PGY-1 & -2

The first two years are comprised of 26 four-week blocks. Training begins with completion of primary care blocks. PGY-1s participate in four months of inpatient internal medicine with the USF Department of Internal Medicine on the inpatient units at the James A. Haley VA (JAHVA) Hospital. Additionally, residents spend two months with the USF Department of Neurology on their inpatient and consultation services, respectively. 

The next 12 months of training are largely inpatient rotations, with experiences on multiple inpatient psychiatric wards in both VA and community hospital settings. Time is also spent on geriatric inpatient, consultation-liaison, and in emergency room psychiatry services. Early exposure to outpatient and psychiatry sub-specialties is also embedded into the PGY-2 year via JAHVA intensive case management, child psychiatry, geriatric, and addiction psychiatry rotations. For further exploration into individual interests, there are two elective blocks in the PGY-2 year. Residents are assigned both enrichment and psychotherapy supervisors starting in the PGY-2 year.

PGY-2 residents complete a total of 6 weeks of night float duties at JAHVA. This is scheduled in two-week blocks over the course of 12 months.

PGY-1 residents take "buddy" call with upper level residents during their 6 months of psychiatry rotations. PGY-2 residents take in-house weekend and holiday call at JAHVA.

PGY-3

Outpatient psychiatry comprises the third year of training. Residents are assigned to a variety of clinics in order to obtain a broad clinical experience, with equal emphasis on the evaluation of new patients and longitudinal care. Outpatient clinics are located at a variety of sites, including the University Psychiatry Center, the James A. Haley VA, the USF Counseling Center, the USF Silver Child Development Center, TGH Healthpark and EDNA Clinics. The variety of sites provides a rich and varied patient base. We ensure that residents will carry a caseload of long-term psychotherapy patients, with dedicated weekly psychotherapy supervision with a faculty member.

During the PGY-3 year all residents rotate through the "Clinical Supervised Visit (CSV) clinic" where residents are observed interviewing patients and given formative feedback by co-residents, students and faculty in order to polish their interview skills. Residents also have the opportunity to spend ½ day per week for several months experiencing various subspecialties and other practice settings, including neuropsychiatry clinic, treatment-resistant mood disorder clinic, memory disorder clinic, inpatient forensics, clinical trials, and neurotherapies/TMS. Residents who meet certain departmental requirements are permitted to moonlight this postgraduate year, with several opportunities available. For residents who are interested in Child and Adolescent Fellowship opportunities after completion of their PGY-3 rotations, the program is designed that all requirements for graduation will be completed for a smooth transition into a "fast track" fellowship program. Residents continue with both enrichment and psychotherapy weekly supervision.

PGY-4

The final year of training is designed to allow residents to consolidate their diagnostic, therapeutic and administrative skills and is largely comprised of elective blocks. Residents continue a half-day continuity clinic through the University Psychiatry Center. A two-month rotation in neurotherapies offers extensive training in the evaluation of patients for and the use of electroconvulsive therapy, as well as additional opportunities in transcranial magnetic stimulation. Some fourth year residents interested in education may have an opportunity to become involved in undergraduate medical education. All PGY-4 residents will have a rotation in which they function as "Junior Attendings" on inpatient and consultative services. Opportunities for further exploration of specialty interests and research are available.