Didactics

Formal didactic sessions are held every Thursday afternoon, with attendance being mandatory and protected from clinical responsibilities. The first hour is comprised of rotating sessions of the following:

• Bi-monthly resident-only meeting with the chief resident to address any concerns and promote fellowship
• Monthly Journal Club
• Monthly Lunch Meeting with the Program Directors to inform the residents of any departmental changes and to address any concerns

The remaining didactics consist of longitudinal series and case conferences appropriate for the stage of learning for each residency class. The curriculum provides systematic instruction on normal development and behavior, neuroanatomy and physiology, psychopathology, psychopharmacology, psychological theory, psychotherapy, and additional specialized seminars to cover the depth and breadth of current psychiatric knowledge. Ample resources are available for individual study and individual and group learning activities are embedded in the curriculum. Feedback for all didactic sessions is requested from the residents both in the form of anonymous reviews of individual seminars as well as an overall review of the curriculum by residents at the annual Resident Retreat.

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds are held at the University Psychiatry Center. Topics are presented by faculty, residents and visiting guest speakers. In addition to the grand rounds presentations, visiting lecturers are often invited to spend time with residents for an added seminar or in an open discussion over lunch.

Psychotherapy Training

Psychotherapy is considered an essential component of the resident experience and is obtained through didactics, supervision and though clinical experience conducting psychotherapy during the outpatient years. This experience provides a perspective on the nature of the psychotherapeutic process and a basis for the understanding of a variety of therapeutic modalities (Psychodynamic, CBT, IPT and others).

Supervision

Each resident has a minimum of two assigned faculty supervisors at all times during the residency. Assignment of supervisors is divided into an Enrichment Supervisor that can offer direct mentorship and a Psychotherapy Supervisor that can help in the development psychotherapeutic skills.

Clinical Practice Exercise

All residents complete an annual Clinical Practice Exercise to assess the development of clinical skills and decision making. Residents are observed while conducting a diagnostic interview and faculty observers provide feedback on the resident's ability to elicit relevant clinical data, to develop a differential diagnosis, a formulation and their delineation of a treatment plan. Additionally, during the PGY-3 year, residents participated in bi-weekly “CSV clinics” where along with an attending residents can polish their interview skills while observing live patient interviews and providing feedback in a group setting. These experiences help residents master their craft and allow residents to meet the requirements of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for board-eligibility upon graduation from residency.

PRITE Examination

Every year all residents sit for the PRITE (Psychiatric Residency In-Training Examination). The PRITE allows residents to be compared to their peer group at the residency as well as national level. Progressive improvement throughout training is expected, and results are used to provide educational feedback to the resident and the training director, not only in regard to the individual's performance but also in terms of monitoring the effectiveness of the program's didactics.

Board Certification

Graduating residents are well prepared to take the specialty examination offered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Residents are encouraged to do so at their earliest opportunity. Over the past 10 years, 93% of all graduates from this program have taken and passed the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology examinations.