Home  /  Education  /  Medical Student Education in Psychiatry

Medical Student Education in Psychiatry

Welcome to the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Medical Student webpage!
We hope that this information is helpful to you as you navigate this page to learn more about psychiatry pre-clerkship, clerkship as well as other opportunities.

Explore More

Pre-Clerkship

Psychiatry and behavioral sciences are taught during both the pre-clerkship and clerkship parts of medical school. Pre-clerkship instruction is provided to first- and second-year students and explores the behavioral determinants of health, doctor-patient relationship, and human development; offers patient interviewing apprenticeships; and examines the major psychiatric disorders including psychotic, mood, anxiety, eating, trauma-related, somatic symptom, and substance use disorders.

Of note, lunchtime courses include:

PSYC 249:
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Subspecialty Areas

Terms: Aut | Units: 1 | Repeatable for credit

In this lunch talk series, students will explore psychiatry and behavioral science subspecialty areas through the personal perspectives of psychiatrists and other specialists in behavioral health from a variety of practice settings. Some examples of topics have been advances in subspecialty areas (e.g., child and adolescent psychiatry, psychotherapy, legal issues, mood & anxiety disorders, community outreach, eating disorders), the interplay between social issues and mental healthcare, and the nature of psychiatric work and work/life balance.

Of note, this course discusses sensitive topics in psychiatry including suicide, psychosis, addiction, child abuse, sexual assault, trauma, violence, and mental disorders. While priority will be given to MD students, undergraduates and graduate students are welcomed.

PSYC 225: Mentorship and Clinical Engagement in Child/Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry

Terms: Aut, Win, Spr | Units: 1 | Repeatable for credit

Related articles: Mentorship Matters: Science points to the efficacy of the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation National Mentorship Program for Medical Students