September 16, 2025
Family medicine providers are often the first point of contact for patients experiencing mental health challenges, especially in outpatient settings where psychiatric support may be limited or unavailable. “Family medicine provides the majority of mental health care for our country, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and populations that are primarily served by Medicaid,” said Katherine Fortenberry, PhD, clinical psychologist and clinical professor in the Division of Family & Community Medicine.
To better prepare providers to care for these patients, the University of Utah’s Family Medicine Residency Program has launched a new rotation experience in partnership with the Huntsman Mental Health Institute Crisis Care Center. This experience is designed to enhance the behavioral health component of residents’ training by immersing them in real-time crisis care.
The crisis care center, which opened last year, is a 24/7 walk-in care facility that provides emergency mental health services for adults. Residents will interact with patients in crisis, conducting initial assessments and evaluations while learning about disposition planning and community-based treatment options. Residents will also receive training in acute medication management for patients experiencing psychosis or other severe mental health concerns.
“The institute is very engaged in promoting psychiatric care within primary care settings,” said Fortenberry. “We're able to help them out by giving them excellent residents to support the center, and they're supporting our residents in their training through this rotation.”
As of July 2025, the crisis care rotation is a required part of the residency curriculum. The rotation experience builds on the residency program’s existing behavioral health training. Residents also spend time at the Children’s Center of Utah, working with children under the age of five who have experienced trauma. Experiences in these settings help residents develop trauma-informed care skills and reinforce the program’s commitment to preparing residents to care for patients across the entire lifespan.
Fortenberry believes the enhanced rotation will empower residents to return to their clinics with greater confidence and capability. “I’m hopeful that when they go into practice, especially in rural areas, they’ll feel equipped to be the frontline mental health providers their communities need,” she said.