Back to the program

Behavioral Health Training Priorities in Residency: Perspectives from Early-Career Physicians

Adam GUCK, Katherine BERGS, Nelly YUEN and Marlen MENDEZ-GARCIA

Behavioral health training is a core element of primary care residency education, yet its scope and emphasis vary widely across programs. Estimates indicate that at least one in four visits involves a behavioral health concern, with another quarter requiring lifestyle or behavior change counseling, highlighting the importance of these competencies. Despite guidance from national organizations, no consensus exists on which behavioral health topics should be prioritized or how competency-based training should reflect this domain.