Medical Student Electives | General Psychiatry Residency

This experience will provide the student with a more advance understanding of both assessment and treatment planning for psychiatric patients, as well as a sense of responsibility for the care of patients. In addition to individual psychopathology, the medical student will gain an understanding of inpatient psychiatry and the application of the therapeutic community to the treatment of psychiatric inpatients.

This rotation is either based at MHMMC on P6, or at MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor.

The MHMMC inpatient unit (P6) is largely populated by patients with a combination of medical and psychiatric illness, and by patients with dementia. Acting Interns (AI) at MHMMC will work under the direct supervision of an attending psychiatrist. They will have primary responsibility for up to 5 inpatients at a time during their work on a 21-bed medical/psychiatric unit. This includes responsibility for admission, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Acting Interns will work in conjunction with other treatment staff including nursing, occupational therapy, and social work. With appropriate supervision, the Acting Intern will evaluate family dynamics relevant to the patient’s hospitalization. Finally, the Acting Intern will participate in didactics and case conferences.

MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor is a free-standing psychiatric hospital with a wide variety of psychopathology. Students must have their own transportation for this placement. Students will work on the adult unit, with responsibilities for up to 5 inpatients at a time, with similar responsibilities as above. The attending staff are all members of the MHMMC Faculty, and MHMMC psychiatry residents often work side by side with the AI. 

Acting Interns are scheduled for two weekday and two weekend calls during the course of the month. Call takes place at MHMMC. Weekday call is from 4-10 pm and weekend call is from 8am - 8pm. While on call, AIs are supervised by residents. Duties include evaluation of patients in the Psychiatric Emergency Department, P6 admissions, and emergent psychiatric consultation on medical/surgical floors.

Students may apply for the Psychiatry AI at MHMMC by completing our Application form.

Students will gain a better understanding of, and proficiency in, the evaluation and mental status examination of the child psychiatric patient. Students will also gain experience and understanding in the evaluation of the family.

Supervised clinical experiences in child psychiatry include the outpatient clinic and the inpatient consultation service. Students participate with a team consisting of a psychiatric resident and psychiatric social worker. All evaluations are supervised by one of the attending child psychiatrists. Evaluations include individual assessment of the child, family evaluation, and history gathering from the school and other community agencies. The student also participates in pediatric consultations performed in the Department of Pediatrics at MHMMC. Students are encouraged to attend a broad array of seminars and case conferences available through the Division of Child Psychiatry and the Department of Psychiatry.

Students may apply for the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry senior rotation at MHMMC by completing our Application Form. 

Students will be based either in the Psychiatric Emergency Department or with the Inpatient Consultation Liaison Team. Under the supervision of attending psychiatrists, students will enhance their skills in psychiatric interviews, the mental status examination, psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. Students will gain a first-hand understanding of the role of the psychiatrist in the setting of the general hospital, while enhancing their appreciation for the interplay between medical and psychiatric diagnoses. They will participate in case conferences, Grand Rounds, and other departmental educational activities where appropriate.

Students may apply for the Emergency or Consultation Psychiatry senior rotation at MHMMC by completing our Application form.

Students will work under an attending psychiatrist working with a multidisciplinary team in an outpatient, milieu-based, behavioral health partial hospitalization program

Learning objectives include:

• Gaining familiarity with treating psychiatric patients in an intermediate level of care setting
• Learning to medically manage patients with subacute psychiatric needs
• Gaining familiarity working with a multidisciplinary team
• Learning basic techniques for facilitating group psychotherapy

Student responsibilities will include completing intake assessments for new patients, managing the patient’s care during their time in program (including pharmacotherapy), attending psychoeducation groups, and being an integral part of a multidisciplinary team. Students will be evaluated on attendance, patient interviewing skills, written notes, involvement in patient care, and ability to work with other team members.  Students may apply for the Partial Hospital senior rotation at MHMMC by completing our  Application form.
 

Students will work primarily with a multidisciplinary ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) team, with the potential for additional time spent with other care team members, under the supervision of an attending psychiatrist. Time spent with the supervising attending psychiatrist is estimated to be ~ 1.5 days per week. Visits will be in the office, community, and home-based. Multidisciplinary team members include physicians, NPs, PAs,  social worker, case managers, nurses, and employment specialists. Students will be evaluated on patient interview skills, written notes, involvement in patient care, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Time will also be given toward a Scholarly Project, and reading material will be available.

Learning objectives include: 

• Understand how the social determinants of mental health affect patients with serious mental illness. 
• Improve your skill set at working with and treating patients with serious mental illness and comorbid disorders. 
• Gain familiarly with treating psychiatric disorders in an intensive outpatient level of care. 
• Increase your understanding of how to work with interprofessional teams. 
• Learn about trauma-informed and recovery-oriented approaches to engage patients.