About Our Program
Program Philosophy
The Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior of Brown University offers residents a balanced approach to the study and treatment of psychiatric illness. The Psychiatry Residency's goal is to train physician leaders in clinical and academic psychiatry. The training program is based on a core curriculum of clinical assignments, seminars and individual supervision. Residents learn psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatments for disorders throughout the life cycle. It is expected that residents attain an advanced level of competence in at least two modalities of psychotherapy, such as individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, family therapy or behavioral/cognitive therapy. The didactic curriculum, which occurs during a dedicated afternoon each week, complements the hands-on experience and is designed to enable residents to acquire a comprehensive and current base of knowledge in the neuroscience and the social sciences.
Our program provides graded patient care responsibilities for each resident according to their individual experience, interests and needs. Educational needs and experiences are given equal weight with clinical/service needs. The Residency strives to provide clinical assignments that are consistent with the breadth and depth of clinical expertise, capacity for clinical leadership, and the career aspirations of each resident. Supervisory experiences are designed to assess, stimulate and sharpen each resident's diagnostic and therapeutic skills, in the context of close, supportive relationships with experienced faculty.
Residents are encouraged to focus on an area of special strength within the Department. Such areas include the following: child psychiatry, general hospital psychiatry, alcohol and substance abuse, neuropsychiatry, geriatrics, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive and panic disorders, psychoendocrinology, psychotherapy, community and sociocultural psychiatry. Residents are also encouraged to participate in research during residency training. A formal research track is available to interested residents. For additional information about research opportunities during residency training, click here.
Residents are encouraged to develop their skills as teachers. Residents can teach Brown University School of Medicine medical students and junior psychiatry residents in a variety of contexts.
Residents actively participate in the educational process. Through representation on the Policy Committee, residents help evaluate and shape the educational program. The Selection Committee is charged with the task of recruiting a well-balanced and stimulating group of new residents. Current trainees interview prospective applicants and serve as members of the Selection Committee. The residents regularly meet with the Chairman of the Department, and the Director and Associate Director of the Psychiatry Residency in small and large groups to discuss concerns and facilitate the functioning of the residency.