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Interested in learning more about this rotation? Start the process for a free introductory meeting with our team
Physician ID:
331
Hours:
Monday - Friday 8 AM to 5 PM
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: Washington D.C.
This outpatient US clinical experience will take place approximately 180 miles southwest of Washington D.C.
Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Psychiatry in Washington D.C.
Specialties: Psychiatry
Location: Washington D.C.
Price:
Hospital Letterhead: No
Faculty Appointment: Yes – Liberty University
Information about this clinical experience:
You will be under the supervision of a physician who is board-certified in psychiatry. This is an experienced psychiatrist who is both a dedicated practitioner and a committed educator. The preceptor is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine and teaches third and fourth-year medical students.
In the practice, rotators will be exposed to a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and ADHD among others. The preceptor believes strongly in providing patients with comprehensive care that is both holistic and evidence based.
In the first week, you will learn how to develop differential diagnoses and assess mental status. The preceptor encourages learners to think through all possibilities that could explain the patient’s presentation and eliminate each one until a correct diagnosis is made. This emphasis on critical thinking in psychiatry will help ensure that the correct diagnosis is made. Establishing accurate diagnoses requires the ability to properly interview patients and assess mental status. To help you gain confidence in the mental status exam, we encourage you to read the following article:
Mental Status Exam in Primary Care: A Review
In the second week of the clinical experience, the learner will dive deep into psychopharmacology. Rotators will become more familiar with the different classes of medications available to treat mental health conditions, including their mechanisms of action, indications, and common adverse effects. A useful resource to review:
Psychiatric Medication Tips and Clinical Pearls
In the third and fourth weeks, the focus will shift to the formulation of the assessment and plan. Students will be encouraged to develop an interdisciplinary treatment plan that incorporates diagnostic testing and management strategies. Rotators will learn how to properly present patients and document the findings of the evaluation.
As this physician has a special interest in addiction medicine, you will also have the opportunity to see how these patients are evaluated and treated. You will learn how management plans are developed and the role of medications like Suboxone and Vivitrol in supporting patients through the recovery process.
This practitioner is trained in treatment modalities that patients require when standard treatments have proved unsuccessful. For example, depressed patients who have not responded to psychotherapy or medication may be treated with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or Spravato therapy. Rotators will have the opportunity to understand the indications for such treatment, how the procedure is conducted, and other issues related to the therapy.
After a few days of observation, you will take on an increasing role in patient encounters and learn the following under the preceptor’s supervision:
Taking patient histories under supervision.
Performing exams under the physician's supervision.
Presenting patients.
Searching and accessing information in the EMR (DrChrono)
Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.
Spending time with other healthcare professionals to understand their roles and responsibilities.
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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