Imperial County, CA — Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) is proud to announce that it has officially received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to establish as a Psychiatry Residency Program. This achievement follows wo-year collaborative efforts with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and was made possible by a $2.5 million grant awarded in January 2023 by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). 

“This is a significant milestone for our department and Imperial County as a whole,” said Leticia Plancarte-García, Imperial County Behavioral Health Services Director. “It marks a moment of progress and partnership. By investing in the education and development of future psychiatrists, we are also investing in the long-term health and well-being of our community.” 

“We are proud to mark this moment of progress and partnership,” said Leticia Plancarte-García, Imperial County Behavioral Health Services Director “This program is not only an investment in future physicians but a direct investment in the health and well-being of our community.” 

Dr. Steve Koh, Chief Clinical Professor and Director of the UCSD Community Psychiatry Fellowship, has been instrumental in guiding the program’s development. UCSD’s leadership, faculty, and administrative teams have provided invaluable support throughout this journey, offering their expertise in curriculum development, accreditation readiness, and clinical training infrastructure. Their partnership has been critical to the successful launch of this program. 

UCSD staff will join ICBHS and County leadership to formally recognize this achievement during a special presentation to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors on June 10, 2025.This new psychiatric residency program reflects the County’s long-term strategy to retain talent and improve access to care by preparing providers who understand and are committed to serving the unique needs of the region. Recruitment for the inaugural class of psychiatry residents is expected to begin later this year. 

While this is a significant step forward in the County’s ongoing efforts to improve access to behavioral health care, ICBHS remains committed to open communication with residents about mental health services and operations to ensure that residents voices remain central to future developments.