It is strongly recommended that students select electives in areas other than that in which they have had previous clerkship experience. Students needing assistance in selecting electives and/or career planning should contact psychmeded@unmc.edu to schedule an appointment with Psychiatry CST Director.
Contact psychmeded@unmc.edu with scheduling questions unless a course administrator is specified for a course in the course description.
PSYC 718 PHYSICIAN WELLNESS MASTERY: THRIVING IN PRACTICE 4 Credit Hours
ELECTIVE
This elective is intended to expose the student to stress reduction techniques that are currently used in mental health and can be used in a variety of medical settings. Some of the practices include meditation, guided imagery, biofeedback, and breathing and movement. These are among the best known and most widely used of the complementary, alternative or integrative approaches to healthcare. These modalities will prepare students to understand the power of self-awareness and self-care and determine its applicability to the clinical setting. Medical school is recognized as a stressful life event. A recent study has shown that 50% of medical student's experience burnout and 10% have experienced suicidal ideation (Drybe et al. Burnout and suicidal ideation among U.S. medical students. Ann Intern Med 2008; 149:334--41.) This course is intended to provide the student an opportunity to understand the potential of stress reduction techniques as an integral part of whole-person care. It is not enough to hear about stress reduction and to read and comprehend the scientific basis for its efficacy. Rather, for students to appreciate their own capacities for self-awareness and self-care, students should experience and realize their own abilities. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks, except June, July, November, and December. Site: UNMC Main Campus.
Prerequisite: Not open to visiting students.
Instructor: Dr. Steven Wengel and Dr. Byers Shaw
Typically Offered: FALL/SPR
Capacity: 10
PSYC 719 ADDICTION PSYCHIATRY 4 Credit Hours
SUB-INTERN
Substance use disorders (SUDs) frequently co-occur with other psychiatric conditions and are increasingly prevalent among medically and surgically hospitalized patients. This elective experience provides students greater exposure to the subspecialty field of addiction psychiatry with particular focus on integrated treatment for patients with co-occurring SUDs and other psychiatric disorders. Students will form part of the Addiction Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service, on which they will participate in the assessment of patients with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses and co- occurring SUDs through consultation to primary medical and surgical teams in the hospital. Students will have the option of exposure to multiple levels of care including Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and outpatient clinics. Students will learn about performing detailed initial evaluations, diagnosing, and treating alcohol and opioid withdrawal in the context of psychiatric illness, initiating medications for addiction treatment, the use of psychosocial interventions and the principles of harm reduction. Students will also complete the self-paced buprenorphine-waiver course during this elective. This course is intended for M4s considering a career in psychiatry or primary care fields where SUDs are often diagnosed and managed, or as a refresher on management of SUDs prior to internship for any specialty. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks. Site: UNMC Main Campus.
Instructor: Dr. Alena Balasanova, Dr. VaKara Meyer Karre, Dr. Kenneth Zoucha, and Dr. Sara Zachman
Typically Offered: FALL/SPR
Capacity: 2
PSYC 720 PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY SERVICES ROTATION SUB-INTERNSHIP 4 Credit Hours
SUB-INTERN
This psychiatric emergency services elective allows the student to build upon the foundation of clinical skills established during the third-year psychiatry clerkship. The student will be involved in the assessment and treatment of adult patients in acute crisis presenting to the PES. Students will be expected to work at a level similar to that of an intern/resident under the supervision of faculty. Students may attend case conferences and Grand Rounds and participate in self-directed learning. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks. Site: Nebraska Medicine Psychiatric Emergency Services.
Prerequisite: Not open to visiting students.
Instructor: Dr. Ashish Sharma
Typically Offered: FALL/SPR
Capacity: 4
PSYC 723 ADULT INPATIENT PSYCHIATRY SUB-INTERNSHIP 4 Credit Hours
SUB-INTERN
This inpatient elective allows the student to build upon the foundation of clinical skills established during the third-year psychiatry clerkship. The student will be involved in the assessment and treatment of adult patients with mental illness requiring inpatient stabilization at Lasting Hope Recovery Center. Students will be expected to work at a level similar to that of an intern/resident under the supervision of faculty. Students will also have the opportunity to join Dr. Thomsen's outpatient clinic at UNMC and see the continuum of care. Students may attend case conferences and Grand Rounds and participate in self-directed learning. Students selecting LHRC site will be required to complete a urine drug screen (at no cost to the student) and additional CHI onboarding procedures. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks. Site: Lasting Hope Recovery Center (LHRC).
Instructor: Dr. Mark Thomsen
Typically Offered: FALL/SPR
Capacity: 2
PSYC 725 CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY 4 Credit Hours
SUB-INTERN
This elective provides the student greater exposure to the subspecialty of child and adolescent psychiatry. Students will directly participate with faculty and therapists in outpatient management of youth. Students will participate in the assessment of children and adolescents with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses by interviewing both patients and their caregivers, as well as forming differential diagnoses and bio-psychosocial treatment plans. Time is allotted to attend weekly didactics with the current child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. This elective is recommended for those considering career fields involving the treatment of children and adolescents (such as pediatrics and family medicine) and for those who would like to explore child and adolescent psychiatry as a career. Techniques in the medical interview of youth will be practiced. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks, except October. Site: UNMC Main Campus.
Instructor: Dr. Ryan Edwards, Dr. Daniel Gih, Dr. Soonjo Hwang, Dr. Howard Liu, Dr. Varun Sharma, and Dr. Madeline West
Typically Offered: FALL/SPR
Capacity: 1
PSYC 727 PSYCHIATRY THROUGH THE LIFESPAN 4 Credit Hours
SUB-INTERN
This outpatient psychiatry elective provides an interactive exposure to a diversity of patient populations with mental illness. The student will rotate through experiences in children and adolescent psychiatry, women's health/perinatal care, adult psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry. Patient care will primarily occur in the outpatient setting. Treatment therapies will include psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological modalities. Students will have the opportunity to work with faculty and therapists in evaluating and treating patients. This elective allows the student an opportunity to expanding their psychiatric knowledge and skills and may appeal to students entering primary care. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks, except December. Site: UNMC Main Campus
Typically Offered: FALL/SPR
Capacity: 1
PSYC 740 CONSULTATION LIAISON PSYCHIATRY SUB-INTERNSHIP 4 Credit Hours
SUB-INTERN
This elective provides exposure to medically ill patients with emotional / psychiatric problems with teaching emphasis on psychiatric diagnostic issues, acute treatment plans, short-term intervention techniques and supportive therapies. Readings, self-directed learning, daily rounds, case conferences and liaison with other medical staff in the emergency room and general hospital setting are all part of this elective. Students will be expected to participate in patient care at a level similar to an intern under the supervision of staff. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks. Site: UNMC Main Campus.
Prerequisite: Not open to visiting students.
Instructor: Dr. Ashish Sharma
Typically Offered: FALL/SPR
Capacity: 2
PSYC 741 GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY 4 Credit Hours
SUB-INTERN
The geriatric population is a growing demographic which will continue to increase in size in the next decades. This elective will provide students greater exposure to the subspecialty field of geriatric psychiatry with particular focus on psychiatric disorders that manifest mainly in the geriatric population and how psychiatric symptoms and treatment of common disorders may change with age. Students will participate in the assessment of geriatric patients with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses by interviewing patients, families, and/or caregivers, as well as forming differential diagnoses and bio-psycho-social treatment plans. This elective is intended for M4s considering a career in psychiatry or primary care fields where psychiatric illness will be diagnosed and managed. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks. Site: UNMC Main Campus.
Instructor: Dr. Thomas Magnuson, Dr. Steven Wengel, Dr. Andrew Baumgartner, and Dr. Erin Ranum
Typically Offered: FALL/SPR
Capacity: 1
PSYC 760 AWAY PSYCHIATRIC ELECTIVE 4 Credit Hours
SUB-INTERN
Away electives may be taken to broaden ones' knowledge of psychiatry generally or to acquire types of experience not available here. Transcultural electives are encouraged. For suggestions concerning possible off-campus electives, contact the Psychiatry CST Director. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.
Prerequisite: Pre-arrangement with the Psychiatry CST Director and an approved application for an away elective. Not open to visiting students.
Typically Offered: FALL/SPR
Capacity: Variable