PARTNER Fellowship Program

Expanding Access to Mental Health Care in South Carolina

PARTNER is transforming mental health care in South Carolina by growing the behavioral health workforce and equipping psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) with advanced clinical skills. This innovative 13-month program (starting July 1) focuses on integrating behavioral health services into primary care using a collaborative care model to serve communities with limited access to care, including those in rural areas.

Who Can Apply?

PARTNER is designed for newly graduated PMHNPs who meet the following criteria:

• Graduated within the past two years from an accredited master’s or doctoral PMHNP program.
• Board-certified as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).
• Committed to collaborative care and expanding access to behavioral health services, particularly in areas with limited health care resources.
• The role includes in-person commitments in the Charleston area at least two days per week, making proximity to the area required.

Participants will be oriented and credentialed with MUSC Health and must be eligible to practice in South Carolina.

Why Join PARTNER?

Specialized Training: Gain advanced clinical knowledge and skills in psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, telehealth, and collaborative care.

Hands-On Experience: Spend 80% of your time delivering direct patient care and 20% in education and professional development.

Mentorship and Support: Receive one-on-one mentoring, participate in case reviews, and engage in small group learning to build confidence and autonomy.

Community Impact: Provide care to children, adolescents, and adults in the primary care setting, focusing on addressing the challenges of communities with limited healthcare access, including those in rural areas.

How the Program Works

PARTNER integrates behavioral health into primary care through a collaborative care model. This approach enhances access and provider capacity by embedding mental health services directly into primary care settings.

Collaborative Care: Patients are referred by primary care providers to PARTNER PMHNPs for assessment and recommendations. These recommendations are communicated back to the primary care team to guide treatment plans.

Telehealth Services: Leverage state-of-the-art telehealth platforms to deliver high-quality care, reducing geographic and logistical barriers for rural patients.

Focused Training Areas: Build expertise in integrated care, clinical decision-making, billing compliance, quality performance metrics, and addressing social determinants of health.

Program Goals

• Increase Access to Behavioral Health Care: Expand evidence-based, cost-effective services within primary care settings.
• Upskill PMHNPs: Enhance provider expertise and confidence in integrated care, with a focus on telehealth and rural health.
• Build a Sustainable Workforce: Increase the number of highly skilled PMHNPs in South Carolina and within MUSC Health.
• Advance Behavioral Health: Leverage collaborative care and telehealth to address disparities and improve access to behavioral health services.

Please complete this form for additional inquires.