Med Student Electives


For further directions and clerkship applications visit: http://www.mentalhealth.ucla.edu/trainees

CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY

Students function as an integral part of a multidisciplinary team that provides primary care to a group of patients with substance abuse problems, multiple medical problems, and with evidence of various forms of psychopathology. Management of patients is through the design of individualized treatment plans that integrate psychiatric, medical, social and behavioral techniques.

COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRY

This elective will introduce students to innovative and state-of-the-art treatment approaches to the severely and chronically mentally ill in a community setting. Students will learn use of the newer medications, with psychiatric rehabilitation techniques including biobehavioral titration which incorporates rating instruments such as the BPRS & AIMS. Didactics will include an overview of the Community Psychiatry movement, along with relevant clinical topics.

CONSULTATION & LIAISON PSYCHIATRY

This advanced level elective offers an introduction to the rapid assessment and effective management of psychiatric and behavioral problems experienced by patients with significant medical or surgical illness. Students are integral members of the C&L team, and learn to apply a biopsychosocial approach to the evaluation of problems of death and dying, delirium, depression, dementia and personality patterns. Management of these problems includes both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches (Behavioral, Biofeedback, crisis intervention, etc.).

EMERGENCY PSYCHIATRY

This elective offers students an opportunity to be on the "front lines" in the triage, evaluation and treatment of acutely ill psychiatric patients in a County hospital emergency room setting. In a spacious and modern setting with a capacity of 12 holding beds, students learn to evaluate emergent problems, to formulate differential diagnoses and treatment plans, to apply crisis-oriented techniques, and to utilize community-based and hospital-based resources.

FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY

Provides a comprehensive experience in California law as it relates to the practice of psychiatry, which includes LPS, Voluntary Consent, Right to Treatment, Right to Refuse Medication, Conservatorship, Testifying in Court, and Ethical Issues.  Clerks will participate as active team members and in conjunction with a Forensic Fellow.

GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY

This elective provides a comprehensive experience in the diagnosis, treatment and management of behavioral conditions common to the aged population. Along with inpatient and outpatient clinical management of patients, there is an intense didactic program with an emphasis on Neuropsychiatry and Geriatric Psychopharmacology.

INPATIENT PSYCHIATRY

This advanced elective continues the inpatient experience from the initial clerkship in psychiatry, allowing greater involvement in overall psychiatric inpatient care to the level of a sub-intern, as appropriate.  Management of one to two acutely mentally ill patients is encouraged and a continued one-to-one teaching and supervision relationship between the attending psychiatrist and the student fosters an active learning environment.  In addition, the student interacts with the inpatient support staff and the residents rotating through the inpatient service providing an overall in-depth precursor to post-graduate training in psychiatry.

Contact Info:
Jeannie Weber
Residency Coordinator
Psychiatry Training Program
Edcuation Office 116A3
Dept. of Psychiatry
16111 Plummer St
Building 10
Sepulveda, CA 91343



Phone: 818-895-9349
Fax: 818-895-9437
Email: jeannie.weber@med.va.gov

And Dr. Randy Mervis
Medical Student Coordinator, UCLA/San Fernando Valley Program
Phone: 818-891-7711, ext. 5313