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M4 Year

PSYCH 653: Senior Elective in General Psychiatry

This is a month-long elective in which students may propose their own plan of study which must be approved by the MSE Office prior to the start of the block. Opportunities are available for students to design, with guidance, a clinical elective that meets their specific needs, e.g., combining inpatient and outpatient work, or participating in ongoing clinically relevant basic research projects within the department. Such projects can be supervised by faculty members in any of the disciplines (psychiatry, psychology and research) represented within the department.

PSYCH 658: Senior Elective in Sleep Medicine

This is a four-week rotation in psychiatry where fourth year medical students will gain experience in the Sleep Disorders Center at UMMC. The rotation exposes the student to the evaluation, differential diagnosis, and treatment of sleep disorders. Under close faculty supervision the student participates in initial patient evaluations, follow-up appointments, and reviewing polysomnograms.

PSYCH 659: Behavioral Health Specialty Clinics

This is a four-week rotation at the UMMC Behavior Health Specialty Clinics where fourth year medical students will gain experience in training and experience in the treatment of patients with a wide range of acute and chronic psychiatric disorders. The student attends daily clinics, as well as scheduled teaching sessions. He/she gains experience in all modalities used in outpatient psychiatric care and performs initial evaluations on a select number of patients, and patients presenting for weekly follow-up visits. The student may also choose to participate in other clinic activities, e.g., groups. The student also learns about the coordination of ancillary services, including vocational rehabilitation, social services and becomes more familiar other agencies offering service to Psychiatric patients. The student assumes a higher level of responsibility and accountability within the limits set forth by the School of Medicine. The student is expected to be closely involved in the total care of each patient including medication and therapy management. Close supervision by attending faculty is provided throughout the block.

PSYCH 661: Senior Elective in Acute Care

This month-long course of approximately 160 hours is designed to provide senior medical students interested in the clinical practice of psychiatry with the opportunity to extend and deepen their exposure to consult/liaison psychiatry and psychiatric emergency services. Students will function as sub interns conducting independent interviews, proposing individualized treatment plans, arranging admission to psychiatric inpatient facilities when necessary, and developing transfer plans. In addition, senior medical students serve as mentors to junior clerks, reviewing notes and presentations prior to review by residents and attendings.

The bulk of time in this course will be spent in clinical settings under the supervision of attending psychiatrists and psychologists as well as senior residents in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. 

PSYCH 662: Senior Elective in Adult Inpatient Psychiatry

This month-long course of approximately 160 hours is designed to provide senior medical students interested in the clinical practice of psychiatry with the opportunity to extend and deepen their exposure to adult inpatient psychiatry. Students will function as sub interns managing 4-5 patients and conducting independent interviews, proposing individualized treatment plans, arranging social work meetings and family conferences, and developing aftercare plans. In addition, senior medical students serve as mentors to junior clerks, reviewing notes and presentations prior to review by residents and attendings.

The bulk of time in this course will be spent in clinical settings under the supervision of attending psychiatrists and psychologists as well as senior residents in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior.