Visiting medical students

Medical students at other institutions may do electives at Washington University School of Medicine. While other electives are available, we highly recommend doing a sub internship on our inpatient service (M85/836). It’s the best way to learn about psychiatric training at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Students in LCME accredited schools should apply through the Association of American Medical Colleges Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLOS) platform.

Learn more about becoming a visiting medical student »

Medical students at Washington University

Our involvement in medical student education begins during the first phase of the Gateway Curriculum.

Phase 1 medical students also have the opportunity to interact with members of the department in informal dinner meetings organized through the student chapter of PsychSIGN, the student interest group in neuroscience, which includes both neurology and psychiatry.

During Phase 2 of the Gateway Curriculum, students will rotate through the psychiatry clerkship. The clerkship offers the opportunity to choose experiences from a diverse array of subspecialties and clinical arenas including child and adolescent psychiatry, consultation psychiatry, and outpatient psychiatry in addition to experience in inpatient psychiatry.

The Department offers numerous fourth year student electives, which appeal to both those planning a career in psychiatry as well as those interested other disciplines such as primary care and pediatrics.

Psychiatry courses

Please refer to the Bulletin of the School of Medicine for course details.

Phase 1

M81 550 Brain and Behavior
Course Director: Allyson Zazulia, MD
Co-Director: Brendan O’Connor, MD

Phase 2

M81 630 Psychiatry
Course Director: Max Rosen, MD
Associate Course Director: Brendan O’Connor, MD
Course Coordinator: Heather Robinson

Fourth year

Clinical electives are available to 4th year medical students in various settings including inpatient, consult-liaison, emergency, and outpatient psychiatry. Full course listings can be found in the Bulletin.

Research electives

Research electives are also available, and students are encouraged to seek out any member of the Psychiatry faculty for a research elective. Drs. Nuri Farber and Brendan O’Connor are happy to assist any interested students in identifying a research mentor.

Robert J. Boston photographPsychiatry Department

Faculty information including their research interests and recent publications can be found on the departmental website.

Our faculty members are involved in a broad range of research efforts including basic neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology, neuroimaging, and clinical trials for various conditions, as well as in collaborative research with other departments, research and clinical centers, and international researchers.

Additional opportunities

Interested Washington University medical students of all years are welcome to participate in: