Education Psychiatry Education Image Continuum of Professional Education The University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry provides content across the continuum of professional education from medical student to practicing physician. For medical students, we offer an elective for first- and second-year students, introducing them to psychiatry. It is followed by an introductory required course on behavioral health issues at the start of second year. A required clerkship exposes third-year students to clinical practice, and our medical college curriculum ends with acting internships and numerous fourth-year electives available to visiting medical students as well as our own. Our post-graduate medical education environment is rich, including residency programs in adult psychiatry, integrated child and adolescent psychiatry, combined internal medicine and psychiatry, and triple board (adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and pediatrics). The department also offers fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry and addiction medicine. Finally, we provide continuing professional development to practicing physicians and other mental health providers via teleconferencing through our Grand Rounds Series, accredited for physicians, pharmacists, and social workers. Residency Overview Our residents are a diverse group that come from throughout the United States and beyond and share a passion for learning, administration, advocacy, service, and research. They are extraordinarily committed to their patients and are extremely supportive of one another, which lends to our program a “family” feel. The latter, in fact, has been a major reason why new candidates join our program. In addition, resident participation and involvement is encouraged and expected in all aspects of the residency program. An example of this is the exhaustive work done every year towards new resident recruitment wherein current residents deliver the most input. Our training program emphasizes close relationships between faculty and residents with daily opportunities for observation and feedback. Teaching occurs at clinical sites, in multiple seminars and in individual supervision. Residents refine their skills in listening and understanding patients and have ample opportunities to develop their skills in psychotherapy. On completion of training, residents have a range of clinical and educational experiences that enable them to understand and treat mental illness from a multidimensional perspective. Benefits and Stipends The University of Kentucky provides competitive benefits and stipends. The current year information is available on the Graduate Medical Education website. A sample contract is available on the GME website along with the 2022-2023 GME Policies and Procedures 22-23 Resident and Fellow Policies and Procedures (Benefits: Pgs. 23-35) Education Funding Money is allotted to each resident for educational materials or attending conferences. Professional Development In addition to the educational opportunities offered in the didactics and grand rounds programs, residents are provided an opportunity to attend local or national meetings or conferences of special interest. Additionally, residents receive an individual subscription to Decker Scientific American Psychiatry Weekly Curriculum. Five days each year are allowed for educational leave. In addition, the department encourages participation in professional associations at the local and national level, and assists residents in applying for national awards and honors. Residents elected as chief are also sent to a chief resident conference designed to prepare them for their new roles as leaders. Vacation At the PGY-1 level, residents are given ten days of vacation plus five days of educational leave to attend conferences or prepare for boards. At the PGY-2 level and above, residents have 15 days of vacation plus five days of educational leave. All residents have nine University official holidays and four University holiday bonus days each year.
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