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Interested in learning more about this rotation? Start the process for a free introductory meeting with our team
Physician ID:
155
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 8 AM to 11 AM (hospital rounds) and 12 PM to 5 PM (office)
Wednesday and Thursday 9:30 AM to 11 AM (hospital rounds) and 12 PM to 5 PM (office)
Hours have been provided by the preceptor. Hours are subject to change at the preceptor’s discretion, but the minimum total hours will remain approximately the same.
Location: Houston
This combined inpatient and outpatient US clinical experience will take place in Houston. You will be responsible for arranging your own transportation to these locations.
Inpatient/Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Psychiatry in Houston
Specialties: Psychiatry
Location: Houston
Price:
Hospital Letterhead: No
Faculty Appointment: No
Information about this clinical experience:
(Please note that this rotation will strictly be an observership) You will be under the supervision of a physician who is board-certified in psychiatry. The preceptor is actively involved in teaching family medicine residents from an HCA-affiliated residency program who spend time with the doctor in the outpatient practice. The physician holds hospital appointments at Memorial Hermann Southwest, West Oaks Hospital, and Houston Behavioral Hospital.
On most days of the rotation, you will be spending time in the inpatient mental health units of several hospitals. As you observe encounters between the preceptor and hospitalized patients with acute psychiatric illness, you will see how interviews and mental status examinations are performed in patients in crisis. Discussions following these encounters will help you improve your abilities to develop differential diagnoses and select appropriate tests. You will learn how assessments and plans are made using a bio-psycho-social model. On the inpatient units:
You will observe how psychiatrists care for patients with psychiatric disorders in a respectful manner.
You will observe effective communication strategies and professional behaviors between psychiatrists and patients, families, and staff.
You will learn the major DSM-IV signs and symptoms for Bipolar Disorder, Delirium, Dementia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Schizophrenia, Substance Abuse & Dependence, and Substance Intoxication & Withdrawal.
You will learn the indications, mechanism of action, and adverse effects of psychoactive medications.
You will learn about the medico-legal aspects related to involuntary hospitalization and the importance of confidentiality.
You will also be able to observe electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). You will learn about the indications for this treatment, how patients are evaluated for this procedure, how the procedure is performed by a team of trained professionals, and side effects as well as safety concerns. To prepare for this aspect of the rotation, read the following:
Exploring Electroconvulsive Therapy in Psychiatry
In the outpatient clinic, you will observe the evaluation and management of patients with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and substance use disorders.
Please note that this is a fast-paced rotation that will expose you to a wide range of psychiatric disorders in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Although you may have some opportunities to ask patients questions, this rotation is best classified as an observership.
Who should consider this rotation:
International medical graduates (IMGs) and students seeking US clinical experience in psychiatry. IMGs seeking careers in family medicine or internal medicine will also find this rotation particularly useful since mental health problems are common in these specialties.
How to obtain a letter of recommendation:
The rotator should ask the preceptor for a LOR near the conclusion of the rotation. Dr. Desai has provided the physician with guidelines about best practices in letter writing that meet residency program requirements. In some cases, the preceptor may ask the rotator to write a letter of recommendation draft.
During the rotation:
Our team will be checking in periodically with you to ensure that you are having an optimal experience. We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions during the rotation.
Testimonials
Dr. X was an outstanding preceptor who ensured that I remained actively involved throughout the entire rotation. The doctor encouraged participation at every opportunity, answered all of my questions with patience, clarified my doubts, and shared a remarkable amount of clinical knowledge in a relatively short period of time. Dr. X frequently challenged me with questions during patient encounters, which kept me engaged, helped identify gaps in my knowledge, and motivated me to continuously improve my clinical reasoning.
In addition to Dr. X, I had the privilege of rotating with other doctors and physician assistants. Every member of the team was welcoming, approachable, and genuinely enthusiastic about teaching medical students. Dr. X shared valuable experiences from their clinical careers, discussing memorable patient cases, diagnostic approaches, and practical tips on effective case presentations. These discussions greatly strengthened my understanding of clinical reasoning and reinforced the importance of developing a broad differential diagnosis before arriving at a final diagnosis.
One of the greatest strengths of this rotation was the emphasis on active learning. I was consistently encouraged to obtain patient histories independently and perform physical examinations whenever appropriate. This significantly improved my confidence in history-taking, physical examination skills, patient presentations, and my ability to build rapport with both pediatric patients and their families. I also gained a deeper appreciation for how textbook presentations often differ from real-world clinical practice and how patient management frequently requires individualized decision-making based on each patient's unique
circumstances.
Overall, this rotation has been one of the most valuable clinical learning experiences of my medical training...I am sincerely grateful for the mentorship and support I received throughout this experience, and I would gladly choose to rotate here again if given the opportunity.
SM
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