ERIE, PA (July 15, 2024) – LECOM Health Corry Memorial Hospital received a three-year, $750,000 grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for a new rural track residency program in psychiatry.
The funds for this program are part of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative to establish new residency programs in rural communities to increase the number of providers serving rural communities. Corry Memorial Hospital is one of just 15 organizations nationwide to be chosen for this competitive grant.
“Rural communities often face significant challenges in accessing mental health services,” said Dr. Danielle Hansen, vice president of behavioral health at LECOM Health Millcreek Community Hospital. “With this program, we’re not just addressing this gap; we’re actively working to close it.”
“By training psychiatrists who are not only skilled but also deeply committed to rural healthcare, we ensure that our efforts extend beyond care delivery to foster long-term community resilience. We are excited to bring this needed, high quality care to the communities we serve.”
Clinical rotations and training for residents in this program will take place at Corry Memorial Hospital and Corry Counseling of LECOM Health, ensuring diverse and comprehensive training experiences on the unique needs, barriers, and characteristics of rural communities. The program will benefit those living in rural Erie, Warren, and Crawford counties in Pennsylvania and Chautauqua County in New York by providing increased access to psychiatric care.
According to Dr. Meghan McCarthy, psychiatry residency program director, the new track will increase not only the number of providers practicing in the area but also the likelihood the program graduates will continue their practice in these communities.
“This new psychiatry track isn’t just an educational program; it’s a lifeline to rural areas that have historically been overlooked in mental health resources,” said Dr. McCarthy, director of the psychiatry residency program. “By cultivating a dedicated team of psychiatrists in these regions, we are setting a foundation for sustained mental wellness that will benefit generations.”
Through similar funding, LECOM Health Corry Memorial Hospital became the first critical access hospital in the U.S. with an internal medicine residency program; the program was accredited in January 2024.
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For More Information:
Brandon Boyd
Director of Marketing and Communications, LECOM Behavioral Health
814-616-0546