Fourth year residents continue some long term psychotherapy cases from their third year. The remainder of the fourth year is devoted to selective and elective time, which the residents tailor to their interests. Rotations in community mental health, Forensics and Substance Abuse are available to round out the training. Popular electives include rotations in student mental health, community mental health, behavioral medicine and the HIV clinic. The University of Virginia Departments of Psychiatric Medicine and Internal Medicine offer an accredited five year combined program in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry.
Residents receive training in each specialty in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Emphasis is placed on the integrated evaluation and treatment of patients with co-morbid medical and psychiatric conditions, the behavioral management of the medically ill, and the neurological basis of severe mental illness, although residents are well prepared to practice in each area. Clinical experiences include working with geriatric inpatients, outpatients and residents of local nursing homes and retirement villages, as well as an outreach program to homebound rural elderly. In addition to clinical experience, the resident is supervised in the selection and implementation of a research project in an area of interest. Regular didactic sessions in geriatric psychiatry are provided. Completion of the geriatric residency fulfills the requirements to allow taking the Board exam for Added Qualifications in Geriatric Psychiatry.