KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) announced they have received an anonymous $1.52 million donation that will go towards expanding access to child and adolescent psychiatry care in Southwest Michigan.
Dubbed the “Dean’s Endowment for Clinical Excellence in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,” the gift is slated to support the recruitment of up to three child and adolescent psychiatrists to WMed — including $20,000 that will be available for immediate use, officials said.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) says that there is a “substantial shortage” of child and adolescent psychiatrists in the region. More than 70 additional specialists are needed to adequately care for the existing patient population.
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“This gift is going to help us begin to make an impact on that shortage,” said Dr. Eric Achtyes, MD, MS, DFAPA, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry. “The short-term vision is that we want to bring these new practitioners here now and then build a bridge for a long-term supply of these valuable experts.”…