Didactics and Research Opportunities
Educational activities and professional development
Didactics
A required weekly seminar series, conducted by psychology, psychiatry, and other faculty and professionals on a rotating basis, addresses a variety of professional, ethical, diversity, equity, and other social issues. The specific content varies from year to year, and the seminars selected will depend on trainee interest. Included in this didactic series are recurring professional development seminars. These seminars provide a unique and meaningful experience for interns to explore their professional and personal values, identify career pathways, receive writing feedback, and explore leadership identities and skills. Didactic seminars are being held in an interactive webinar format, although in-person seminars will be offered post-pandemic. Interns also have the opportunity to attend the wide range of seminars and colloquia presented by faculty and invited speakers in various departments in the School of Medicine and other parts of the University
The Department of Psychiatry has a weekly Grand Rounds open to all trainees and faculty of the Department of Psychiatry. Content includes clinical case presentations, presentations of ongoing or completed research by members of the Department, and guest speaker presentations. The School of Medicine also holds Grand Rounds, open to all trainees. Other didactic opportunities include seminars held within some of the internship tracks, such as the CIDD and Eating Disorders, training workshops such as those held by TEACCH, and the Department’s weekly didactic series for psychiatry residents.
Interns may be invited to make presentations to School of Medicine trainees or to various courses on campus. Interns are encouraged to participate in workshops and conferences and are provided time off to attend.
Additional Training Opportunities
During the year, faculty members give periodic presentations on research, clinical, or professional topics of current interest. There is also the intern representation on the Psychology Internship Training Committee, which meets biweekly throughout the year.
Interns may be invited to make presentations to School of Medicine trainees or to various courses on campus.
Interns are encouraged to participate in workshops and conferences and are provided time off to attend.
Research
Interns may elect to dedicate up to 20% of their time on internship to conducting research. Interns who opt to include a research elective rotation may use that protected time to work on their dissertations and are encouraged to seek opportunities to engage in projects with UNC research faculty. Rebecca Grzadzinksi, Ph.D., is Co-Director of Research Training for the Internship and oversees the research elective rotation for all interns.
The Department of Psychiatry serves as the home department for numerous research faculty in centers and research programs across the UNC campus, including the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, the Neuroscience Center, the Biomedical Research Imaging Center, the Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, TEACCH Autism Program, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
Psychiatry researchers collaborate with over 43 schools, departments, clinical divisions, centers, and programs across the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. Dr. Grzadzinksi, along with internship Program Coordinators, provides support to interns seeking research opportunities with faculty members from within the department and broader School of Medicine.
Additionally, each intern is required to present on a clinical or research topic during the Weekly Didactic Seminar Series to their fellow interns and a panel of faculty members. The purpose of this presentation is to provide the faculty with an additional sample of the intern’s knowledge and skills, while providing the intern with a learning experience that is relevant to future job interviews, clinical presentations, professional meetings, or dissertation defenses.
