Section Chief and Medical Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services

The Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine seeks a dynamic physician leader to serve as Section Chief and Medical Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services at Yale New Haven Hospital. This is a key leadership role overseeing the care of psychiatric patients across two emergency room sites and an observation unit at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

This position carries a faculty appointment within the Department of Psychiatry at the assistant or associate professor level, depending upon the candidate’s qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will be an inspiring and collaborative leader with a demonstrated ability to build and guide high-performing teams. They will have a strong record of partnership across emergency medicine and other medical specialties and will play a central role in advancing clinical innovation, education, and academic scholarship. Working closely with hospital and departmental leadership, the Section Chief will uphold clinical standards, drive quality improvement initiatives, lead faculty recruitment and retention, and foster trainee development, with creativity and a clear strategic vision.

The ideal candidate will be board-certified in Psychiatry and will bring a strong record of administrative and clinical leadership. This is a unique opportunity to lead a dedicated acute care clinical team at a world-class academic medical center.

The Psychiatric Emergency Service consists of a locked Crisis Intervention Unit embedded within the Emergency Department, as well as a locked psychiatric Observation Unit which specifically services psychiatric emergency patients. Yale-New Haven Hospital is the primary teaching and clinical research facility of Yale School of Medicine and consistently ranks among the best hospitals in the United States. Yale-New Haven Hospital provides psychiatric emergency services, psychiatric consultation-liaison services, and encompasses the Yale Psychiatric Hospital, a 118-bed acute care Inpatient psychiatric facility that also provides specialized step-down intensive outpatient/day hospital programs for adolescents and adults, and Interventional Psychiatric Services

Why Choose Yale School of Medicine:

Excellent work environment – a supportive group of highly regarded faculty who provide state-of-the-art IR in an academic setting. Opportunities to develop research interests in collaboration with radiology clinical teams across the campus. Current and future research opportunities involving advanced imaging modalities.

Career Advancement – Unlock your potential and embrace exciting opportunities for professional growth and career advancement within our esteemed healthcare system!

Compensation Package – Enjoy an enhanced compensation package, If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career where you can make a real difference, we want you on our team.

Relocation Assistance – We recognize how vital a smooth transition is, and with our relocation assistance, your journey can be seamless.

Benefits – In addition to a competitive salary, benefits include comprehensive health, dental, vision insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, mortgage program, commuter benefits, Yale home buying program, college tuition benefit plan, and advantage discount program (discounts for activities, travel, services, shopping, and more).

About New Haven: New Haven is a city of innovation and culture, situated between Boston and New York on Long Island Sound. It boasts museums, theaters, music, sports, and award-winning restaurants, alongside a mix of boutique shops and national brands. With quaint neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown, the city offers various living options. New Haven is easily accessible by plane, train, and car, and is walkable or bike-friendly, with a free shuttle service from Yale

Responsibilities:

Clinical Leadership

Oversee the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU), which provides emergency psychiatric evaluations and crisis management for over 5,000 patient visits annually

Ensure rapid diagnostic assessments and appropriate disposition planning for patients presenting with a wide range of psychiatric conditions.

Supervise and support a multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and advanced practice providers.

Administrative Oversight

Lead strategic planning and quality improvement initiatives for psychiatric emergency services.

Collaborate with hospital leadership to align emergency psychiatric care with institutional goals and community needs.

Manage staffing, scheduling, and operational workflows to ensure efficient and safe patient care.

Education & Training

Provide mentorship and supervision to medical students, residents, and fellows rotating through emergency psychiatry.

Contribute to curriculum development and training in crisis intervention, emergency psychiatric evaluation, and acute care management.

Program Development

Innovate and expand services to meet evolving patient needs, including integration with outpatient and interventional psychiatric programs.

Foster collaboration with other departments (e.g., emergency medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics) to ensure coordinated care.

Research & Scholarship

Support or lead research initiatives focused on psychiatric emergencies, crisis stabilization, and systems of care.

Promote evidence-based practices and contribute to scholarly publications and presentations.

Qualifications

Medical Degree (MD or DO) from an accredited institution.

Board Certification in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).

Eligibility for medical licensure in the State of Connecticut.

Demonstrated clinical expertise in emergency psychiatry, acute care psychiatry, or crisis intervention.

Preferred Qualifications

Leadership experience in psychiatric emergency services or acute care settings.

Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, APRNs, social workers, and trainees.

Proven ability to manage complex psychiatric presentations in high-acuity environments.

Strong commitment to education and mentorship, including teaching medical students, residents, and fellows.

Familiarity with quality improvement, program development, and interdepartmental collaboration.

Academic accomplishments in research, scholarship, or clinical innovation.

Application Instructions:

Excited to join our team?

Please contact our recruiter at or Book time with Chasity LaPlante: Psychiatry Interview

All final candidates will need to provide three letters of reference.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Full Time