MaineHealth Behavioral Health is launching a new Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellowship to prepare newly graduated psychiatric nurse practitioners and physician associates for practice and to help expand Maine's behavioral health workforce. 

The 12-month fellowship begins Sept. 30 and includes supervised rotations in a variety of clinical settings including inpatient, outpatient, substance use disorder treatment and rural psychiatry, along with didactic education, psychotherapy training and mentorship from experienced psychiatric physicians and APP faculty. The inaugural class was selected through a competitive application process.

The fellowship was developed in response to growing demand for behavioral health services and the need for more psychiatric providers. 

"Behavioral health demand continues to outpace workforce capacity across Maine," said Beth Dube, APRN-BC, program director of the Psychiatric APP Fellowship. "This fellowship gives new APPs the support they need to develop the clinical skills, confidence and judgment required to care for patients with complex mental health needs." 

Throughout the year, fellows will take on increasing clinical responsibility while working alongside experienced clinicians in a variety of care settings. 

The fellowship is part of MaineHealth's strategy to recruit and retain psychiatric providers and expand access to behavioral health care across Maine. MaineHealth will evaluate the program during its first year and pursue accreditation as it grows.

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include MaineGeneral Health in Augusta and Waterville. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.