About

Mission

The Department of Psychiatry addresses the psychiatric care needs of the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, as well as the state of Missouri, through recruiting and maintaining a highly informed faculty capable of providing state-of-the-art clinical care. Department faculty are entrusted with the education and training of future psychiatrists and other mental health providers at the cutting edge of knowledge in this rapidly advancing field of medicine. Through engaging in research and scholarly activity and being in constant touch with recent and influential advances in psychiatric care, we disseminate this knowledge to all practitioners in the region and assure an ever-improving quality of psychiatric care for all Missourians.

Vision

Community engagement is a priority of the Department of Psychiatry. Our department is the preferred site of training in mental health for graduates of the schools of health sciences in Missouri and surrounding states. Our treatment, training and research programs are innovative, evidence-based and inclusive of all healthcare disciplines. We recognize that there are different degrees of “evidence base”. Teaching will adhere to the highest level of “evidence bases” published in widely available and highly regarded peer-reviewed publications. These programs address the mental health needs of a culturally diverse population within the region.

Philosophy

The department believes that psychiatry is an integral part of the field of medicine and is committed to the BioPsychoSocial model of understanding psychiatric illnesses and proving care for patients. Psychiatry is an ever-evolving and expanding field. We maintain a constant watchful eye on advances in the field so we can fulfill our promise to the community of educating the best providers and treating patients with exemplary skill. We seek to draw upon the body of information and skills that have evolved over time, which allow us to provide relief to all categories of suffering. These interventions range from the somatic to the psychological and from pharmacotherapy to psychotherapy. They include addressing such social factors as the family and the community. These interventions must also be sensitive to cultural, religious, socioeconomic and ethnic diversity.

Objectives

• To provide excellent psychiatric care to all patients in need of such care at the Center for Behavioral Medicine and Truman Medical Center, regardless of their ability to pay.
• To treat all patients with empathic respect for their right to safety, dignity and confidentiality.
• To teach medical students the necessary information and skills to become safe, effective and empathic physicians.
• To develop the knowledge base and skills of residents who have chosen a career path in psychiatry so that they can become safe, effective and empathic psychiatrists who are capable of maintaining their excellence in the future.
• To develop and hone “scholarship” skills during training. Our faculty assure that the care and teaching provided remain at the cutting edge or even contribute new knowledge to the field of psychiatry.
• To provide mental health professionals and fellow physicians in all fields with continuing education in the field of psychiatry.