Didactics

A strong didactic program is critical to the training experience, and we recognize and prioritize our residents’ education. Our residents have protected didactic time (1 full day/week for all class years) that integrates a balanced curriculum with developmental learning based on the PGY level. PRITE and board-relevant teaching with specific courses on test prep are included. Residents are exposed to psychotherapy and subspecialty topics in the PGY-1 year; the subsequent years of training build upon this foundation.  All members of the academic staff, including several volunteer faculty members and the chair of our department, Dr. Petros Levounis, are extensively involved in teaching.

We have transitioned to a flexible, hybrid didactic schedule. Didactic sessions are delivered both virtually and in-person. We have always integrated our grand rounds into our didactic schedule, and we have continued this tradition with virtual grand rounds. An exciting area of growth for our didactics is that starting this academic year in July 2023, we have started an integrated combined curriculum with our sister program at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson.

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PGY–1: Getting Started

PGY-1 resident didactics provide a primer for psychiatric interviewing and history taking. Residents should expect to learn the basics with regard to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of inpatient and emergency issues. Residents are also introduced to the basic concepts of psychotherapy.

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PGY–2: Clinical Knowledge Advancement

PGY-2 year resident didactics provide a more comprehensive review of the major psychopathology with regard to diagnosis, treatment, and management. Residents should expect to learn more about sub–specialty topics like consultation liaison psychiatry and begin to gain exposure to psychotherapeutic modalities like supportive therapy.

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PGY–3 & PGY - 4: Independence and Professional Identity

PGY-3 and PGY-4 residents’ didactics provide a more in–depth academic exposure.

Residents learn how to apply advanced psychotherapeutic techniques to individual therapy patient cases. There are seminars on CBT, interpersonal therapy and psychodynamic therapy. Residents are also exposed to sub–specialty topics and evidence based mental health with a focus on using and evaluating literature.

Residents should expect the didactics in this year to also focus on board–relevant information, skills to bridge to future psychiatric practice, and develop skills in teaching juniors.

 

Year–by–Year Preview

PGY 1

PGY 2

PGY 3

PGY 4

  • Orientation
  • Psych History / MSE
  • Psych Screening
  • Crash Course Series
  • DSM-5-TR Curriculum, by Topic
  • PRITE Course
  • Case Conferences
  • Journal Club
  • Grand Rounds
  • Mock RCAs
  • Resident Well-Being
  • Intro to Scholarly Activity & The Scholarly Process
  • Addiction Series
  • Psychopharm Series
  • Intro to Psychotherapy Basics
  • Interviewing Skills
    Interactive Series
  • Check-Ins with the Chiefs and Program Director
  • Professionalism
  • Subspecialty Fellowships Series
  • Basics of Consultation-Liaison
  • Intro to Psych Research Course
  • PRITE Course
  • Journal Club
  • Grand Rounds
  • Mock RCAs
  • Psychopharm Series
  • History & Ethics in Psychiatry Series
  • Psychiatric Testing
  • Genetics
  • APA Fellowships & Awards
  • Intro to ECT
  • ECT Observation Sessions
  • Brain Stimulation
  • Supportive Psychotherapy Series
  • Basics of Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Geriatrics / Neuropsychiatry Series
  • Forensics Series
  • Psychiatric Disability
  • Malpractice
  • Billing & Coding
  • Working with APNs
  • Leadership & Administrative Psychiatry Series
  • CBT Series
  • Advanced Child Psychiatry
  • PRITE Course
  • Journal Club
  • Grand Rounds
  • Mock RCAs
  • Advocacy in Psychiatry Series
  • Social Determinants of Mental Health Series
  • Group Psychotherapy
  • Next Steps in Psychodynamics Series
  • Seminal Articles Series
  • Collaborative Care Course
  • Psychadelics & Ketamine
  • Clinical Neuroscience
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Evidence-Based Psychiatry
  • Media Training
  • LGBTQ+ Psychiatry Series
  • PRITE Course
  • Extended PRITE Review
  • Journal Club
  • Grand Rounds
  • Mock RCAs
  • History & Ethics in Psychiatry
  • Advocacy in Psychiatry Series
  • Leadership & Administrative Psychiatry Series
  • Advanced Child Psychiatry
  • Advanced Topics in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
  • Couples Therapy
  • Group Psychotherapy Series
  • DBT Series
  • Next Steps in Psychodynamics Series
  • Seminal Articles Series
  • Interpersonal Therapy Series
  • Exposure & Response Prevention Series
  • Collaborative Care Course
  • Billing & Coding
  • Psychadelics & Ketamine