Rural Psychiatry Track

We offer many ways to gain experience practicing Psychiatry in rural settings, from individual electives to our Rural Psychiatry Track in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This is a two-year tracked program applicants apply for in the NRMP. This includes completing two years based in East Lansing and then two years based in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. To apply, interested applicants should use the following number in ERAS: 2436400C1 (Categorical) Rural Program Track. A special interview will be set up for qualified applicants. This is currently part of the MiDOCs program which provides underserved areas increased access to specific medical specialties through special training programs. More information can be found at michigandocs.org.

Our partner in the Upper Peninsula (UP), UP Health System - Marquette, is the sole provider of specialty care for that region of the state. Psychiatrists from Marquette provide care to many rural community mental health centers in the UP. Marquette is approximately 400 miles from Lansing in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The UP has a population of about 350,000. Residents live in Marquette, the largest city with a population of 50,000. They rotate with psychiatrists at Marquette General Hospital, which is the tertiary care institution for the UP and provides inpatient adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, outpatient psychiatry, and addiction treatment services. This track trains individuals in rural psychiatry and is an interesting and useful way to prepare for rural practice. We currently have five psychiatry graduates of the MSU program practicing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Our residents also have the option of doing some rotations in Marquette, Michigan. Residents attend seminars given in East Lansing via two-way interactive television.

Rural Track Program Contacts

Emily Schnurr, DO
Program Director
MSU Department of Psychiatry
965 Wilson Rd., A233 East Fee Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 353-4362
Email: brownemi@msu.edu

Kelley Mahar, MD
Associate Program Director - Rural Track
Upper Peninsula Health System
580 West College Ave
Marquette, MI 49855
Email: kelley.mahar@lifepointhealth.net

Jordan Sturgill
Residency Program Administrator
MSU Department of Psychiatry
965 Wilson Rd., A233 East Fee Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 353-4362
Email: sturgi13@msu.edu

Megan Dixon
Assistant Residency Coordinator - Rural Track
Upper Peninsula Health System
580 West College Ave
Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: (906) 449-1636
Email: megan.dixon@lifepointhealth.net