Didactic Curriculum
In the UCLA-Olive View Psychiatry Residency Training Program, didactic courses are meticulously designed to complement clinical training throughout all four years of residency. PGY-1 courses introduce residents to core topics in psychiatry, including introductions to psychotherapy, diagnostic evaluations, and pharmacotherapy for the inpatient and emergency settings. Courses in the PGY-2 year and beyond parallel the residents’ outpatient therapeutic experiences and augment the breadth of training. PGY-3 residents are introduced to various subspecialty areas of training, including research methodology, child psychiatry, and substance use disorders. The PGY-4 curriculum is notable for its emphasis on exploring professional opportunities and transitioning from being a psychiatrist-in-training to an independent physician.
The program utilizes various measures to monitor and support the progress of housestaff and the training experience. Direct observation of work with patients and performance in seminars is combined with a review of the written clinical record. All residents take the Psychiatric Resident-in-Training Examination (PRITE) yearly as a measure of their knowledge compared to their peers nationwide. From the PGY-1 year onward, clinical skills exams follow the format as required by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. These exams are designed to encourage competence in clinical assessment, differential diagnosis, case formulation, and treatment plans. Residents also maintain a log of psychotherapy cases to ensure a balanced mix of clinical experience across diagnostic categories and utilization of a variety of therapeutic modalities.
Specific courses include:
PGY1
- Emergency and Inpatient Psychopharmacology
- Intro Neuroscience
- Forensics Issues
- Phenomenology & the DSM
- From Medical Student to Physician
- Intro to Emergency Psychiatry
- Intro to Addiction
- Cultural Psychiatry and Social Determinants of Health
- Intro to Evidence-Based Practice
- Intro to Street Psychiatry
- Molecular Psychiatry
- Intro to Psychotherapy
- Intro to Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Intro to Clinical Informatics and Decision-Making
- Intro to Outpatient Psychiatry and Therapy
PGY2
- Intro to Psychotherapy
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
- Psychodynamic Formulation
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Reproductive Mental Health
- Consultation and Liaison Psychiatry
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Clinical Neuropsychiatry
- Journal Club, History of Psychiatry, Community Psychiatry
- Outpatient Psychopharmacology
- Group Supervision
PGY3
- Advanced Therapeutics and Mood Disorder Clinic
- Mood Disorder Patient Interviews/Case Conference
- Group/Family Therapy
- Careers in Psychiatry
- Humanities in Psychiatry
- Bioethics
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Social Justice and Structural Violence
- Child Development
- Group Supervision
PGY4
- Private Practice
- Advanced Forensic Psychiatry
- Therapeutic Schools of Thought
- Misc. Topics with Dr. Ortiz-Portillo
- Social Justice and Structural Violence II
- Psychedelic Journal Club
- Peer-Led ABPN Board Review
- Termination Seminars I & II
