The goal of the PGY-IV year is to facilitate the resident’s maturation into an independent psychiatrist capable of assuming clinical teaching and administrative roles. The PGY-IV year is a combination of required and elective rotations throughout our network of training sites.

The senior resident spends two months on the consultative/emergency services of Capital Health System at Fuld in Trenton. The resident is expected to evaluate and arrange dispositions for a diverse group of patients. In addition, the resident has responsibility for teaching of medical students. Fourth year residents also spend two months at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune on a selective service such as geriatric psychiatry/nursing home facilities, electroconvulsion therapy, child and adolescent day hospital, emergency room and substance abuse.

Residents may choose from a variety of elective programs for a minimum of three months in their PGY-IV year. These programs may involve block clinical rotations, as well as special instruction that can occur in the context of other clinical programs. The program is individually arranged on the basis of the resident’s needs, interests and abilities. Residents may do their electives at other hospitals which have particularly strong programs in areas of interest to the resident, or the elective may be arranged within the Department. Elective experience is available in geriatrics, alcoholism, substance abuse, neuropsychiatry, research, child psychiatry, sleep disorders, eating disorders, medical psychiatry, administrative psychiatry and student mental health, among other options. Residents regularly participate in international electives in settings such as India, Korea, Spain and Australia.

Chief Residents are selected from the PGY-IV group. The Chief Resident works at UBHC under the supervision of the Medical Director of Adult Acute Services and is responsible for the administration and training of all residents at the Center. The training goals of the chief residency include allowing the resident to consolidate his/her identity as clinician, teacher and administrator.

Each PGY-IV resident continues to treat selected outpatients in individual and group settings, and to attend the required core fourth-year seminars and individual supervision. PGY-IV residents generally do not take call.