Medical Students
About Us
We are excited to present multiple educational opportunities for medical students – including for those who do not plan to go into Psychiatry. Every medical specialty brings doctors face-to-face with individuals who have mental health issues. Your success as a physician will be related to your ability to address the whole person.
Medical Student Phases
Foundations Phase
In your first 21 months of Medical School, you will take “Nervous System & Human Behavior,” a course that introduces you to the psychiatry fundamentals that every physician should know. You will also prepare to transition to your clinical education, including your work with patients with behavioral health needs in Fundamentals, Clinical Skills, and Becoming a Doctor I and II.
Clinical Immersion/Required Clerkship
Psychiatry Externship ADPY 7500 is a requirement for medical students to complete in their third or fourth year of medical school. This course focuses on acute presentations of major psychiatric illnesses, and prepares medical students to recognize, diagnose, and understand treatment for these illnesses.
Specialty Selection
We offer a range of elective opportunities for University of Minnesota medical students and qualified visiting medical students. Individually arrange d electives that meet students’ interests and educational needs are also available.
Visiting Students
Visiting Domestic Students
We encourage medical students from other LCME-accredited institutions to consider participating in an elective at the University of Minnesota. Students can apply through VSLO. If you are considering visiting our campus as a medical student, please review the application process for visiting students.
Deadlines: Visiting student applications are reviewed on a term-by-term basis. Because of internal deadlines, we strive to notify students with a decision 6-8 weeks prior to the elective start date. If you are selected for a spot, you will be extended an offer through VSLO.
Psychiatry Electives available to visiting students include:
Visiting International Students
Because of the large number of foreign medical student applicants to the University of Minnesota Medical School, they have found it necessary to restrict registration of students to those applying from institutions with which we have affiliation agreements. Please see the visiting international student website for more information.
Shadow and Observing in the UMMC-Fairview System
You are a current U of M Medical Student
If you are a current U of M medical student in good standing, you can email and find a faculty/resident to observe/shadow. You have already done the primary Fairview onboarding as part of Medical School, so you’re all good to go. You are allowed to observe/shadow for up to a total of 24 clinical hours.
When you have dates/times lined up with someone, please email the details to [email protected].
If you are having trouble finding a preceptor to work with or have any questions, please email [email protected].
You are not a U of M Medical Student
If you are not a current U of M medical student, you will have a few steps to complete:
- You’ll need to find a person to shadow/observe and the specific dates/times you will be there. You can find someone by emailing faculty/residents. If you are having trouble finding a preceptor to work with, please email [email protected] for ideas of where to start.
- When you have specific dates/times lined up with someone, please email the details to [email protected].
- The coordinator will email you a form to fill out.
- You will need to onboard through a platform called Clinician Nexus.
- Finally, you’ll be all set to shadow/observe.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions about this process!
Contacts
Tom Briese, MD
Clinical Immersion Director
[email protected]
Lacey Bydlon
Undergraduate Medical Education Administrator
lbydlon@umn.edu
Research Opportunities
U of M Medical Students and undergraduate students interested in psychiatry-related research are encouraged to reach out to the Principal Investigator (or their lab) directly and arrange research opportunities. If you’re not sure who you want to work with or need help getting in contact, reach out to [email protected].
Psychiatry Interested Medical Students
The Psychiatry Student Interest Group (PsychSIGN) is led by an active group of medical students who organize informative and engaging events for medical students. Please see the Psychiatry Interest Group page for more information.