Residency Program in Psychiatry

Didactics

Overview

All didactics are considered protected time, allowing residents to be excused from their clinical duties.

PGY-I

This year begins with a two-week crash course in psychiatry, followed by a six-month comprehensive introduction to psychiatry to be attended during the resident's psychiatry rotations.

PGY-II and PGY-III

Beginning in the PGY-II year, each class of residents has one full day of didactics per week. The curriculum is divided thematically into six areas:

1. Evidenced-based medicine
2. Neuroscience
3. Phenomenology
4. Psychopharmacology
5. Psychotherapy
6. Social and community psychiatry

Courses span between two and three years. Each area is described in detail below (see links).

Organizational Philosophy

Thematic organization of the didactic curriculum for residents stems from ongoing educational research in various circles that suggests that deliberately integrating information aids in both retention and application of acquired material. This method of pedagogy is based on a “frame” model, in which the first acquisition creates a basic framework for consideration of general principles within an area. Residents then apply the material in their clinical work and within their supervision, facilitating maintenance of the learned material. Each subsequent pass over the material increases in complexity, filling in the original “frame,” until proficiency is reached.

Themes

As mentioned above, each course represents an overarching theme of psychiatric knowledge and care. To learn more about each course, please follow the links below.

• Evidence-Based Medicine, Research Design, and Ethics
• Neuroscience
• Phenomenology (Method and Methodology in Descriptive Psychiatry)
• Psychopharmacology
• Psychotherapy
• Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services

PGY-IV

The fourth year didactics curriculum consists of a continuation of some of the courses started as PGY-II's and PGY-III's, and are now geared to the needs of residents who will soon be in practice.

• Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services course continues and is complemented by a six-month community field placement
• Evidence-Based Medicine, Research Design, and Ethics
• Advanced Psychotherapy Continuous Case Conference
• Transitions to Post-Graduate Practice

In addition there is a special lecture series covering a range of important topics including an introduction to managed care, risk management, insurance and finance, and a number of lectures/seminars on career choices in psychiatry. The training director also facilitates an advanced interviewing course to assist PGY-IVs in preparing for the oral examination component of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certification process.

All Years

Courses and events available to residents in each class.