Message from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

It is my honor to welcome you to the UCLA Public and Community Psychiatry Fellowship. This groundbreaking program—developed in partnership between the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LAC DMH) and UCLA—is the first of its kind in Los Angeles County. Together, we are building a model of collaboration that brings the strengths of a world-class academic institution and the nation’s largest public mental health system into one unified effort to train the next generation of leaders in public psychiatry.

Los Angeles is home to one of the most diverse populations in the United States, representing cultures, languages, and traditions from around the world. Serving our communities effectively requires not only clinical skill, but also cultural humility, creativity, and thoughtful planning to ensure that the unique needs of each community are met. Fellows in this program will have the extraordinary opportunity to learn how to deliver psychiatric care in a richly diverse environment, where solutions must be adaptable, person-centered, and grounded in respect.

At the same time, the challenges we face in Los Angeles reflect the most pressing issues in public mental health nationwide. Too many individuals with serious mental illness remain unhoused. Far too many become entangled with the criminal justice system when what they need is treatment and support. There is a critical shortage of long-term care beds, and we must expand our ability to provide holistic, person-centered care in community settings outside of hospitals. Meeting these challenges requires leaders who are not only skilled clinicians but also bold innovators, advocates, and system changers.

This fellowship is designed to prepare you for exactly that role. Fellows will engage in hands-on clinical work within LAC DMH sites, where they will serve on the front lines of community mental health. They will also benefit from rigorous didactic coursework, mentorship, and research opportunities at UCLA, gaining the tools to evaluate programs, generate new knowledge, and advocate effectively for system-level improvements. Just as importantly, fellows will receive training in leadership and administration, ensuring that they graduate prepared to influence policy, manage teams, and lead organizations that are shaping the future of public psychiatry.

We are proud to offer this fellowship as a launching point for a career of impact. By joining us, you will not only serve the people of Los Angeles—you will also gain the knowledge and experience to advance public psychiatry wherever your path may lead. Our hope is that you will leave this program prepared to build systems that are equitable, compassionate, and effective, and to be a leader in addressing some of the most urgent mental health challenges of our time.

Thank you for your interest in this fellowship. We are excited about the possibility of working with you and supporting you on this journey of service, scholarship, and leadership.

Sincerely,