Comments on New England Medical Center psych

[me4peds]

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Anyone familiar with the NEMC-Psych dept? Would appreciate ur input 🙂

 

[Doc Samson]

Anyone familiar with the NEMC-Psych dept? Would appreciate ur input 🙂

Probably one of the best programs in the nation through the mid-80's, suffered a disasterous change in leadership in the late 80s/early 90s, ended up on probation for a period of time. Just now beginning to turn the corner, but not considered among the better programs in Boston.

 

[me4peds]

Probably one of the best programs in the nation through the mid-80's, suffered a disasterous change in leadership in the late 80s/early 90s, ended up on probation for a period of time. Just now beginning to turn the corner, but not considered among the better programs in Boston.

Thank you for you input. Program seemed somewhat "shaky" but most people there say it's a friendly program. How would it affect someone doing residency in that dept. in terms of learning and future job opportunities? Just out of curiousity, what was the disaster?

 

[Doc Samson]

Thank you for you input. Program seemed somewhat "shaky" but most people there say it's a friendly program. How would it affect someone doing residency in that dept. in terms of learning and future job opportunities? Just out of curiousity, what was the disaster?

Bear in mind, this all went down way before I was "Doc" Samson, or before I was living in Boston... so this is all through the grapevine.

The gist of it seems to be that NEMC was a very well-respected residency with a strong psychodynamic focus. The old chair left/retired, and they hired a new chair from Hopkins who tried to make the place over in the image of his previous institution (all research and psychiatrists wearing white coats all the time). Pushed out all the dynamically oriented folks (all well loved as teachers and colleagues), and tried to hire researchers (who wouldn't come b/c NEMC wasn't a big player in research).

Ultimately ended up losing most of their great faculty, and pissing off the Boston psychiatric community at large. Quality of applicants dropped off the charts. Quality of faculty supervision grossly diminished. Program cited by ACGME (not sure what the specific offense was), and program placed on probation. Residency became almost entirely IMGs (not that this is necessarily bad, but a big change from picking and chosing from the cream of USMGs). This all carried on through late 90's early 2000's or so.

Now there is a new chair in place who is well liked and respected. Some return to the dynamic focus, program definitely becoming more competitive.
All that being said, Tufts has remained one of the best medical schools for psychiatry based on their director of medical student education who stayed through all the turmoil, and continues to get students excited about psychiatry.

Like I said though.. all through the grapevine.

 

[musm2008]

is it a competitive program? I mean could an average student go there?

 

[sasevan]

Bear in mind, this all went down way before I was "Doc" Samson, or before I was living in Boston... so this is all through the grapevine.

The gist of it seems to be that NEMC was a very well-respected residency with a strong psychodynamic focus. The old chair left/retired, and they hired a new chair from Hopkins who tried to make the place over in the image of his previous institution (all research and psychiatrists wearing white coats all the time).

Is there a site where psych residency programs are evaluated in terms of psychodynamic or biological focus? Are bio focus programs more research heavy?

 

[zen76]

There are no websites that sort programs comparing historically biological versus psychodynamically "oriented" programs. All psych programs will train you well in psychopharmacology, but programs vary in their concern and focus on psychotherapeutic and other modalities. You could try www.scutwork.com and look at the reviews of various programs to get a feel for the focus of a program. A broad sweeping generalization that has plenty of exceptions, is northeastern programs tend to be more committed to psychotherapeutic training, and lessen as one goes further south and west. But psychodynamic therapy is only one modality in the "psychotherapy" umbrella. At all locations, you will exposure and training in at least brief therapy, supportive therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy as defined as core competencies by the ABPN. These "biological" versus "psychotherapeutic" focus does color the atmosphere at psych programs, but these groupings are quite artificial and lines are blurred quite a bit. At several institutions that were very serious about psychotherapy and psychodynamics, they still had a few to many significant well funded researchers in neuroimaging, genetics, and psychopharm studies. Also, the "biologically" oriented programs I interviewed at had a lot of opportunities to learn various psychotherapeutic modalities in depth, as well as other treatment modalities (EMDR, acupuncture, meditation). You just have to be proactive, and ask around, the residents, mentors, program director.
Hope that helps.

zen76

 

[sasevan]

There are no websites that sort programs comparing historically biological versus psychodynamically "oriented" programs. All psych programs will train you well in psychopharmacology, but programs vary in their concern and focus on psychotherapeutic and other modalities. You could try www.scutwork.com and look at the reviews of various programs to get a feel for the focus of a program. A broad sweeping generalization that has plenty of exceptions, is northeastern programs tend to be more committed to psychotherapeutic training, and lessen as one goes further south and west. But psychodynamic therapy is only one modality in the "psychotherapy" umbrella. At all locations, you will exposure and training in at least brief therapy, supportive therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy as defined as core competencies by the ABPN. These "biological" versus "psychotherapeutic" focus does color the atmosphere at psych programs, but these groupings are quite artificial and lines are blurred quite a bit. At several institutions that were very serious about psychotherapy and psychodynamics, they still had a few to many significant well funded researchers in neuroimaging, genetics, and psychopharm studies. Also, the "biologically" oriented programs I interviewed at had a lot of opportunities to learn various psychotherapeutic modalities in depth, as well as other treatment modalities (EMDR, acupuncture, meditation). You just have to be proactive, and ask around, the residents, mentors, program director.
Hope that helps.

It does; the website is also great. Thanks. All the best in your psych residency.