Board approves contract with UCI for psychiatry services amid county shortage of psychiatrists

The Board voted to approve a contract with the Regents of the University of California on behalf of UC Irvine School of Medicine to provide psychiatry services, including residents and fellows, to county clinics and correctional health programs. County staff described the agreement as intended to bring trainees into county care as both a training opportunity and a partial staffing solution.

During an extended public comment period on the item, a broad group of county psychiatrists and clinic staff described a severe staffing gap. Dr. Chantal Sejournedic told the Board the child psychiatrist workforce in the county has "decreased by half" at her clinic and that waiting lists for new patients reach three months. Dr. Kelly Clordy and several other psychiatrists said rotating fellows produce discontinuities in care and place burdens on permanent staff; many physicians cited non‑competitive county salaries and high education debt as barriers to recruitment and retention. "If you don't do something with how you pay psychiatrists… you will not get quality people here to help the kids," Dr. Clordy said.

Board members acknowledged the problems and directed staff to coordinate a salary comparables study and work with HR to recommend steps to improve recruitment and retention. Supervisor Nelson moved the item; supervisors voted unanimously to approve the contract and asked for follow‑up on compensation comparables and workforce strategies.

What it means: The contract with UCI is intended to provide immediate clinical capacity through trainees under supervision and a pipeline for future hires; however, county clinicians said longer‑term retention will require pay and structural changes. The Board asked health officials and HR to provide comparative salary data and recruitment options.

Attribution note: Quotes and professional titles are taken from on‑record public comments and staff presentations during the meeting.