• We have a yearly retreat, which is a time for residents to participate in an activity that enhances teamwork and personal communication.
  

• Didactic time is protected; residents are excused from clinical duties, which are covered by other residents or attendings.
  

• There is a monthly business meeting run by the chief resident, as well as a monthly meeting with the residency director. These meetings keep us up-to-date on the latest developments affecting us. The residency director seeks feedback from residents and often our ideas are implemented within the program.
  

• No discussion of resident life would be complete without a review of call schedules. Each class has its own required number of calls per month. The current basic call requirements are:

  • First year - four weeknights and two (24-hour) weekend calls

  • Second year - four weeknights and one/two weekend calls

  • Third year - one/two weeknight calls and one weekend call

  • Fourth year - one call/month

Interns on the internal medicine service currently take q4-q6 call. As you can see, the call schedule for our program is much less hectic than many places, contributing to our residents' excellent quality of life.

• Small class size allows residents to get to know each other well.
  

• Residents work very closely with attendings, who are committed to education. Our attendings are generous and responsive, and go the extra mile to make sure residents get whatever help they need.
  

• There are frequent lunch-provided programs on interesting topics.
  

• Recent graduates from our program have attained a number of excellent positions, including child, geriatric, psychopharmacology and substance abuse fellowships; community psychiatry; group private practices; and staff psychiatrist at the Veterans Administration hospital. Three recent graduates have joined the EVMS Department of Psychiatry. Our residents receive excellent training, which makes them quite competitive candidates for any job position.

Residents on the yearly retreat

If you would like to contact a current resident for first-hand information on the residency program, please send an email to psychres@evms.edu.