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Department of Psychiatry

Department of Psychology
 

Medical Student Interviews

 

Basic Psychiatry Education, Years 1 and 2

Medical students are required to complete four years of undergraduate work prior to residency.  In years 1 and 2, their curriculum includes Basic Psychiatry.  We believe learning is enhanced by working with real patients.  These interviews introduce the first-year medical students to development of patient interview techniques. 

In the spring of each academic year, the students participate in three separate interview sessions that include patients with:

      • Depression
      • Anxiety
      • Cardiovascular, pulmonary or renal disease that also have depression and/or anxiety

 

In the fall of each academic year, the second-year (who were our first-year students in spring) students participate in 11 interview sessions, 8 of which require recruitment of patients with:

      • PTSD
      • Autism
      • Cognitive disorders
      • Chronic Pain
      • Movement disorders
      • Bipolar
      • Schizophrenia
      • Thyroid disorders

How Interviews Are Conducted

You will be asked to meet the medical student coordinator for psychiatry in a classroom in the Education 1 Building (Anschutz Medical Center campus) the day of the interview.  S/he will check you in and present you with a gift card.  You sign a receipt for the gift card.  Beverages and snacks are provided while you wait for a medical student to take you to the classroom for your interview.  You will generally have to wait 10-20 minutes if you arrive at the instructed time.  

There are twenty groups of students and one interviewee will be assigned to each of the twenty groups.  Interviews are conducted in private classrooms.  There are no recording devices, no files are kept and the class does not have your last name unless you provide it.  The students are well aware of the importance of confidentiality and anonymity.  

As part of their assessment, all students in each group are required to write a case history on the interview, but only their two group leaders (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers…) will review the written work.  

The interview may take anywhere from 25-40 minutes, depending on the questions generated by the student group.  There is no script and each student group will have different questions. Upon completion of the interview, you will be free to leave. 

There is a link (provided in your interview information letter) to a website page allowing you to make comments or suggestions upon completion of your interview.

Interview Sessions

It is required that you have been DIAGNOSED BY A PHYSICIAN with a specific disorder and that you are presently receiving or have recently received treatment by a health care professional and/or are taking medication for the specific condition on a regular basis. Since this is part of the Basic Psychiatry curriculum, the interview will focus on any mental (depression, anxiety) or emotional issues suffered as a result of any of the physical illnesses.

    • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) August 17, 2011, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon)
    • Autism (all ages, child through adult) August 24, 2011, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon)
    • Cognitive Disorders (learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury, etc.) August 31, 2011, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon)
    • Chronic Pain September 7, 2011, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon)
    • Movement Disorders (Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, etc.) September 14, 2011, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon)
    • Bipolar & Schizophrenia September 21 and 28, 2011, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon)
    • Thyroid Disorders (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism) December 7, 2011, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon)

Public Transportation

Bus Transportation

The #15 and #20 buses stop at Building 500, 13001 E. 17th Place, which is directly west of the interview building, Education 1. We provide free bus tickets.

Access-a-Ride

If you are being brought to the interview by Access-a-Ride, the address you need to give them is University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Education 1 Building, 13070 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora 80045. This map should be given to your driver if they are unfamiliar with the campus. You will enter the Education 1 Building on the north side of the building. There will be yellow signs directing you to the interviews with medical students. Room 1100 is on the south side of the building.

Parking

Signs to Medical Student Interviews ED 1, Room 1100Free parking will be in the Julesburg Parking Lot.  The parking code will be sent with your information letter. There will be large white signs with red lettering (“Interview with Medical Students”) from the Julesburg Lot to the Education 1 Building. For people that cannot or do not wish to walk from the parking lot, electric carts will stop by the parking lot intermittently and will take you to the Education 1 Building. Be sure to let them know which building you need as they shuttle people all over the campus daily.