The Psychiatry Clerkship at Nassau University Medical Center: A Mentorship Model in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the impact of the mentorship model used in the psychiatry clerkship at Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC), with a focus on its effectiveness in improving medical knowledge and professional development in psychiatry. Methods: This survey-based study at NUMC involved 16 attending psychiatrists and 13 past medical student mentees. Data were collected via electronic surveys from March to May 2022, examining effectiveness of mentorship and mentees’ experiences. Descriptive analyses were performed using R (v. 4.1.2). Results: The attendings were mostly in the 46 to 55 years age group (37.5%), and a gender distribution showing a slight majority of females (56.25%). Regarding the mentorship, 75% of attendings reported that mentoring was not time-consuming, and all of them found it beneficial. All mentees (100%) confirmed that the clerkship improved their understanding of psychiatric disorders and interviewing skills. A significant 69.2% of mentees believed the mentorship model should be an essential component of the Psychiatry Clerkship, and 92.3% did not find the management of psychiatric disorders overly challenging. Conclusion: NUMC’s Psychiatry Clerkship employs a strong mentorship model that markedly enhances medical education and prepares mentees effectively for psychiatric practice. Emphasizing empathy and interdisciplinary understanding, this model shows positive outcomes. Future research should include larger and more diverse cohorts to further substantiate and refine these mentorship practices in medical education.