Revised Mmed Psychiatry/Msc Clinical curricula

1. Revised Mmed Psychiatry/Msc Clinical curricula WangariKuriaMBChB, Mmed, PhD Psych. Chairman Department of Psychiatry(UoN)

2. Department Objectives • To equip the trainee with knowledge, skills and attitude required to manage and prevent mental disorders • To develop the trainees research and teaching capacity • To instil in the trainee the personal responsibility for learning and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the field of psychiatry/psychology • To develop managerial and leadership skills and encourage collaboration with other related professionals

3. Goal • contribution to development – improve health of citizens by prevention of and managing those with mental health problems

4. Highlights of Revised Mmed Psychiatry program logbook • Every student will be expected to keep a log of supervised clinical, research and academic engagements -This will enhance student –lecturer interaction and mentorship - It is also aimed at improving trainee skills in order to address emerging mental health challenges

5. Elective term The student will be expected to engage in an elective term in 1 of 3 option areas outside the teaching hospital: • health leadership/ managerial position. He/she will mirror health leader/manager ( e.g medical superintendent) and perform their responsibilities -this is intended to minimize mismanagement of health institutions and resources

6. Ctd • Supervised clinical rotation at a private institution or clinic -this will provide the trainee with an experience of what is involved in private practice

7. Elective term ctd • Supervised elective term at a research institution/ project • Trainees interested in research as a career will be introduced to the practice of conducting research and applying for grants • It will also expose the student to the skill of establishing research collaboration and links

8. Leadership and management unit • Why the need? -there is an urgent need to have mental health managers/ leaders to man the various mental health institutions/programs • Similarly we need health leaders who can steer mental health to new heights • The revised curriculum will equip the trainee with leadership and managerial skills

9. purpose • The impacted knowledge/ skills will: - Enable the trainee to manage health resources and institutions • lead/oversee policy formulation and its implementation

10. Dissertation • Research method unit will be taught just before the students begin writing their proposals • All students will defend their dissertation • The dissertation will be examined and a mark allocated to it

11. Purpose • To improve research skills in the trainee to enable them address health issues through evidence based practices • Improve quality of research

12. Revised Msc. Clinical Psychology curriculum

13. Clinical psychologist • Clinical Psychologists are an important component of a mental health team • They can make an important contribution to the delivery of mental health services at the Community level.

14. Introduction • There is an increasing demand for clinical psychological services in the delivery of other forms of health services like: • Child and Maternal health • HIV/AIDS care and support • education, correctional and rehabilitation services disaster and relief services etc • disaster and relief services etc.

15. Highlights of revised curriculum • Addition of health psychology unit • This will enable the clinical psychologist to efficiently operate in primary health care settings • The clinical psychologist will have a wide field of practice rather than been confined to a narrow field of practice

16. Neuro psychology • The course HPS 902 has been expanded to include neuropsychology • The equipping of the trainee with an understanding in neuropsychology will enable the graduate to understand and participate better in the management of patients

17. Research • Research methods unit will be taught to the students just before they engage in proposal writing • All students will be expected to defend their dissertation

18. Leadership and management course • The trainee will receive leadership and management course similar to the one given to the Mmed Psychiatry students and for similar reasons

19. Conclusion • The revised curricula is expected to produce a holistic mental health expert capable of making the world a better and mentally healthy place • The revised curricula should however be accompanied by a “ revised mind set”- for both the trainee and trainer • Are the teachers and trainees ready for required mind set?