Triple Board Residency at a Glance

Students who are passionate about both the physical and mental health of children may find the triple board residency especially rewarding. It is an excellent fit for those interested in integrated care models, developmental and behavioral pediatrics, child advocacy and public health. Graduates are well-positioned for careers in children’s hospitals, community mental health centers, academic medicine, policy or private practice. The program also appeals to students who enjoy interdisciplinary collaboration, neuroscience and lifelong learning.

During Phase 1, students interested in triple board training should focus on building a strong foundation in the basic sciences and clinical reasoning, as this will support success in future clerkships and board exams. It is helpful to seek out shadowing or volunteer experiences in both pediatrics and psychiatry to gain early exposure to the patient populations and clinical environments central to the program. Engaging in research related to child health, developmental disorders or mental health — particularly projects that align with pediatrics, general psychiatry or child and adolescent psychiatry — can demonstrate a clear commitment to the integrated nature of triple board training. Students are also encouraged to join interest groups in pediatrics, psychiatry or child advocacy, and to pursue longitudinal extracurricular activities that build leadership, communication and service skills.

Recommended electives include:

• Child and adolescent psychiatry
• Adult psychiatry (preferably in a hospital setting)

Additional electives that may be helpful once letter of recommendation needs are met:

• Developmental pediatrics
• Toxicology
• Child abuse
• Adolescent medicine
• Gender health clinic
• Sleep medicine
• Neurology

Elective choices may also depend on prior clerkship experiences. For example, if a student completed their psychiatry clerkship at Riley Hospital at the end of third year, they might request an letter of recommendation from that experience, reducing the need for an early fourth-year elective in child psychiatry.

Students interested in triple board typically complete their sub-internship (sub-I) in pediatrics. However, if the oediatrics sub-I is scheduled later in the fourth year, students may instead request a letter of recommendation from their pediatrics clerkship.

Given the limited programs in the country and the uniqueness of triple board, it can be helpful to complete an away elective.

Most programs do not require research; however, research and/or scholarly work related to pediatrics, child psychiatry, and/or psychiatry can strengthen the application.

Triple board residency is a five-year integrated training program that combines pediatrics, general psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry.

Yes. Rotations early in the fourth year are recommended to support both clinical experience and letters of recommendation in all three disciplines: pediatrics, adult psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. This helps programs assess a student’s readiness and commitment to each component of the triple board residency.

Letters of recommendation should ideally reflect the student’s performance and interest in each of the three areas. Strategic planning of rotations and electives can help ensure strong letters from relevant specialties.

Here are some helpful resources for this specialty:

• Check out the IU School of Medicine Triple Board program.

• Check out the informational page on the website for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Students can request a career mentor on the School of Medicine website or reach out to Julianne Giust, MD, for more information.