At UC Irvine, we understand that our residents have diverse interests and develop new interests as their training proceeds. We make every attempt to accommodate the diversity available in a career in psychiatry. Residents can choose to follow a general psychiatry curriculum or can choose, solely or in combination, any of the specialty tracks below. Residents can enter or change tracks at any time.
Research
The research track provides an opportunity for residents to engage in individualized research projects of their own interest under faculty supervision. The program is often able to provide funding for resident research. Stipends for resident presentations at scientific meetings and conventions are available. Specialized research programs include
brain imaging (including PET and fMRI),
molecular genetics,
neuropathology,
clinical research trials in psychotic and mood disorders,
maternal/fetal stress, PTSD, autism, neuroimmunology, and the neurobiology of stuttering.
- PGY-2: One hour per week seminar with 1hr/wk individual mentor
- PGY-3: 1/2 day per week outpatient clinical research
- PGY-4: 1/2 time research throughout
Psychotherapy
Specialized opportunities are available for residents to learn different schools of psychotherapy including psychoanalytic, short-term dynamic, transpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, couples, family, group, and supportive therapy. Residents participate in multiple seminars and workshops, including weekly psychotherapy observing through a one-way mirror.
- PGY-2: Two patients with one hour of supervision per week. Seminars with Roger Walsh, M.D.,Ph.D., Lawrence Sporty, M.D., Joel Kotin, M.D.
- PGY-3: Eight individual patients with six hours of individual supervision per week in addition to two hours of Group/Family/Couples therapy (also includes two psychopharmacology clinics/week)
- PGY-4: Up to 20 hours of psychotherapy and supervision per week. Rotations include UCI Student Health, UCIMC, LBVA
Community
Community psychiatry experience includes rotations in the PGY-3 year at the Mental Health Association, a non-profit community clinic serving the under privileged mentally ill population. The PGY-2 year includes a telemedicine clinic which provides for the psychiatric care for individuals in a rural community setting. Opportunities also exist for residents to treat dual-diagnosis patients in an urban, residential care setting. An additional elective includes a rotation through FOCUS, a community-based program for treating families and children affected by abuse.
- PGY-2: Telemedicine
- PGY-3: 1/2 day per week community clinic
- PGY-4: 1/2 to full time community psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
UC Irvine is one of the leading institutions involved in the development and testing of novel psychopharmacologic agents. Specialized programs include research on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, depression, PTSD, stuttering, autism, and ADHD.
- PGY-2: 1/2 day per week psychopharm supervision
- PGY-3: Four medication clinics per week
- PGY-4: Junior attending on inpatient and/or supervising residents in psychopharmacology clinics. Participation as an investigator on psychopharmacologic clinical trials.
Geriatric
UCIMC provides a comprehensive geriatric experience with our 14 bed inpatient unit, affiliated skilled nursing and residential care facilities and geriatric outpatient program. Our geriatriic program was recognized in US News and World Report as a leading center of care. Our faculty are leaders in the treatment of dementia and geriatric depression and provide individual supervision to our residents.
- PGY-2: Two long-term geriatric therapy cases with one hour supervision with geriatric specialist per week and three months rotation on geriatric service at UCIMC
- PGY-3: Geriatric clinic at UCI and two long-term geriatric therapy cases per week with one geriatric supervision hour
- PGY-4: Junior attending on geriatric Service and supervising resident at Geriatric Clinic
Child and Adolescent
The Residency Program is unique in having a comprehensive Child and Adolescent Program including an inpatient unit, outpatient clinics, consultation service and a community-based program for treating families and children affected by abuse.
- PGY-1: 1-2 months of Pediatrics in lieu of Internal Medicine
- PGY-2: One long-term C&A therapy case with one hour C&A supervision per week
- PGY-3: Up to two hours of C&A long-term therapy cases per week and two hours of supervision and one C&A medication clinic per week
- PGY-4: Child and Adolescent Fellowship (either to UCI or other programs)
Forensic
Residents with an interest in forensic psychiatry have the opportunity to start during their second year where they testify in Superior Court under faculty supervision. In their fourth year, residents may choose 20-40 hours per week of a forensic elective.
- PGY-2: 1/4 rotation for two months in evaluating patients on forensic holds. Also, under faculty supervision, residents testify in Superior Court on forensic cases weekly
- PGY-4: Up to 20-40 hours per week with Dr. Grayden (UCIMC) and Dr. Sharma (Metropolitan State Hospital) evaluating and treating forensic patients and testifying in court
Consultation and Liaison
Our program provides an early exposure to consult and liaison psychiatry. Residents rotate through the C&L service during their second year for two months. They may choose to do up to 20-40 hours per week of a C&L during their fourth year.
- PGY-2: A two-month rotation at UCIMC
- PGY-4: Up to 20-40 hours per week of elective time as junior attending of C&L services
Addiction Psychiatry
All residents will complete a full one-month equivalent of addiction psychiatry at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Orange. St. Joseph's provides treatment for all phases of addiction treatment: detox, inpatient, partial hospitalization and outpatient. Electives are also available for residents to rotate at the world-renowned Betty Ford Center. The Betty Ford Center provides the latest in treatment and research for addiction disorders and provides an excellent training opportunity for our residents.
Administrative
As part of the administrative track, residents may choose to do serve as chief resident or junior attending on clinical services. Chief residents are elected by their resident peers.
- PGY-4: Chief resident and/or acting attending on clinical service
Emergency Psychiatry
Our UCIMC Emergency Department has a fully functioning emergency psychiatry service. As the only University hospital and Level I trauma center in Orange County, our emergency service provides an excellent teaching setting for our residents. We serve as a designated facility and see many patients brought in by the police or referred from other hospitals on involuntary holds.
- PG-1: 1 month Emergency Medicine (in lieu of Internal Medicine)
- PG-2: 2 month rotation (in combination with Forensic Psychiatry
- PG-4: Acting Attending on Emergency Service
Clinical Electives
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Administrative Electives available on all clinical rotations and sites
- Advanced Child & Adolescent Psychiatry - Clinical and/or Administrative
- Advanced Clinical Research
- Advanced Consultation & Liaison - Clinical and/or Administrative
- Advanced Emergency Psychiatry - Clinical and/or Administrative
- Advanced Outpatient Elective - Clinical and/or Administrative
- Biological Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology Research
- Brain Imaging Elective - UCI and Amen Clinic
- Community Mental Health including Correctional Mental Health
- Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy
- Emergency Psychiatry
- FOCUS program elective - assessment & treatment to sexually abused children and their families
- Group Psychotherapy
- Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
- Intra-analytic Couples Therapy
- Hypnosis
- Meditation Seminar
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
- Transpersonal Psychotherapy
