The halls of hospitals are swapped for school on Friday mornings when a group of psychiatry Fellows steps into Ivymount School classrooms to gain real-world insight into the educational, behavioral, and therapeutic needs of students with autism and other developmental disabilities. The weekly visit is part of Ivymount’s six-week rotation for second year Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Fellows through an educational partnership with leading medical institutions in the DC area that started almost a decade ago.
Learning Where It Happens
Throughout the rotation, Fellows observe instruction, behavioral supports, communication systems, and collaborative teamwork across Ivymount’s programs. Their classroom experience is enriched by presentations and discussion around IEP development, behavioral planning, therapeutic services and the different educational models Ivymount uses to support students with a wide range of needs from early childhood through young adulthood. Fellows also participate in case consultations, exploring how school-derived data informs treatment decisions and collaborative care.
Said a Fellow from a recent cohort, “Hearing the expertise of different team members, case consultations, and seeing classrooms was especially valuable.”
A “Gold Standard” Training Experience‑Standard
The program is co-supervised by Dr. Lance Clawson and Dr. Kelly Register Brown, with contributions from Ivymount leaders and specialists throughout the organization, including Kristen Stricks, Program Services Consultant and Dr. Kelly Offutt, Program Services Coordinator.
“As both a professional involved in caring for DD/Neurodivergent youth and teaching young doctors about them, this partnership with Ivymount has been of immeasurable value,” says Dr. Clawson, a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorders, psychopharmacology, clinical supervision, and behavioral health, and who also serves as President of the Ivymount Corporation Board.
“Fellows uniformly consider their academic rotation at the school as one of their best training experiences since it offers a rare look at a ‘gold standard’ model for meeting students’ educational, behavioral, and psychological needs.”
For Ivymount, the rotation reinforces Ivymount’s commitment to sharing expertise and advancing best practices in special education. “I value this rotation because it brings together professionals from different disciplines and institutions who share a commitment to helping students thrive,” says Kristen Stricks. “It not only gives Fellows the chance to learn from our teams, but we also learn from them.”
By the end of the rotation, held annually, Fellows gain a deeper understanding of both how to support students with complex needs and how to collaborate across medical and educational systems – ultimately improving outcomes for the students and families they will serve.
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Learn about the IvyShares Fellowship program for Ivymount staff, which fosters innovation, collaboration, and the pursuit of excellence in special education.
