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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Psychiatry

Psychiatry Residency Educator and Research Tracks

The Indianapolis Psychiatry Residency offers several additional tracks for our residents to select from. While not required, these tracks provide our residents an opportunity to individualize their training to meet their personal and professional goals. Residents apply for their preferred tracks during their intern year and begin their track at the start of their PGY-2 year. Residents are also given the opportunity to join additional training pathways offered through IU School of Medicine.

Education Track

The education track provides training and experience in the development and delivery of educational activities for residents with clinician-educator career goals. Enrollment in the track includes up to 0.1 FTE (half day per week) protected time beginning in PGY 2 which may be increased depending on the project and progress during later years of training. In addition, training and specific program requirements may limit protected time during discrete intervals, for example protected time is not always possible during triple board training. 

Components

  1. Prepare Clinical Educator Track application including identification of desired activities and, if applicable, mentor. At the discretion of track or program leadership, additional meetings to discuss the plan may be required.
  2. Activities
    • Selection of three or more experiential teaching activity equivalents per 0.1 FTE of protected time. Examples include:
      • Neuroscience and behavior teaching component (Plawecki)
      • Neuroscience and behavior education research component (Plawecki)
      • Psychiatry MS3 Clerkship teaching activities (Giust/Braitman/Smith)
        • Several from which to choose
        • Target: Seven lectures for one experiential teaching activity equivalent
      • PRITE resident didactic project (Bushey)
      • Resident didactic teaching component (Bushey) 
      • GME Clinical-Educator Track (TBD)
    • Application to the GME Clinician-Educator Track
      • Step 3 passing score
      • Applications due in March-April
      • Two year program with workshops/etc.
        • Application for beginning as PGY 2-3 (if planning CAP fast-track) or PGY 3-4
        • Requires program approval as part of process
  3. For Trainees currently in the program
    • Annual progress report, including mentor approval, for discussion during semi-annual reviews
    • Education track and training program leadership review and approval

    Research Track

    The specific goals of the research track are to provide exposure and experience in the conduct of research. The research track proceeds in phases and requires a substantial investment of time and effort from both the trainee and mentor to be successful, including planning and initiation of activities before the onset of protected time. Successful research track participation will result in an academic product (for example, poster/abstract, presentations, paper submission, etc.). As with the education track, certain training and rotation requirements may limit protected time during discrete intervals.

    Phase 1: Project development (PGY 1+)

    • 0.0 FTE
    • Find a mentor and develop project ideas
    • Produce a specific aims page
      • Include: background/brief literature review, central hypothesis, objective, specific hypothesis, future decisions
      • One page, single spacing, font size 10, narrow margins
    • Submit applications for research track including your specific aims page for consideration for Phase 2

    Phase 2: Project initialization (PGY 2+)

    • Up to 0.1 FTE (half day per week) for three to six months and dependent upon project and training program
    • Conduct relevant literature review as necessary
    • Develop a detailed research plan/protocol
    • IRB submission (if necessary)
    • Submit progress report in three to six months, for semi-annual reviews or as required by track leadership for re-evaluation

    Phase 3: Conduct Project (PGY 3+)

    • Up to 0.2 FTE for academic year during PGY 3-4 outside of special circumstances with track leadership, training program and chair approval
      • Amount of FTE provided will be related to the scope/need of the project, academic progress and training program
    • Academic products include, but are not limited to:
      • Poster/abstract
      • Paper
      • Presenation
      • Progress report and/or renewal request for semi-annual reviews
    • Submit progress report for discussion during semi-annual reviews or as required by track leadership