PGY-1 Year – (during Psychiatry months) – all PGY-1s will have a chance to attend each of these courses during the year. In addition, they have a weekly process group, and can attend weekly all-residency seminars and weekly resident meeting when on their psychiatry rotations.

Interviewing – Dr. Lourdes Dominguez (6 sessions) – This course introduces first year residents to the basics of interviewing, including balancing empathic listening with eliciting information.

Introduction to the Clinical Skills Verification – Chief residents (1 session) – Through observed interviews and presentations, the clinical skills verification (CSV) provides an opportunity to ensure that residents master critical skills such as establishing an effective physician-patient relationship, conducting a clinical interview and presenting a case. This course reviews the process and expectations set by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for CSVs in general psychiatry.

Interviewing the Geriatric patient – Dr. Mark Nathanson (1 session) – This class will help PGY1s to interview geriatric patients and will introduce interns to the field of geriatric psychiatry. 

Introduction to Psychotherapy – Drs. Alicia Rojas and Rita Morales (7 sessions) – This class will introduce interns to the common factors underlining all kinds of psychotherapy, including alliance, setting the frame, and attending to affect.

Medicine for Psychiatry Interns– Dr. James Fraiman– (4 sessions) – ​Taught by Dr. Fraiman, who is both an internist and a psychiatrist, this course will introduce PGY1s to basics of internal medicine to help them with their medicine rotations and with medical emergencies arising with psychiatric patients. 

Neuroscience 1 - David Leonardo (3 sessions) – This course offers an introduction to brain anatomy and to the latest advances in neuroscience.

Psychopharmacology 1 – Chief Residents (9 sessions) – This course offers the first-year resident an introduction to the basics of psychopharmacology, such as how to choose medications, dosing, assessment of side effects, and relevant laboratory tests.

Staying Healthy – Dr. Ina Becker (6 session) – This course will teach interns the basics of mindfulness and other strategies for self-care, for use with patients and to improve personal wellness.

Supportive Psychotherapy – Dr. Deborah Cabaniss – This class will teach interns the basics of supportive of psychotherapy that they can begin using on their PGY1 rotations.

Taking a Sexual History – Dr. Walter Bockting (1 session) – PGY1 residents will be introduced to this important aspect of patient evaluation.

Teaching Medical Students– Dr. Janis Cutler (1 session) – Dr. Cutler, who is the Director of Medical Student Education, will introduce PGY1s to techniques for teaching the medical students with whom they will be working. 

Urgent Psychiatry – Drs. Ryan Lawrence (3 sessions) – This course provides an introduction to the important skills for managing psychiatric emergencies and crisis situations. It includes an introduction to decision making regarding the pharmacologic management of acutely agitated patients.