From Aspiring Pediatrician to Psychiatry: Meet Nia Childs, CUNY School of Medicine Student

Nia Childs, a medical student at CUNY School of Medicine and SHARE Learner at Silver Hill Hospital, shares her journey from an early aspiration to become a doctor to discovering her passion for psychiatry. Learn more about Nia, her favorite spots on campus and her plans to pursue a residency in psychiatry. 

I’ve known since a very young age that I wanted to become a doctor—probably as early as middle school. As I grew and changed, my thoughts about what kind of doctor I wanted to be evolved, but I never wavered from the goal itself. With this clear vision in mind, I consistently worked toward it. In high school, I was selected to attend a satellite school that offered advanced math and science courses, which further solidified my commitment to medicine.

Later, I was accepted into the accelerated Sophie Davis program, which provided a direct path from undergraduate studies to medical school. It always felt like this path was meant for me.

My interest in psychiatry began during my preclinical years in medical school, where I found the subject fascinating. However, it wasn’t until my psychiatry rotation in my third year that this interest truly blossomed. Up until that point, I was pretty set on pursuing pediatrics, so I was surprised by how intrigued and excited I was to return to the hospital every day during my psychiatry rotation. This experience became a turning point, prompting me to step back and reevaluate my priorities and the kind of physician I wanted to be.

While I’ve always loved caring for children and valued the preventative aspects of pediatric medicine, I hadn’t yet found my niche within the field. Psychiatry, however, offered something unique—the opportunity to connect with patients on a deeper level than any other specialty. I was captivated by the chance to understand patients holistically, to be a trusted person in their lives, and to foster strong patient-doctor relationships. Spending time with patients, providing them with a safe space to express themselves, and educating both them and their families about their conditions felt incredibly fulfilling to me.

I’ve spent most of my time at Silver Hill Hospital with Dr. Ortiz-Schwartz and the adolescents on Main 3, which has been incredibly exciting for me as it aligns closely with my future career goals. This experience marks my first exposure to inpatient Adolescent Psychiatry, and I’ve really enjoyed observing how complex patient cases are managed through collaboration among doctors, nurses, psych techs, and social workers. I’ve encountered some remarkably insightful adolescents, and I believe much of this is due to Dr. Ortiz-Schwartz’s skill in meeting patients and their families where they are, providing them with a supportive space to explore and address their issues.

In addition to this, I’ve had the opportunity to experience a range of other treatment modalities, including ketamine treatment, an introduction to psychotherapy, and even psychodrama. Every opportunity I’ve had here has been incredibly valuable, exposing me to aspects of psychiatry that I hadn’t encountered before.

My favorite spot on campus is the bridge you walk over after entering East Campus, which overpasses a small stream. I was so struck by the scenery that I took a picture of it on my second day here, and it’s been the lock screen photo on my phone ever since. The entire campus is beautiful and really immersed in the surrounding nature.

 After my time at Silver Hill, I’ll be continuing with my fourth year of medical school, focusing on completing the residency application and interview process. I’m applying for psychiatry this cycle and am excited to embark on my journey as a psychiatry resident.

My free time is pretty limited these days, but when I do have some, I love reading cliché romance novels, going to the movie theater, and hunting for my next thrifted gem. I also enjoy cooking and experimenting with new recipes, often trying to recreate dishes from restaurants that I suddenly decide I can’t live without. Sundays are usually the highlight of my weekend, as I spend them at church, where I also serve as a Sunday school teacher for preschool-aged children.