CURRICULUM
The Department of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) is integral to the School of Medicine teaching mission. We provide instruction in a variety of areas, including:
- Preclinical neuroscience
- Psychiatry clerkship and selectives
- Advanced psychiatry experiences (sub-internships and electives)
- Psychiatry graduate medical education
- Combat and operational stress control (COSC)
Preclinical neuroscience
As part of the School of Medicine’s integrated systems-based curriculum, students complete eight weeks of neuroscience instruction (the neuroscience and behavior module). This module covers the fundamental principles of psychiatry, neurology, and neurosurgery, along with surgical concerns of the ear-nose and throat. The module is taught using a combination of world-class didactics, online learning, cadaveric dissection, case-based learning, and patient simulation. The module has won the award for best module for over 6 years in a row and prepares students to succeed in the clerkship year by focusing on patient communication skills and the biopsychosocial formulation.
Psychiatry clerkships and selectives
The psychiatry clerkship at USUHS is a four-week rotation that provides students with a comprehensive overview of the field of psychiatry. Students learn about the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, as well as the role of psychiatry in the military healthcare system. The clerkship also includes a variety of selectives, which allow students to focus on specific areas of interest, such as child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry.
advanced psychiatry experiences
After completing the psychiatry clerkship, students can choose from a variety of advanced psychiatry experiences, such as sub-internships and electives. These experiences (including military operational psychiatry, disaster psychiatry, medical and psychiatric ethics) allow students to gain additional clinical experience in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, forensic and military operational settings.
Psychiatry Graduate Medical Education
The Department of Psychiatry USUHS supports four-year residency programs in psychiatry within the National Capital Area and at various tertiary military treatment facilities across the nation. These residency programs provide residents with the training they need to become board-certified psychiatrists. Residents rotate through a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatry, outpatient psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. They also receive training in research, education, and administration.
COMBAT OPERATIONAL STRESS CONTROL (COSC)
As part of the graduating medical students’ field exercise, Operation Bushmaster, the Department of Psychiatry provides instruction and practical/leadership experience in identifying, assessing, and treating combat and operational stress injuries. This instruction is essential for preparing students to provide care to service members who have been exposed to traumatic events.
We are committed to providing our students with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in their careers as psychiatrists. We believe that by providing a comprehensive education in psychiatry, we can help our students make a difference in the lives of service members, veterans, and the public.