Senior Psychiatrist, Correctional Health Services

Overview

Senior Psychiatrist, Correctional Health Services – NYC Health + Hospitals

Location:

Various locations on Rikers Island.

Shifts:

8a - 4p;
Days:
Monday–Friday. This role is within the Correctional Health Services (CHS) division of NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest public health care system, serving 1.4 million New Yorkers across 70+ locations.

• Serve as the psychiatric leader of the facility or program, collaborating with the Mental Health Unit Chief, Clinical Supervisors, and Supervising Psychiatrists to provide safe, holistic, and evidence-based psychiatric care to incarcerated patients with varying mental health needs.
• Lead a team-based approach that includes mental health, medical disciplines, and security staff; train, recruit, and retain high-quality staff with strong leadership and mentorship.
• Ensure the highest quality of mental health care within the facility and in coordination with other jail facilities, including participation in quality improvement, safety initiatives, supervision, and staff development.
• Design, implement, and monitor facility-specific procedures, policies, and operating manuals in collaboration with the Mental Health Unit Chief.
• Direct clinical supervision of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and psychiatric physician assistants, including in vivo skills reviews and chart reviews.
• Coordinate regularly with other disciplines (mental health, medical, nursing, operations) and with the Department of Correction; ensure timely medication renewals.
• Educate staff on new developments in psychiatric care, including considerations specific to jail settings (legal influences, dual loyalty, diversion concerns).
• Ensure regulatory compliance; contribute to orientation for new staff and conduct regular multi-disciplinary case conferences.
• Report to the CHS Morbidity and Mortality review committee as needed; manage clinical schedules, CME activities, and staffing/education planning with the Mental Health Unit Chief.
• Participate in policy revisions, practice guidelines, and input into the psychiatric medication formulary; lead monthly interdisciplinary mental health meetings.
• Oversee personnel management, establish quality standards, and implement recruitment and retention strategies; allocate at least 30% of time to direct clinical care, with more time for direct patient care in smaller facilities.
• On-call responsibilities: two weeks at a time, one to multiple times per year for off-hours clinical intervention.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Medical Director of Mental Health or Chief of Service.

Applicants must meet all of the following:

• Graduation from a medical school approved by the Council on Medical Education and Hospitals of the American Medical Association.
• Completion of an acceptable internship in an approved hospital.
• License to practice medicine in the State of New York.
• Certification by American Board in the field of specialization or equivalent faculty appointment at a medical school recognized by the AMA.
• Eight (8) years of satisfactory full-time paid experience in the field of specialization, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory or administrative capacity (training and experience required for certification credited toward required specialized experience).

• Strong diagnostic and treatment skills, including psychopharmacology, safe medication administration, management of medical complications related to mental illness, and therapeutic resistance.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills with other disciplines, including DOC staff.
• Visible leadership with ability to mentor and educate staff; buprenorphine waiver training encouraged but not required.

Education

• MD or DO with active New York State license in good standing
• Completion of a 4-year psychiatric residency
• Active certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry

Experience

• At least two years of post-residency experience working with individuals with mental illness in criminal justice or public health settings
• At least one year of post-residency supervisory experience in psychiatry
• At least one year of post-residency experience working with individuals with serious mental illness
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered

• Comprehensive health benefits for employees working 20+ hours
• Retirement savings and pension plans
• Paid holidays and vacation benefits as per labor contracts
• Loan forgiveness programs for eligible employees
• Tuition discounts and professional development opportunities
• College savings program and union benefits for eligible titles
• Multiple employee discounts and commuter benefits