Elective Years 3 and 4: Neuroscience Perspectives in Psychiatry

Neuroscience Perspectives in Psychiatry (online elective University of Illinois at Chicago)

Diversification = R1 Psychiatry

2 weeks, full time (Total Hours/Week: 35 (20 hours self-study, 10 hours in small groups, 5 hours discussion)

Placement Contact: Chelsey Konowalyk  umepsych@ualberta.ca 780-492-7604

Dr Alberto Choy achoy@ualberta.ca

Elective Director: Joseph J. Cooper, MD (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Neuroscience Perspectives in Psychiatry is an online two-week elective run from the University of Illinois at Chicago.  This elective is a unique opportunity for Year 3 and year 4 University of Alberta MD Program medical students to learn about modern neuroscience and its integration into mental health from recognized international leaders in research and education, utilizing resources from the National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative.  You will have the opportunity to work with learners across the USA and Canada in online, interactive sessions.  This elective is ideal for learners interested in Psychiatry, but also learners interested in areas such as Neurology and Family Medicine, as there is an emphasis on translation and communication of neuroscientific perspectives to patients and their families.

1. Students will review self-study resources, primarily from the National Neuroscience Curriculum Initiative <nncionline.org>, which include educational videos, podcasts, e-learning modules and Biological Psychiatry Clinical Commentaries (a series of peer-review published articles which use a narrative format to teach one aspect of psychiatric neuroscience).  Students will be given formative questions targeting each day of self-study, and will submit responses for review to the course director (20 hrs/week)
2. Each day students work in small groups through an interactive, group-learning activity.  This will be accomplished via virtual meetings for online learners.  Faculty facilitation is available during small group activities as needed.  (10 hrs/week)
3. Students participate in an asynchronous discussion board via Slack with faculty facilitation.  Additional faculty supervision can be arranged on an as-needed basis.  (5 hrs/week)

https://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/education/md-curriculum/curriculum-by-year/phase-2-3/electives-and-pathway-structure/electives-catalog/neuroscience-perspectives-in-psychiatry/

ASSESSMENT:
Students are given feedback after week one and at the end of the course on their responses to daily assessment questions, participation in the online Slack discussion board and participation in the live small group activities.

Upcoming course start dates:  October 9, 2023 and January 29, 2024

At the end of the course the student is expected to be able to:

1. Integrate modern neuroscience perspectives into psychiatric formulation, diagnosis and treatment planning.
2. Describe the differences between a diagnostic system based on phenomenology (DSM) and one based on neurobiology and the strengths and limitations of each.
3. Practice translating cutting-edge neuroscience into narratives that can be used to explain psychiatric illnesses to patients, families and the public.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 

Open to University of Alberta Year 3 and Year 4 medical students.  Course is out of the University of Illinois at Chicago.