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RECRUITING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PSYCHIATRISTS – T RECRUITING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PSYCHIATRISTS – T HE HE E E VALUATION VALUATION OF OF PSYCHIATRY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM PSYCHIATRY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM Kien Dang, MD FRCPC, Lisa Andermann, MD FRCPC, Matthew Levy, MD FRCPC, Taylor Armstrong, MD, Kien Dang, MD FRCPC, Lisa Andermann, MD FRCPC, Matthew Levy, MD FRCPC, Taylor Armstrong, MD, Claire De Souza, MD FRCPC Claire De Souza, MD FRCPC Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Despite an ongoing need for psychiatrists, there continue to be barriers to recruiting medical students into psychiatry residency programs. Negative perceptions of psychiatry as well as limited exposure during pre-clerkship are a few barriers to recruitment. It has been suggested that positive undergraduate experiences in psychiatry, regular social gatherings with psychiatrists, meals with invited speakers, and career fairs may be helpful in the recruitment of medical students into a psychiatry residency program. At the University of Toronto, a recruitment committee with the goals of encouraging and recruiting medical students into a career in psychiatry has been implemented. The Recruitment Committee has organized a number of recruitment activities and these activities have been evaluated by medical students over several years. Qualitative comments about the Psychiatry Interest Group consistently demonstrated that students most appreciated the discussion with psychiatrists and residents regarding the practice of psychiatry. Qualitative comments about Medical Student Dinners with psychiatrists also convey the thread that students feel they benefit from discussion with psychiatrists and residents. Evaluation results from the week-long Medical Student Summer Institute reveal that 10% of the participants are undecided about psychiatry prior to the Institute, this number decreased to 4% after the Institute. 16.5% were definitely interested in psychiatry as a career before the Institute, 33% were definitely interested by the conclusion of the week. Lastly, the organization of information days coinciding with residency interviews increased students’ views of the University of Toronto from 72% feeling more positively. Overall, recruitment activities are appreciated by students for the opportunity to interact with psychiatrists and psychiatry residents, increasing their awareness about a career in psychiatry, and can influence their career choice. ”…I came to the Institute unsure about my future career and this week has REALLY opened my eyes to the variety within psychiatry. Due to this Institute, I am definitely thinking more about pursuing a career in psychiatry and I am open to applying to U of T (which I wasn’t before)” “Good to see many types of psychiatry that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to explore during clerkship; did help in career planning. Students found mentors they will contact for future electives” 2000-2007, 10% undecided about psychiatry, decreased significantly to 4% after Institute 16.5% “definitely interested “in psychiatry career before, increased to 33% after Institute > 50% Institute graduates have applied to U of Recruitment Committee welcomes applicants Program and Student Life Information booths set up Evening social event 72% felt more positively about of In response to decreasing numbers of applicants to the University of Toronto Psychiatry Residency Program, as well as national changes to Canadian residency programs in 1993, the University of Toronto created a recruitment committee to formalize attempts of staff and residents to attract medical students into Psychiatry, and specifically to the program at the University of Toronto. This committee consists of 2 co- chairs (staff psychiatrists), 3 other staff psychiatrists, 8 psychiatry residents, 2 medical students and an administrative assistant. There are a number of barriers to recruitment including negative perceptions of psychiatry, limited exposure to psychiatry during pre-clerkship, and negative attitudes of non-psychiatrists towards psychiatry. The University of Toronto Recruitment Committee has been involved in a number of activities that include social gatherings with psychiatrists, meals with speakers, career fairs, all which promote awareness and highlight features of psychiatry which may be helpful with recruitment. Informal meetings with psychiatrists, residents and students Meal is served and opportunity given to students to chat with residents/faculty Movie/TV show is shown followed by discussion/interpretation of psychiatric issues that arise 3 casual dinners at a local restaurant Maximum 25 students Opportunity to interact with other students, residents and faculty Faculty speaker “very well organized and informative” “please compare with other programs” “This dinner has been very effective as a way of learning more about the field. I always leave these events with a smile and a sense of excitement about my future in medicine” “it was good to have people at all levels of training present to answer our questions” 98% felt dinners were interesting 100% felt more positive about a career in psychiatry The University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry, Recruitment Committee exists with the goals of promoting awareness of psychiatry among medical students, communicating satisfaction of a career in psychiatry, and recruiting medical students into psychiatry residency programs. Activities include a Psychiatry Interest Group (PIG), organized dinners for medical students, an annual week-long Psychiatry Institute, as well as information booths on Resident Interview Days. Qualitative feedback indicates that students find these events interesting and appealing , and are appreciative of the opportunities to learn more about psychiatry, to have open discussions with faculty and residents, and feel that the Recruitment Committee has been helpful in the process of deciding on a career in psychiatry. Given the barriers that exist in the recruitment of medical students into psychiatry, a recruitment committee involved in the organization of various recruitment events can raise awareness of psychiatry among medical students, and can positively affect the decision making process with respect to a career in psychiatry. “Great opportunity to have a very frank and less formal discussion about all sorts of aspects of psychiatry with both residents and faculty. Also, fewer time pressures than in clinic/hospital” “I liked the chance to meet people in the profession and get an idea of what psychiatry is all about.” “It might be nice to have a bit more time to talk about psychiatry, but… it was pretty good the way it was” “Make it earlier if it’s larger for a better discussion” 93% felt PIG was interesting 93% felt more positive about a career in psychiatry 100% felt PIG increased awareness of psychiatry 1. Lofchy J, Brunet A, Silver I: The psychiatry institute for medical students: a novel recruitment strategy. Acad Psychiatry 1999; 23:151–156 2. Manassis K, Katz M, Lofchy J, Wiesenthal S: Choosing a Career in Psychiatry: Influential Factors Within a Medical School Program. Acad Psychiatry 2006; 30:325-329 3. Weintraub W, Plaut M, Weintraub E: Recruitment in psychiatry: increasing the pool of applicants. Can J Psychiatry 1999; 44:473–477 4. Eagles JM, Wilson S, Murdoch JM, Brown T: What impact do undergraduate experiences have upon recruitment into psychiatry? Psychiatric Bulletin 2007; 31: 70-72 *For any further inquiries please e- mail [email protected]
