Clinical Activities

Clinical activities include: Adult Psychiatry Inpatient Services, Psychiatry Outpatient Services, Brief Psychotherapy Program, Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatry Services, Psychiatry Consultation-Liaison Service, Residents' Medication Clinic, and an Emergency Service. A multi-disciplinary clinical and teaching environment exists on every service. Residents acquire experience in working collaboratively with physicians in other specialties, with clinical psychologists (including pre-doctoral and post-doctoral psychology interns), and with medical students.

PGY-1 residents spend: 4 months in Medicine or Pediatrics, 2 months in Neurology, and 6 months in Inpatient Psychiatry. Seminars continue throughout the year.

PGY-2 residents have three rotations: Adult Inpatient Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison and Sub-specialty psychiatry. They also attend seminars and begin clinical work in the outpatient clinic.

The curriculum for PGY-3 residents is an intensive experience in outpatient psychiatry, including child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. There is extensive training in psychotherapy (emphasis on dynamic, CBT, and brief treatments) psychopharmacology and an emphasis on integration of skills and approaches to treatment.

PGY-4 residents participate in individually specialized rotations. They have opportunities to participate in elective rotations and to act as a Chief Resident, overseeing resident activity in the department. In addition, some work in Outpatient Psychiatry continues throughout the year. A recent list of fourth year electives includes: Geriatrics (including SNIF), addictions (SF General Stimulant Program, SFVA dual diagnosis), research (UCSF, Berkeley), cross cultural (China, India, England), advanced psychotherapy, forensic evaluations and consultation in medical ambulatory settings.

Learning how to teach is an important priority for the residency.