Kirsten Salmela
Why UW Child and Adolescent Psychiatry?
"UW was a clear choice for me for multiple reasons- when looking at programs, I was looking for places with training opportunities in my specific interests (infant and perinatal mental health, multiple therapeutic training modalities, community involvement and collaborative care) as well as a broad range of additional experiences to expand my comfort level working with all CAP populations. SCH has a wonderful range of faculty who are leaders in their specific areas but also supportive and approachable mentors; I knew I would be happiest in a positive and non-hierarchal environment and that has absolutely been the case at UW. Additionally, I have been regularly visiting friends in Seattle for years and I LOVE the combination of outdoor recreation and city opportunities that the area provides.”
Education
Undergrad: Michigan State University
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Psychiatry Residency: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Follow Me For A Week
| Morning: | I spend Monday morning at a local community mental health clinic and see patients for new evaluations and follow up visits. I end the morning in supervision and then attend a weekly DBT seminar | ||
| Afternoon: | I spend my afternoons in our co-occurring disorders clinic. I see new evaluations, follow up visits, and attend supervision. | ||
| Weekday Evenings: | Seattle has so much to offer year-round! When not catching up on life tasks (laundry, groceries, etc.), my partner and I love a good workout and spending time with our friends and two pups. I have a great hot yoga studio and climbing gym and Seattle has so many bike trails and paddleboard spots! Afterward, there are a ton of (dog-friendly) breweries and restaurants to meet up with friends |
| All Day: | I spend Tuesday in a nearby juvenile detention center where the fellows see patients for medication management and therapy. I am currently providing weekly trauma-focused CBT. We attend supervision and a weekly TF-CBT seminar |
| All Day: | Wednesday is our outpatient continuity clinic day. I see follow up visits for medication management and weekly therapy and also complete new evaluations. We are given time for supervision and journal club on Wednesdays. |
| Morning: | Thursday morning is spent in early childhood clinic where we receive supervision and didactics and see families for new evaluations and follow up visits. | |
| Afternoon: | I am currently taking an integrative care elective. I meet with a local integrative care physician, attend various integrative care conferences, and have been provided with a lot of great resources for independent reading. |
| Morning: | Friday morning is didactic time. My class is currently in a series discussing career exploration and the post-fellowship job search! | |
| Afternoon: | On Friday afternoon I attend a family therapy supervision group. I also have time to see additional continuity clinic patients, attend meetings, and wrap up any remaining tasks from the week. |
| Morning: | It's late summer now which is the perfect time for backpacking! There are endless options in the PNW. My friends and I will head out in the morning, spend the day hiking, and then spend the evening enjoying snacks, good company, campfires, and stargazing. |
| Morning: | We wake up in our tents with views of mountains and lakes. We make coffee, pack up camp, and begin our return hike. On the drive home we are sure to stop for a good meal. I'm home by late afternoon to relax and prepare for the week. |
Clinical Rotations
F2 year is all about honing our CAP skills and exploring elective interests. My current rotations include community mental health, co-occurring disorders, DBT, forensics, early childhood, integrative care, and family therapy. In the spring, my rotations include parent management training, perinatal mental health, eating disorders, early interventions in psychosis, and the SCH Autism Center. Throughout the year, I maintain a continuity clinic one day per week.
Career Goals
"After completion of fellowship, I hope to work in an outpatient or partial hospitalization setting. I enjoy working with both children and adults and am especially interested in perinatal and early childhood mental health. I plan to remain in the Seattle area because of the passionate and kind colleagues I have met as well as the lifestyle that Seattle provides."
Average Weekly Hours
- Approximately 40 hours per week
Night and Weekend Duty
On average throughout the year, each fellow takes approximately four weeks of weeknight call, four Saturday calls, and four Sunday calls. These calls are divided between the F1 and F2 classes.
Weeknight call is primarily from home and weekend call involves rounding in the morning and home call in the evening. SCH allows us a post-call day after each call shift which has been wonderful for work-life balance.