PGY4: Preparing to Launch

The fourth and final year of residency in the MGH/McLean program encourages an in-depth commitment to the pursuit of individual interests and perfection of clinical skills as preparation for a career in basic or clinical research, medical practice, teaching, administration, or a mix of these activities. Mentors throughout Harvard’s vast academic community are available to aid the resident in their specific area of interest.

The PGY4 year is largely elective. Residents design their own individualized learning program or curriculum with the help of their training mentors.

Click for Didactic Curriculum Overview

Components include:

  • Continuity Clinic (8-10 hours per week) to continue with their outpatients initially evaluated and treated during PGY2 and PGY3 with three or more weekly hours of supervision. During PGY4, residents have a greater ability to determine their individual caseload, but residents on average continue to see 30-40 patients, including 3-4 therapy cases.
  • Clinical, research, and/or chief residency electives for 30+ hours per week. This allows residents to use this year to pursue research interests under the mentorship of numerous clinical and/or basic science researchers at both MGH and McLean or at other sites. Residents may use this elective time to pursue other personal clinical interests in more depth. Additionally, there are 12 Chief Resident positions that blend clinical, teaching, administrative, and research training to support the core clinical rotations of PGY1 through PGY3. A Chief Residency Leadership Seminar with the Program Director complements this training opportunity.

Didactics Seminars

Required core didactic seminars round out the curriculum.

Didactic Seminars are held on Wednesday mornings. Residents attend a series of advanced seminars designed to build upon their knowledge in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, neuroscience, and psychiatric subspeciality populations, as well as seminars on leadership, teaching, and transition to practice.

Call: Once every 3-4 weeks at MGH. Moonlighting opportunities are available at both McLean and MGH.

Vacation: 4 weeks vacation, scheduled at the discretion of the resident.

Conferences: Residents are given time to attend conferences at the discretion of the resident and their supervisors.

PGY-4 Rotations

12 Months

Electives (30+hours per week)

Longitudinal Outpatient Clinic (8-10 hours per week)

Wednesday Core Didactics (1/2 day per week)

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MGH McLean
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