Core Clinical Electives

Instructor of record: Christina Lee, M.D., M.P.H. 

Site Director(s): Carolyn Giroux, M.D.

Course duration: 2 weeks

Quarters: I, II, III, IV

Units: 3 (Please note: Does not count towards graduation credit.)

Course description: This is a professional development elective that is offered to 4th-year medical students. The main modality will be independent study including reading of articles, books, videos or other learning tools. On one or two occasions, there will be a possibility of joining a group therapy that uses storytelling to apply narrative medicine.

Location: The supervisor is located at the Behavioral Health Clinic (BHC). However, the learning experience can take place remotely, including group therapy and supervision sessions.

Learning objectives

At the end of the two-week rotation, the student will:

• Define core concepts in psychiatry such as trauma, grief, trauma-informed care, narrative approaches, common factors of psychotherapy, attachment, mindfulness, resilience, compassion, joy, gratitude etc.
• Define and apply storytelling and narrativity in personal and clinical settings with patients.
• Understand neuroimmunology and how narration promotes healing by modulating it.
• Learn how to utilize resources as new interests emerge and develop.
• Maintain self-care while learning about secondary traumatization in psychiatry.
• Engage in self-reflection to list main themes to include in candidate statement for application during residency.
• Utilize daily entries in a diary or thought log to co-author a paper with supervisor describing the experience of the course, with lessons learned and recommendations.

Content and educational materials

• Articles, books, slideshows, Youtube videos
• Participate in a group therapy using storytelling and co-facilitate “Reboot your Narrative” session 
• Meet with recipient(s) of Mark and Tanya Schaal Prose and Poetry in Psychotherapy Award

Structure and general expectations

• Plan for 4 hours of reading per day, 3-4 hours of research/writing (daily journal, note-taking) and 90 minutes of narrative therapy (group) per week (Monday a.m.). During group therapy, the students write short progress notes with an emphasis on the healing narrative. 
• Discuss progress, reflections and adjust pace as needed on average twice a week, for 1 hour.

Grading Criteria: This course is honors/pass/fail. Honors vs. Pass: An honors student will exceed expectations in 4 of the 6 clinical competencies.

Attendance Policy: We allow no more than 1 day of excused absence for vacation, sick leave or admin needs for residency interviews (dates agreed upon between student and supervisor in advance).