Medical Student Education in Psychiatry
Director of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry:
Jan Terpstra, M.D.
Asst. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
phone: 801-581-7951
fax: 801-581-5604
email: jan.terpstra@hsc.utah.edu
Academic Coordinator:
Holly Worthington
phone: 801-585-7251
fax: 801-581-5604
email: holly.worthington@hsc.utah.edu
Goal
The goal of the medical student education curriculum in Psychiatry is to provide every graduating student at the University of Utah School Of Medicine with the necessary understanding of human emotional and cognitive development, adult and child psychopathology, and biopsychosocial treatment modalities to assure the proper care of their patients suffering from mental illness.
Curriculum in Psychiatry
Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Year Four | Additional Learning Opportunities
Year One
Psychiatry 6000: Scientific Foundations of Human Behavior
Course Director: Anne Marie O’Melia, M.D., M.S.
Course Description: This course is designed to prepare future physicians to be conscious and knowledgeable about the many developmental and behavioral issues involved in providing appropriate care to patients. Concepts of human development and human behavior will be understood as relevant to all physicians regardless of specialty. Course material is applied to understanding normal and maladaptive human behavior. Course content is drawn from the fields of psychiatry, psychology, neurophysiology, experimental analysis of behavior, behavioral genetics, learning and communication theory, and cultural anthropology.
Year Two
Psychiatry 6010: Introduction to Clinical Psychiatry
Course Director: Jan Terpstra, M.D.
Course Description: Psychiatry 6010 is an introductory course designed to provide a basic overview of major adult mental illness categories, with a focus on clinical psychopathology. Specific topics will include the Psychotic Disorders, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, Personality Disorders, and the Somatoform Disorders. The course will also involve discussions of the relevant genetic, neurodevelopmental, and epidemiological information pertaining to each illness category discussed.
Year Three
Psychiatry 7200: The Psychiatry Clerkship
Clerkship Director: Jan Terpstra, M.D.
Clerkship Coordinator: Holly Worthington
Clerkship Description: The Psychiatry Clerkship is a six week rotation designed to introduce students to the practice of Psychiatric Medicine. Most students will be assigned to work with a multidisciplinary Adult Inpatient Care Team at the University of Utah Medical Center (5 West), the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI), or the Salt Lake City VAMC as their core clinical experience. However, assignment to the Psychiatric Consult Services at UUMC or the VAMC may occur as well. In addition, some students are assigned to various Child or Adult Psychiatry Outpatient Clinics, depending on clinic availability. Didactic and other active teaching modalities are utilized as additional educational experiences. For further information regarding the Psychiatry Clerkship please contact Holly Worthington or Dr. Terpstra at your convenience.
Year Four
Psychiatry 7400-7960: Electives in Psychiatry
Electives Director: Jan Terpstra, M.D.
Electives Coordinator: Holly Worthington
Inpatient Subinternship Electives
These four week clinical electives are designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of inpatient psychiatric care. Students interested in pursuing a career in Psychiatry are especially recommended to enroll in a Sub-Internship. Each student may request to rotate on a multidisciplinary care team at one of three clinical sites (UUMC, UNI, or the SLC VAMC).
- Psychiatry 7400: Sub-Internship in Adult Psychiatry (UUMC)
- Psychiatry 7410: Sub-Internship in Adult Psychiatry (SLC VAMC)
- Psychiatry 7420: Sub-Internship in Adult Psychiatry (UNI)
Additional Electives:
For additional information regarding any of the electives listed below, please contact Holly Worthington or Dr. Terpstra at your convenience.
- Psychiatry 7440: Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Sub-Internship
- Psychiatry 7450: Outpatient Psychiatry Elective
- Psychiatry 7460: Child Psychiatry Elective
- Psychiatry 7470: Substance Use Disorders Elective
- Psychiatry 7530: Triple Board Elective
- Psychiatry 7900: Psychiatry Honors Program
- Psychiatry 7960: Psychiatric Research
Additional Learning Opportunities
PsychSIGN-Utah
The U of U SOM psychiatry student interest group has scheduled talks and discussions about topics of interest in psychiatry, as well as, information regarding psychiatry as a residency and career choice. PsychSIGN is run by medical students, with faculty and resident support. A listing of upcoming events can be found on this website. Please contact Dr. Terpstra for additional information.
Psychiatry Clinical Shadowing Program
Allows interested 1st and 2nd year students to spend a half day “shadowing” a Department of Psychiatry faculty member as they provide clinical care. Depending on individual student interest, opportunities are available with adult or child/adolescent psychiatrists, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Please contact Dr. Terpstra if you are interested in arranging a shadowing experience.
Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds
Medical students are always welcome to attend departmental grand rounds. Please contact the Department of Psychiatry at 581-7951 to receive up to date scheduled presentation times and locations.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA)
One of the oldest medical specialty organizations in the country, the APA provides free membership and journal subscriptions for medical students. Please go to their website (www.psych.org) for additional information.