POSTGRADUATE YEAR-4

The fourth postgraduate year of training is based upon successful completion of the first, second, and third years of residency.  The core competencies are fully incorporated into the daily routine of the fourth-year resident and with this fruition special emphasis is given to professionalism and the senior resident’s role as leader, mentor, and colleague.  There are several opportunities for the fourth year resident to assume roles within the greater health care system.  At this level, residents have maximal autonomy for the responsibilities of patient care; yet, still receive daily supervision and mentoring by faculty.  Career guidance and the approach to life-long learning are highlighted.  

The diverse fourth year experience is comprised of rotations in the sub-specialized areas of community psychiatry, partial hospitalization, consultation, and forensics.  Residents continue their longitudinal outpatient experience and have reserved time for elective rotations.  Fourth year residents also have significant teaching responsibilities and work collaboratively with departmental faculty, hospital staff, and the college of medicine.  Goals of the fourth residency year include the following:

• to readily employ the core competencies in everyday practice
  
  
• to develop autonomy with all aspects of psychiatric care
  
  
• to serve as role model to more junior peers and advance the principles of professionalism
  
  
• to develop a strategy for life-long learning that will effectively serve the physician throughout his career
  
  
• to competently care for the psychiatric patient with sub-specialized needs
  
  
• to be adequately prepared, educationally and personally, to meet the challenges of the psychiatric profession