Medical Student Education

M.D. Program Contributions

The Center for Behavioral Medicine (CBM) and University Health (UH) serve as training sites for all students at the UMKC School of Medicine. A few of our departmental faculty members serve as year one docents to students in their first year of our M.D. programs. In year four, departmental faculty teach the Behavior Science Course, which is required for all students in the M.D. programs. In year five, all students rotate through the clinical clerkship in psychiatry, which is primarily based at CBM but features ample opportunities to gain experience during outpatient and consultation services at UH.

The department also offers a wide variety of senior electives to UMKC students and visiting students from other medical schools.

For students interested in psychiatry as a career, career counseling is provided via the Psychiatry Interest Group, participation in the School of Medicine's career fair and by individual faculty members on request.

Residency Training

The Department of Psychiatry has operated a residency training program since 1951, producing over 300 psychiatrists.

Currently, the residency consists of 24 resident slots (six residents per class). CBM and UH are the primary training sites but additional sites for electives include Northwest Missouri Psychiatry Rehabilitation Center, Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Children's Mercy Hospital and Saint Luke’s Hospital.

Continuing Medical Education

Department of Psychiatry faculty members have many opportunities for career development and continuing education. Every other week, case conferences review clinical cases from the perspective of the person and their biopsychosocial vulnerabilities and strengths. Local and national speakers also present departmental grand rounds on a variety of metal health topics.

Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program

Since 1980, the State of Missouri Department of Mental Health, in affiliation with the UMKC School of Pharmacy, has conducted a Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency program that is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

The program involves a 12-month intensive educational curriculum for pharmacists with a doctor of pharmacy degree who have completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency. Residency program preceptors serve as clinical pharmacists and are board certified in the area of psychiatric pharmacy practice. Rotation sites include, but are not limited to, the Center for Behavioral Medicine, University Health and the Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. Two residency positions are available annually.

Residents participate in clinical patient care as an active member of the multi-disciplinary treatment team, present formal presentations for grand rounds, case conference, and journal club and conduct projects that include an IRB-approved research project. Residents take an active role in teaching pharmacy students, medical students and psychiatry residents. Graduates of the program can be found in all areas of health care, including the pharmaceutical industry, academia and hospital settings. For more information, email Courtney Iuppa, Pharm.D., BCPP, Residency Coordinator, call 816-512-7477 or visit Missouri Department of Mental Health website to learn more.

Psychology Internship Program

The Psychology Internship program at the Center for Behavioral Medicine has been fully and continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1963. The internship program provides a wide range of training experiences and opportunities for in-depth, comprehensive learning. Interns gain training experience in the areas of forensic and clinical psychology, which include competency restoration services, court ordered evaluations, psychological assessment and individual and group therapy. There are four full-time paid intern positions available.