Fellowship Cross-Track Learning Activities

Because we are one fellowship, fellows across all tracks engage in multiple learning activities together (currently via Zoom/remote platforms) including:

• Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds (weekly 1-2 hours): This weekly forum features research and clinical presentations by local, regional and national experts in selected areas of psychiatry and psychology. In addition, our Office of Consumers, Communications and Community Affairs hosts several presentations to build a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered. Occasionally, the speaker will meet with interdisciplinary trainees for an extra discussion session. Fellows are able to attend Grand Rounds in other departments that are germane to their track/learning goals (i.e., Pediatrics, Public Health, Family Medicine)
• Professional Development Seminar (approx. 25 hourly meetings): An overarching goal of this seminar is to provide information and discussion that will be useful in the overall development of each trainee's identity as a psychologist and support their socialization into the profession of psychology. The seminar meets these goals by offering didactic opportunities and consultation with well-established professionals in the field. The seminar has the following learning objectives:
       -Trainees will increase their awareness of various roles that psychologists perform within academic medical centers and community settings and pathways to those roles.
       -Trainees will refine skills (i.e., job-search strategies, interviewing and negotiating) related to success in obtaining future professional positions and increase their knowledge of requirements for independent practice (licensure).
       -Trainees will increase their awareness of ethical and legal practices for psychologists, particularly related to court-related experiences psychologists may encounter in practice.
       -Facilitation of group cohesions among trainees to promote collaboration/peer support and future networking.
• Wellness Wednesdays (2 hours) The chief Fellow organizes quarterly Wellness Wednesdays where interns and fellows share a meal and engage in an activity (i.e., board games, crafting, picnic) at the Medical Center or at a nearby location such as a park or restaurant.
• Multicultural Case Conference (8-10 sessions, 1 hour): The overall goal of this seminar is to increase cultural awareness and sensitivity of psychology trainees via the lens of the APA Cultural Formulation Interview, with trainees presenting clinical case conceptualizations using the APA  Cultural Formulation Interview Framework. Trainees will be able to (a) recognize their own cultural identities and blind spots, (b) increase their knowledge, awareness, and skills in multiculturalism, and (c) better meet the needs of a patient population representing a range of identities and lived experiences. This seminar will help trainees become more aware of how culture impacts clinical work, research, and teaching.
• SafeSide (Suicide Prevention) Workshop, (5 hours) The overall goal of this video-based education is to prepare trainees with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct person-centered, standard-of-care interviews, risk assessments, safety planning, documentation, and decisions with suicidal patients.
• Intimate Partner Violence and HEAL Collaborative (1 hour): This presentation reviews definitions of intimate partner, interpersonal, and domestic violence and summarizes biopsychosocial correlates. It reviews special considerations related to telehealth, confidentiality, documentation, safety, and provider wellness/self-care. Finally, it reviews community and URMC specific resources including the HEAL collaborative, the services provided, and how clinicians can access these services for their patients and themselves.
• Scholarly Project (4-8 hours monthly): Each fellow engages in a scholarly project with mentorship based on the fellow's interests and program needs.  The goal is to engage in meaningful program evaluation, educational intervention, or a clinical, service-based research project with a scope that can be completed in the time allocated. Examples include but are not limited to: development/modification or evaluation of an intervention; studying an existing or new clinic procedure; conducting an education program and evaluating learning outcomes; manual, webinar, or program material development and evaluation; assessing patient preferences, satisfaction or other factors associated with patient or family-centered care; investigation of interprofessional experiences or a community partnership. Fellows are required to create a poster for presentation at the Department Education Poster Day along with other learner groups such as psychiatry residents, family and marriage Masters students, social work and psychology interns.
• Welcome to Rochester & Amplification and Allyship (6 hours): The overall goals of this learning activity are to (a) increase appreciation and awareness for how different policies and systems have differential on members of our local community (b) amplify the broad range of voices/perspectives of members of our local, national, and international community (c) provide ongoing opportunities for reflection on action and allyship. Trainees will view/listen to media that highlight differential impacts of historical and current policies and systems and actions and movements in response to them as well as content that highlights the vital importance of cultural joy and then share reflections related to amplification and allyship in sharing/connecting circles.
• CPI: Verbal Intervention w/ disengagement skills (Tier 4) (8 hours): This trauma-informed Verbal Intervention training equips staff with the knowledge and skills to identify a person in crisis and verbally de-escalate disruptive behaviors. In addition to verbal de-escalation training, this curriculum includes training on disengagement skills and the safe implementation of restrictive interventions (i.e., temporary holds)
• Optional: Eating Disorders Workshop (12 hours): Focuses on evaluation and evidence-based treatment of eating disorders, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary treatment team functioning and planning. This optional training experience includes many experiential activities.