The research opportunities within the Department of Psychiatry at the MGH and at McLean Hospital are unlimited. Each campus has world-renown researchers in all areas of psychiatry including both the clinical and basic sciences. The combined annual research budgets for the MGH Department of Psychiatry and the McLean Hospital are over $100 million. This represents a variety of federal grants through NIH and NIMH as well as private and industry supported grants. Additionally, our faculty collaborates with other clinical and research teams throughout Harvard University, across the country, and around the world. This great wealth of clinical and research resources is available to our residency training program through individual and group supervision, seminars, and research opportunities.

Elective time is available to PGY-2, PGY-3, and PGY-4 to complete a substantial research project during residency training. Each resident will design an individual experience that meets his/her needs and interests with the assistance of Training Mentors provided by the Training Program.

Please browse the links at right for more specific information about the multitude of clinical programs and research opportunities currently available within the MGH Department of Psychiatry and McLean Hospital.

The rich academic community in the Boston area also provides a tremendous opportunity for interdisciplinary research, and residents have participated in these interdisciplinary projects. Leading researchers from an array of centers, departments, and institutions in the Boston area have ongoing collaborations with groups from MGH Psychiatry and McLean. Links to a selection of outside centers, departments, and institutions is provided at right.

Academic Project

All Residents are expected to participate in an academic project that can be presented at a professional meeting (e.g., Harvard Psychiatry Research Day, Harvard Education Day, Senior Talks, the APA annual meeting, etc.) and/or published in a peer-reviewed journal by the end of PGY-4. In order to do this, we have built in opportunities to find a research mentor during the PGY-1 and PGY-2 curriculum. This allows ready focus on the academic project during PGY-3 and PGY-4.

During the psychiatry months of PGY-1, residents are encouraged to take time to meet with possible mentors on both campuses. During the Blake 11 rotation at MGH, each resident will meet with Dr. Joshua Roffman to explore their interests so he can provide guidance on meeting researchers based at MGH. Additionally, residents are expected to participate in an academic project ongoing on the Blake 11 unit while on rotation. While on the McLean Inpatient Addictions rotation, residents will meet with Dr. Dost Ongur who will provide guidance in meeting researchers at McLean.

During PGY-2, all residents have a two week block of time protected for research, reading, and academic work. Dr. Naomi Simon oversees the individual resident’s plan for those two weeks to further optimize the opportunity to meet and find the right group to pursue an academic project.

By the beginning of PGY-3, each resident will establish a research mentor for their academic project that can be accomplished by graduation. Up to 10 hours per week (or one full day) during the eight months of PGY-3 when the resident is not on the Psychosomatic Medicine Consultation Service can be used to pursue academic interests. While on the C-L service, each resident creates two academic talks for the weekly Psychosomatic Conference. This includes an extensive literature review of a topic, presentation of the information and the use of a guest discussant to elaborate on the topic. Many residents have used these talks to start a career in academic psychiatry.

All residents have a flexible PGY-4 curriculum in which up to 35 hours per week are available for their individual design around interests and experience they want to complete prior to graduation.

Research Concentration Option

Our residency program does not have a research track. All residents experience the same core clinical training that establishes them as future leaders in clinical psychiatry. However, in order to foster the career development of the physician/scientist, our program has developed an opportunity to protect additional time throughout the clinical training years in order to pursue research activities prior to the flexible fourth year.

During PGY-1

• The resident will meet informally with John Denninger MD PhD to support their ability to meet research mentors and choose a research setting that best complements and advances their interests.

• By the end of PGY-1, the resident will establish a research mentor to work with during the residency.

During PGY-2

• There is a three month research rotation.

• During this time, the resident continues with Wednesday Didactics, Outpatient Clinics in general, urgent care and cognitive behavioral training, and call duties.

• This frees up 3.5 days per week for full-time research activity with their chosen mentor and research group.

During PGY-3

• During the eight months when not on the MGH Psychosomatic Medicine Consultation Service, they will spend two full days in research activity and the rest of  their time in the outpatient clinics and specialized training in the community and at McLean.

During PGY-4

• Up to 35 hours per week is available to spend in research activity.

• Funding opportunities for PGY-5 and beyond are readily available within and beyond the Harvard Psychiatry Research Grants Programs and will be pursued under the guidance of the research mentor.