The American Psychiatric Association has participated in the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) since 1973. The program goals are to advance the quality of mental and substance use disorder prevention and treatment services and improve mental health care outcomes for all. The program seeks to increase the number and quality of psychiatrists who teach, administer services, conduct research, and provide direct mental and/or substance use disorder services to our Nation’s communities, and to treat and serve populations with higher prevalence of behavioral health challenges and conditions more effectively.

The application period is now closed.

Program Benefits

• Funding to support your own innovative and creative Capstone Project
• Monthly virtual professional development sessions
• Gain access to employment opportunities through a virtual job fair
• Gain an understanding of gaps in mental health care through the LEAD Institute curriculum
• Receive mentorship from leaders in psychiatry through the Advocate & Protégé Program
• Attend the Learning Lab, Fall Mental Health Summit, and Spring Leadership Summit, with the goal of enhancing your leadership skills in psychiatry by advancing your understanding of mental health inequities
• Attend the APA Annual Meeting with the opportunity to present a poster or oral presentation of your Capstone Project
• Gain understanding of APA Governance through service on an APA Council, committee or work group
• Receive access to a lifetime network of psychiatrists
• Establish long term relationships with resident fellows with similar career interests and goals

Program Expectations

• Be in good standing in one's residency program throughout the fellowship
• Attend the APA Annual Meeting and all fellowship-related activities
• Contribute to the work of an APA Council or APA leadership group (in-person meetings, conference calls, email discussions and work groups)
• Participate in orientation sessions and required training
• Join a minimum of 75% of regular fellowship teleconference meetings
• Prepare a mid-year and year-end report outlining use of funds and fellowship experiences
• Complete all evaluations including Pre-Fellowship Survey, Biannual (mid-year and year-end) Surveys, Post-Fellowship Two-Year Commitment Survey
• Respond to a yearly short survey on the two-year commitment for the two years after the fellowship ends
• Contribute items for e-newsletters and/or submit a post to the APA blog

Number of Awards

45

Program Term

October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2027

Criteria / Eligibility

• Be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or noncitizen nationals
• PGY-1 level or higher at the time of matriculation
• Remain in training during the entire duration of the fellowship
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering patient-centered mental health care for all
• You can apply for as many APA and APAF Fellowships during an application cycle based on your eligibility. However, participation in more than one APA and APAF fellowship simultaneously is not permitted.

Selection Criteria

The selection committee will be looking for the following competencies in applicants:

• Excellence of the candidate's CV (leadership, creativity, clinical skills, extra-curricular activities, publications/presentations)
• Strong letters of recommendation (training director's evaluation, other references)
• Compelling personal statement

Deadline

March 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time)

Notification

Mid-April

Contact

American Psychiatric Association
Workforce Development Initiative Team
General Email: [email protected]
Program Coordinator Email: [email protected]