FIRST POSTGRADUATE YEAR

Our PGY-I is designed to foster the consolidation of the resident’s identity as a physician.

It begins with a "crash" course to orient the new interns. In accordance with ACGME requirements, interns complete a total of four months of primary care, two months of neurology, and six months of psychiatry during the PGY-1 year.  The four months of primary care are comprised of two inpatient ward months (at Parkland Memorial Hospital or Children's Medical Center), a month of palliative care, and a month of emergency medicine.  In addition, there are two months of neurology comprised of a month of general neurology inpatient wards at Parkland Memorial Hospital and an additional month with a combination of the stroke service, epilepsy monitoring unit or child neurology.

The remainder of the first year includes one month of addiction psychiatry at the VA,  two months of inpatient psychiatry at Parkland's 8North, two months of emergency psychiatry at Parkland, and two months of inpatient psychiatry at the VA.

Core didactics occur on Wednesdays following Grand Rounds and the Psychiatry Resident Organization meeting.  Intern year didactics consist of a general survey of all aspects of psychiatry, including an introduction to APA guidelines on treatment of conditions frequently seen during inpatient rotations.

First year residents are assigned faculty advisors with whom they meet throughout the year to discuss training and professional issues.  The training director meets with the intern class exclusively on a quarterly basis.  At the beginning of the intern year, each new resident is assigned a "Big Sib" from among the more senior residents who is available to answer questions and provide additional guidance during the intern year.