Old But New

I read with interest the article “Residency Program Combines Child, General Psychiatry” in the March 3 issue. I was surprised that this combined training seemed like a new and suddenly creative concept. Thomas Anders, M.D., wrote, “Now we have regulatory concurrence that integrated training is feasible. We are left with how to implement this.”

Certainly, one place to look for proof is Duke University Medical Center. Drs. John Fowler and Ewald Busse had a four-year combined program for child psychiatry training already in place when I entered in 1970. The general residents were part of the same program, starting their child rotations in year one. Thus, this “new” concept is at least 36-plus years old.