Reasons to Choose Jackson

Finding the right fit for your residency training is essential. We would like to give you some information about what it is like to train here at Henry Ford Jackson. Below, you can see pictures of our residents in action, review some highlights of our program, and read testimonials from past and current residents. If we look like a good fit for you, we hope you’ll apply.

Program Highlights

• Our program has a small class size, with four residents per year, which has allowed us to develop a warm and close-knit culture.
• We have very high resident satisfaction with the program. On our anonymous ACGME 2024 survey, 93% of our residents gave a, “very positive” overall evaluation of the program and 7% giving a, “somewhat positive” overall evaluation, well above the national average.
• Our faculty care about our residents and provide intensive mentorship, supervision, teaching, and feedback.
• We have a weekly resident-led meeting, where all the residents come together for fun activities, camaraderie, and learning.
• Our small class size allows for residents to have a voice and shape the program.
• We have a year-long psychotherapy mentorship during our outpatient rotation, during which residents learn and gain experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, depression, and sleep, dialectical behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and motivational interviewing.
• In 2024 we opened our high acuity inpatient psychiatry unit, which allows residents to get intensive experience managing severe psychopathology.
• Interested residents have the opportunity to travel to local, regional, national, or international conferences with financial support from the program; in 2024 several residents traveled to Hawaii for the Molecular Psychiatry Meeting!
• The city of Jackson has a lot to offer, with great food, outdoor recreation, events, and museums. Jackson is also affordable and geographically in a great location in southeast Michigan, close enough for weekend trips to major cities including Ann Abor, Lansing, Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland. Learn more about things to do in Jackson.
• Our diverse and underserved community, with a high prevalence of substance abuse and trauma, provides meaningful and rewarding experiences that will prepare you for any career in psychiatry.

Resident Testimonials

“I could not have asked for a better group of people to share my residency experience with. We always find a way to share even the most seemingly ordinary moments together and make them memorable. Whether that's overcrowding a small table just so that we can all enjoy each other's company at lunch or getting together for a spontaneous craft beer after work, the stress of training feels that much lighter with amazing people around you always lifting your spirits.” – Monika Jankowicz

“I am in my third year and continue to be very happy to be a part of this program. What initially drew me here was the fact that I grew up in Southeast Michigan and the hospital was close to home. After my interview, I ranked this program higher than expected because everyone I spoke with was kind and inviting. This warmth and acceptance have only grown since then. I was initially worried about how my social life would be here, especially moving from a big city to the relatively rural Jackson, Michigan. But between the friendly residents and exciting cities in the surrounding area, this did not end up being an issue at all. The attendings at this program are always open to feedback and have made changes that reflect the preferences of residents. We get individualized training from attendings who all have their own style of practice, and I appreciate the different perspectives. There is no shortage of complex patients here. We learn how to care for individuals who struggle in multiple areas of life and navigate the challenges that come with barriers to healthcare. I rarely feel over-worked at this program, yet I also feel like I'm learning everything I am supposed to be, and I am confident that I will be prepared as an attending when the time comes.” – Miheer Sapre

"My day-to-day experience on the inpatient unit includes meeting with patients and interdisciplinary collaboration to provide the best standard of care for our patients. The staff on the unit was very friendly and supportive when I first started intern year and made the learning curve that much easier. A unique aspect of this program is our residents and location. I've found that each resident brings a unique background and perspective to patient care that I try to learn from and incorporate into my practice. I find my colleagues easy to work with and fun to be around. The location of Jackson is unique in the patient population we serve. There is a wide range of psychopathology and an ample amount of substance abuse. The skills I am gaining in treating this population make me feel confident that, upon graduation, I could go anywhere and practice psychiatry." – Jennifer Lenchner, DO

"Having grown up and planning to practice in the Midwest, I wanted to be in a program within the region. I also was particularly interested in the program as my brother was a resident in the family medicine program here. I started out thinking I would most likely lean towards outpatient work as that is what I had enjoyed more during my medical school rotations. However, so far, I have enjoyed my experience in our inpatient unit much more than I had even expected. Being able to spend multiple days with a patient and seeing their progression based on the course of treatment I have found helpful in developing my knowledge and my sense of care for patients. Having hours of access to patients in which you can spend as much or as little time with a specific patient as you seem fit for them on that day, is something unique I have found about the inpatient unit. I was a little nervous when starting as it was my first rotation, but everyone on the unit from my fellow residents to the nursing staff and social workers were always helpful and supportive. It really helped my transition from a medical student to an intern." – Mirza ‘Wasi’ Khan, DO

"My start to residency is memorable because it gave me a glimpse of what being an intern meant, whether that be navigating the inpatient unit milieu, learning psychopharmacology, or developing interview techniques. It also introduced me to the people with whom I would share this experience. They were role models for how diligence and curiosity make great clinicians. At HFJH, the attendings care, spend the time to teach, and foster an atmosphere of inquiry. I have become even more appreciative of our patient discussions and the willingness of attendings to allow for progressive autonomy. This is a program where you will see complex and severe pathology and be able to explore your interests within psychiatry in a supportive and welcoming environment." – Brian Lu, MD

"I had the pleasure of completing a four-week psychiatry rotation at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital during my fourth year of medical school. I was impressed by the complexity and diversity of psychopathology I encountered. I have continued to experience a wide range of psychopathology during my training here. In addition, the friendliness of residents, attendings, and other staff members contribute to an excellent training environment. I am absolutely delighted to be completing my psychiatry training at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital." – Joseph Dube, DO

"Through my training at the HFJH psychiatry residency, I am confident that I will develop the skills necessary to be a competent psychiatrist. The many challenges of the patient population in this area, including low health literacy, severity of mental illness, substance abuse and limited resources are good learning opportunities. The faculty at this program are enthusiastic about teaching. and the environment between the residents is very supportive and collaborative." – Christina Pu, MD

"Our program is great with supporting the unique interests and goals of each resident. For example, I’m currently engaged in a fellowship through the APA/APAF and have taken a lead role in creating weekly supplemental learning material for resident education. Due to the flexibility and support found here, I have been able to comfortably balance such opportunities with my clinical dues. Overall, I am very appreciative of how this program has made me feel that my personal and professional development is a priority." – Ashley VanHaverbeck, DO