Core Clinical Electives

Instructor of record: Christina Lee, M.D., M.P.H.

MS4 Site Director(s): Jeremy DeMartini, M.D.

Instructor(s): John Onate, M.D., Kate Richards, M.D.

Course duration: 4 weeks

Quarters: I, II, III, IV

Units: 6

Location: Sacramento County Health Center, UC Davis Ambulatory Care Center, Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center

Distribution of student’s time: Clinical (90%), Didactic (10%)

Prerequisites: Psychiatry core clerkship and/or consent of clerkship director

Course description: Students will rotate through several affiliated sites, primarily under the supervision of dual-boarded psychiatry and internal medicine/family medicine faculty. Students will provide both primary care and psychiatric care for patients from diverse and vulnerable populations. Students will also gain exposure to the internal medicine/psychiatry training program.

Students with a specific interest in a special area of Combined Internal Medicine / Psychiatry should contact the course director at jmdemartini@ucdavis.edu.

Enhancement modules: 

• Combined Medicine/Psychiatry
• Cultural Psychiatry
• Emergency Psychiatry  

Clerkship objectives

• Improve on psychiatric history taking and mental status exam
• Improve on treating the medical and psychiatric needs of patients with chronic mental illness
• Learn to efficiently manage patients in an outpatient primary care clinic setting
• Effectively interact within a multidisciplinary treatment team
• Gain exposure and understanding of integrating the diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders with a diverse patient population in a primary care setting

Commonly seen conditions

• Diabetes mellitus
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Infectious diseases
• Skin disorders
• Mood disorders 
• Psychotic disorders
• Neurocognitive disorders
• Substance use disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Trauma-related disorders

Course Details

Applicants: Please include a one-paragraph statement of why you are interested in this rotation. Assignment of PSY 421 seats will first be prioritized for fourth-year students who plan on applying to Combined Internal Medicine/Psychiatry. If you have not already done so, please note in your bio your intention to apply to Combined Internal Medicine/Psychiatry or your deliberation between IM/Psych and another specialty. Secondary consideration will be given to fourth-year students who do not plan on applying to IM/Psych but who clearly indicate in their statement of interest how the additional integrated medical and psychiatric experience will positively impact the development of their knowledge, clinical skills, and clinical judgment in their chosen specialty area.

Credentialing: Students rotate through Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center as a part of their PSY 421 elective, and Livescan fingerprinting clearance in California is required. This incurs a fee that must be paid in full by the student prior to starting the elective, and the Livescan must be completed in California at least 4 weeks in advance of the elective start date. Details on submitting the Livescan will be sent to the student as soon as a student is accepted for the elective.

For visiting students, please confirm on your application that you will be able to complete a Livescan in California at least 4 weeks prior to your rotation. If you cannot complete this requirement but are interested in an alternative experience that does not include the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center, please contact the course director at jmdemartini@ucdavis.edu.

Please note the Department of Psychiatry Policy: The last day to drop a session is four weeks prior to the session’s start date. Every effort will be made to accommodate your first choice of elective and dates. However, due to limits in class size and time constraints, you may be placed in one of your alternate choices.

Grading Criteria: This course is honors/pass/fail. Honors vs. Pass: An honors student will exceed expectations in 4 of the 6 clinical competencies.

Attendance Policy: Per UC Davis Health policy, students can miss no more than 2 days per 4-week block. This includes vacation leave, sick leave, and any admin needs for residency interviews.  *Please note:* Opportunities to make up absences are LIMITED for this elective.