Less is more: The case for “basic” psychiatry and the Colorado medical student log

“One... issue that each school must face clearly and honestly is what is to be considered basic and fundamental in the (psychiatric) curriculum for the preparation of the... physician.” John Romano, 1970 (1)

Abstract

Because of the rapid growth of our field, psychiatric educators are faced with two related questions. Are we teaching our students about too many things thereby making it difficult for them to discern our essential message(s)? And, two, have we really decided on what our essential message(s) actually is? The answer is “yes” to the former and “no” to the latter. The problem is deceptively simple: as distinct fromwhat we teach, as a profession we have not yet parsed out theminimum we expect our students toreally know—andreally know how to do—by the time they graduate from our schools. We, therefore, developed the menu and method of the Colorado Medical Student Log which articulates the minimal educational goals for our students: ten core clinical experiences and ten core psychiatric screens. The log also provides an easy method by which we can be satisfied that our minimal goals are being met.