Clinical Settings
Inpatient Psychiatry - First year residents engage with both Mood and Psychotic Disorders, which is an enriching and pivotal experience in their journey as psychiatrists. The mood disorder rotation offers a deep dive into the assessment and management of conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. Residents develop a keen understanding of the nuanced facets of mood disorders and how to provide comprehensive care to individuals experiencing these challenges. Simultaneously, the psychotic disorder rotation sharpens residents' skills in assessing and treating severe conditions such as schizophrenia. Residents gain invaluable insights into the intricacies of psychotic disorders, equipping them with the knowledge and compassion needed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by severe and persistent mental illnesses. These rotations offer a holistic and hands-on approach to psychiatric care, preparing residents to excel in their roles as empathetic and skilled psychiatrists.
CL – Residents see patients at Inova Fairfax Hospital who are admitted to medical, neurological, surgical, critical care and Ob/Gyn services. Medical students and residents are assigned to a specific fellow, forming a consult team who the fellow teaches and directs, while also seeing patients directly. Guidance, support, and education pertaining to inpatient consults are available throughout the day on an informal basis in addition to structured teaching rounds. Specific guidance is aimed at building the skills necessary to manage liaison issues, including effective communication and care coordination with family members, nurses, physicians, other consulting services, legal and administrative departments, as well as outside agencies.
Seminars – Seminars are integrated into the fellow’s educational experience and aim to help expand their knowledge base regarding important CL psychiatry topics and bolster their ability to apply this to patient care. Some are held on a weekly basis, while others are bimonthly, monthly, or consist of a time-limited learning series. Topics addressed include core CL psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, liaison psychiatry, transplant psychiatry, perinatal mental health, administrative psychiatry, and evidence-based medicine.
Teaching/ Scholarly Activities – In our program, an emphasis is placed on teaching, with fellows providing instruction to medical students and residents. Besides providing trainees with informal bedside teaching and supervision, fellows can also contribute to formal lecture series for the medical students rotating in psychiatry. Further opportunities to teach residents in other programs such as Ob/Gyn and internal medicine are available and encouraged as we feel the ability to effectively communicate about psychiatric issues to non-psychiatric audiences is vital. Chances to provide teaching to nursing staff, ancillary providers, and patient groups can be pursued.
Scholarly activities are an expectation for each of our fellows and may consist of QI projects, presentation of posters or workshops at annual meetings such as APA or ACLP, writing and publication of chapters, case reports, or updates. Formal research projects are also possible with careful planning and guidance from Drs. Wise and Sheridan.
A few of our excellent faculty!
- Jawad Chaudhry, MD
- Johnny Lawrence, MD
- Ahmed Sherif Abdel Meguid, MD