Psychiatry Residency Training Program
A psychiatric research track is available for one trainee per year entering at the PGY-I level. Designed for residents intending to pursue a career in psychiatric research, this program maximizes opportunities for a resident to design and complete one or more projects leading to publication during residency. Research track residents begin working with a research mentor in their first year, meeting regularly, becoming familiar with the division in which they will be working, and doing some initial literature reviews. In the PGY-I and II years, research track residents are allowed to submit a proposal for up to 3 blocks of elective time to acquire special lab skills, attend courses, do a formal literature review, visit other laboratories or undertake other activities that will facilitate their project. In the PGY-III and IV years, research track residents work half time on their project with the intent of completing publishable work and potentially submitting grant applications for post-graduate work. The research track is designed to allow the trainee to complete all ACGME requirements for board eligibility in adult psychiatry by the end of the PGY-V year.
A research committee is formed to oversee the work of each resident on the research track. This committee approves project proposals and advises the resident on their research training and career trajectory.
Opportunities for the research track are available in the following areas: Neuropsychiatric Sciences (behavioral neuroscience), Molecular Genetics, Psychopharmacology, Forensic Psychiatry, and Neuropsychiatry. Numerous additional collaborative possibilities exist in the medical school neuroscience laboratories. Funding for an extra year of training must be provided by the research group the trainee will be joining.
In addition, there is ongoing research in the department in the following areas: Child psychopharmacology, child psychiatry, behavioral aspects of epilepsy, family violence, public sector psychiatric services, causes of aggression, anxiety disorders, affective disorders, psychotic disorders, psychiatric rehabilitation, psychoneuroendocrinology, attention deficit disorder, and neuropsychiatry. The 16-million dollar Irving S. and Betty Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute(BNRI) opened in 2000 with 8 additional large laboratories, a dedicated functional MRI for animal behavior studies.
Summary of Psychiatric Research Track
PGY-I
Establish relationship with research mentor and division in which work is proposed. Faculty research committee formed to oversee project. Meet weekly with mentor to discuss literature and research projects. One month elective available for research technique training.
PGY-II
Continue regular meetings with mentor and meet at least twice with research committee. Up to three optional months for groundwork, literature review, or learning laboratory techniques
PGY-III & IV
Half time available for research. Can be taken as any combination of days in PGY-III and IV (or PGY-IV and V) years (e.g. 4 days per week in PGY-III and 1 day per week in PGY-IV) .
PGY-V
Clinical Elective year analogous to PGY-IV in general curriculum