The Psychiatry Core Clerkship provides medical students with a broad clinical experience in psychiatry. Students will rotate through inpatient units, outpatient clinics and community mental health organizations gaining exposure to a variety of psychiatric conditions. They will engage in mental health evaluations, learn to diagnose and manage psychiatric disorders, and develop skills in patient interviewing and therapeutic communication. The clerkship emphasizes the importance of understanding mental health as a fundamental component of overall health, providing a foundation valuable for any medical specialty. Throughout the rotation, students will immerse themselves in the clinical environment, taking on responsibilities as integral members of the healthcare team while being supervised.

Students may develop an individualized research plan of their choice under the direction of a faculty member. Students should work with a faculty member to submit the form Elective Proposal to Educational Affairs at least eight weeks prior to the projected start date. This elective requires prior approval.

Students may develop an individualized course on a topic of their choice under the direction of a faculty member. Students should work with a faculty member to submit the form Elective Proposal to Educational Affairs at least eight weeks prior to the projected start date. This elective requires prior approval.

The purpose of this elective is to provide support to core clerkship students transitioning into the Psychiatry clerkship. Student Chiefs will orient core clerkship students to expectations of the Psychiatry/Neurology (PSYC/NEURO) clerkship and student roles. The chiefs are expected to be available to the core clerkship students on the PSYC/NEURO rotation for support with knowledge and skills required in the clerkship. Students interested in being a Student Chief need to apply and will be selected by the faculty.

Students work directly with YWCA of Kalamazoo and their programming. Students perform initial evaluations and help manage clients throughout the programming (this may include home visits, attending group sessions, visiting different sites the YWCA oversees, etc). The main site available for this rotation is YWCA in downtown Kalamazoo.

Advanced hospital selectives provide the opportunity for students to assume greater responsibility for patient care of the hospitalized patient, with oversight from supervising residents and attending physicians. Students expand upon competencies they develop during the third year as they care for one to two patients at a time. Additional expectations include responsibility for developing management plans, writing orders, patient handovers and transfers of care, recognizing the policies that support patient safety, and developing competency in procedures that they will perform independently as residents. Fourth year students also assist in teaching third year students.

Students work directly with a faculty psychiatrist, usually a psychiatry resident, and a multi-disciplinary team in an inpatient setting with older adult patients. Students perform initial evaluations and help manage patients throughout their hospitalization (if desired, the student may participate in the ECT Service). The site available is Beacon.

Discuss the role of drug interactions, adverse effects of medications, and poly-pharmacy in the patient's psychiatric presentation.
Develop the capacity to perform cognitive assessments on these patients with delirium and or dementia.
Demonstrate the ability to perform a neurological screening exam, and know when it is appropriate to order neurodiagnostic tests.
Demonstrate the ability to provide supportive therapy for patients in the general hospital setting.