Conferences

Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds are held approximately three times per month. Speakers include guest lectures, faculty members and residents. Many speakers are of national prominence. Clinical issues, research topics/projects, mental health policy issues and psychopharmacology are some of the topics presented. Quarterly the department also sponsors a Practice Improvement Program geared towards discussion of difficult clinical and medicolegal issues presented in a teaching format. Fun programs are also interjected from time-to-time such as “Psychiatric Jeopardy!”

Ethics Meeting
The Ethics seminar is held once per month. Participants include all psychiatric residents and a faculty member. Ethics can be taught a variety of ways. Our department has decided that one additional way of teaching ethics is for all participants to watch a movie in advance of the meeting (the movie highlights an ethical issue or dilemma). During the meeting the ethical and moral issues and questions that underpin the movie and their applications to the practice of psychiatry are discussed.

Journal Club
Once per month, residents present a summary of one to three articles from recent psychiatric literature. All residents have read the article(s) prior to the meeting. The article(s) are discussed with emphasis on evaluating the background of the research, evaluating the research methodology and interpretation of the significance of the findings.

Outpatient Psychopharmacology Case Conference
Each Friday afternoon, PGY-3 and PGY-4 residents meet with a faculty member to present selected cases that were seen in the outpatient mental health clinic the week previously. Cases that are “typical” and exemplify proper patient management are discussed. Cases that are unusual or complicated are presented. Additionally, ongoing cases that are difficult to manage from a drug interaction standpoint are dealt with.

Outpatient Case Conference
On Friday mornings residents present cases being followed at the outpatient mental health clinic at a two-hour meeting. The patient’s history is presented. A faculty member interviews the patient. A discussion then ensues. During the discussion special emphasis is placed on therapy methods and techniques, psychodynamic themes and intrapsychic conflicts, and ego defense mechanisms. This conference is a favorite of the residents.

Consultation/Liaison Case Conference
Twice each month on Tuesdays at noon, residents meet with Dr. Beryl Lawn for Consultation/Liaison case conference. Dr. Lawn retired from the consultation/liaison service several years ago but her love of teaching keeps her in the program as voluntary faculty. Residents on the C/L rotation present an interesting case with discussion by Dr. Lawn and other residents. End-of-life issues, organic brain syndromes, pain management, and somatoform disorders are a few topics covered.

Practice Improvement Meeting
This is a quarterly conference that is attended by all faculty and residents within the Department. In this conference, a difficult case or a difficult outcome is discussed from a risk management perspective.