis evaluations.
• Provide documentation as needed for students to receive necessary services such as academic accommodations, emotional support animals, or gender-affirming medical care.
• Participate in clinical and administrative staff meetings, group case consultations, supervision with Leadership of the Schacht Center, monthly Counseling/Health Service meetings, and seminars on topics pertinent to college mental health.
• Review students’ records and files to determine the progress, effectiveness, and appropriateness of treatment services.
• Provide documentation to support student accommodation requests and/or referrals for specialty care when warranted.
• Other Functions
• All employees are expected to participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

Medical degree (MD or DO) with specialization in Psychiatry. Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in psychiatry, preferably in a higher education setting or with a young adult population.

Will also consider an equivalent combination of the required experience and the following substitutions:
Minimum of 5 years and specific training or certification in psychiatric care as well as leadership experience., MSN degree and strong work history in higher education health services management and leadership.

Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

Qualification as a psychiatrist with experience in higher education
Supervisory experience preferred
Board certified or Board eligible in Adult Psychiatry.
Proven experience working with diverse constituencies.
Commitment to the core values of the college, student affairs division, and Schacht Center.
Ability to foster equitable and inclusive psychiatric care, demonstrated through cultural humility and sophistication in delivering mental health services to diverse student groups.
Empathy and positivity in work engagement with students and colleagues.
Ability to collaborate effectively with a team and willingness to contribute to the overall wellness of the college community.
Previous experience in management in a higher education setting.

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About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts.  A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at [email protected].

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of  equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty.  The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.