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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 his or her 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 to continue with their outpatients initially evaluated and treated during PGY2 and PGY3 with three or more weekly hours of supervision (about 10-12 hours per week). During PGY4, residents have a greater ability to determine their individual caseload, but residents on average continue to see 25-30 patients, including 2-3 therapy cases.
  • Wednesday Afternoon Didactics
  • Clinical, research, and/or chief residency electives for 35 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 and PGY2. A Chief Residency Leadership Seminar with the Program Director complements this training opportunity.

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 (35 hours per week)

Longitudinal Outpatient Clinic (10 hours per week)

Wednesday Core Didactics (1/2 day per week)

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