PGY-1

The PGY-1 didactic curriculum is a basic introduction to psychiatry with the goal of preparing residents to develop competencies in psychiatric assessment and interview skills, emergency management of patients, safety, professionalism, cultural competency, interprofessional skills, and basic psychopharmacology. We also spend a significant portion of time discussing physician wellness, self-care, and ways to avoid burnout. 

  • Conducting a Psychiatric Evaluation/Case Presentation/Psychodynamic Formulation and Treatment Planning
  • The Mental Status Exam
  • Management of Psychiatric Emergencies
  • Suicide
  • Assessment and Management of Aggression
  • Legal Issues in Psychiatry
  • Basics of Prescribing Psychotropic Medications
  • Professionalism (Boundaries/Dress/Doctor-Patient Relationship)
  • Delirium
  • Cultural Competency
  • Introduction to Systems-Level Care and Quality Improvement
  • Ethical Issues in Psychiatry
  • How to Refer

PGY-2 to PGY-4

During the PGY-2 to PGY-4 years, residents will begin to develop an in-depth understanding of psychopathology, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy. They will begin with learning about the life cycle and go through the different psychiatric disorders outlined in the DSM-5. Residents also get an introduction to research and publication and, over the course of their residency, will work individually with a faculty member and in group settings to develop a quality improvement project and research or clinical case publication. As they progress through the years, they will gain increasing in-depth knowledge of these topics to allow for a smooth transition into their future psychiatric practice, whatever that may be.

Topics covered include, but are not limited to:

  • The Life Cycle
  • Classification and the DSM
  • Sleep
  • Sexuality
  • Biological Psychiatry
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Psychotherapy
  • Group Therapy
  • Substance Abuse Disorders
  • Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents
  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • Research
  • Ethics
  • Abuse/Trauma
  • Neurology
  • Psychiatric Practice
  • Diversity/Multicultural Psychiatry
  • History
  • Miscellaneous Topics in Psychiatry (Wellness, Professionalism, QI, Research, Medical Humanities, Systems Level Care, Community Psychiatry, and Diversity)

Additionally, residents participate in the following recurring didactics:

  • Grand Rounds
  • Morning reports
  • Clinical case conferences
  • Journal Club
  • Morbidity and mortality conferences
  • Treating Teens series
  • Focus on Psychiatry
  • Prite Reviews