Psychiatry and Neurology Clerkship

Third year medical students participate in a four-week Psychiatry (4 weeks) The Psychiatry rotation is offered at University Hospital (UH)-Newark and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBI). The purpose of the psychiatry clerkship is to train students to be able to recognize, examine, diagnose, and treat (at least emergently) major psychiatric conditions. During the four-week clerkship, students should be intrigued and amazed by the beauty and power of human beings and the complex interactions of mind, brain, and behavior.

In the Psychiatry rotation, emphasis is placed on performing a thorough psychiatric interview, learning how to conduct a Mental Status Examination (MSE), making a differential diagnosis, and developing a treatment plan for each patient. Students are also trained in hospital protocol and procedures and proper documentation requirements. Our goals and objectives also emphasize learning about patients' cultural, ethnic and health beliefs, along with understanding how patients' psycho-social and financial circumstances impact their health and health behaviors Student clerks rotate on inpatient psychiatric units, consultation-liaison, ambulatory and emergency services for adults and children. Psychiatry conducts National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Examinations.  Exams are at the end of each 4-week block.  In the final (eighth) week, there is also a combined Objective Standardized Clinical Exam (OSCE) that utilizes standardized patients in scripted cases with two Psychiatry stations and two Neurology stations. Students are evaluated on a combined grade on Clinical Performance (LCME medical student competencies), NBME exam score and OSCE score.

Learning is "hands on" with observation of, and participation in, patient care. Additionally, students receive a wide variety of didactic instruction in the form of lectures, seminars, grand rounds, journal club, case-conferences with senior clinicians, and reading assignments. We utilize an electronic, web-based, learning platform that allows for remote access to an on-line curriculum. Department Faculty and Residents supervise and work with medical students to guide them through this rich and valuable clinical learning experience.