Research & Concurrent Graduate Studies

McMaster has nationally and internationally recognized expertise in research design and critical appraisal. Resident involvement in research is encouraged but not required. Department faculty are pleased to involve residents in research at all levels of training!

Research experience can be gained through a spectrum of opportunities spanning from extracurricular projects to horizontal and block (s)electives.

Protected research time can be negotiated throughout the residency training period.

Graduate level training can be undertaken through the Clinician Investigator Program, which provides close mentoring and rigorous training in research skills and grant writing. Extensive databases are readily accessible within a number of specialty areas in psychiatry.

Residents wishing to pursue graduate level training in Research Design, Health Administration, Neurosciences, Business Administration or Education may devote part of their elective time to university coursework in these fields through the Clinician-Investigator Program (CIP). The CIP provides close mentoring and rigorous training in research skills and grant writing. Extensive databases are readily accessible within a number of specialty areas in psychiatry. Funding to support residents in these pursuits is available and may also be available for up to two years after graduation from our program should the resident continue their studies within our department.

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Scholarly Requirements
McMaster residents have three mandatory scholarly project requirements to be completed over the course of their residency. For each, there is a designated Faculty Coordinator who is available to residents for assistance and guidance. Additionally there are academic seminars reserved for training and information sharing for each of the three projects. These projects are:
- One Grand Rounds Presentation
- One Quality Improvement Project
- One Poster Presentation at a Department Research Day (the topic of which may be the resident’s Quality Assurance Project or Grand Rounds)
Royal College Examination Preparation
The McMaster Psychiatry Postgraduate Program assists residents in preparing for the Royal College examination through:
- Two yearly practice Multiple-Choice Examinations (PRITE and COPE)
- OSCE-preparation sessions six times per academic year
- Two mock OSCE Examinations per year for all residents
- An additional third mock OSCE exam for all final year residents
- 4 StACERS per year
- Protected study time during academic days of the latter half of PGY5 year
  Up to three months off the call schedule; most residents use this protected time during exam months
On-Call Requirements

McMaster Psychiatry residents gain tremendous expertise in Emergency Psychiatry through their on-call experiences. All call is completed in Emergency Psychiatry. There is no ward call for McMaster Residents.

During the PGY1 Psychiatry Rotations and as a PGY2, residents are considered junior in their emergency psychiatry training. The focus during these years is on patient assessment, development of interview and diagnostic skills and treatment plan development. The call frequency during these years averages 1/7 to 1/9.

As residents’ skills progress, they become senior residents on call once they are PGY3. At this time the focus is on further honing of medical expert knowledge and skills as well as the managerial and collaborative role of leading the emergency psychiatry team. Call frequency as a senior is on average 1/12 to 1/14.

The design of the call schedule differs between the Hamilton and Waterloo Regional campuses. Please refer to the Campus sections to read more on the unique aspects of each.

Hamilton Campus

Waterloo Campus
Leadership Opportunities

There are numerous opportunities to develop one’s leadership skills at McMaster. Leadership development is valued, encouraged and promoted.

All educational committees include resident representation including, in each campus, the: Psychiatry Postgraduate Education Committee, Evaluation Subcommittee, and Psychotherapy Planning Committee. In each campus there is also a Psychiatry Residents Association, led by a resident-elected President and Vice-President. Within the resident’s association there are additional roles, varying in roles and responsibilities.

Other leadership opportunities include Chief Resident positions, Core Curriculum Representatives, participation on the Undergraduate Psychiatry Clerkship Committee and resident rep on the Department Executive, which is led by the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences. Further opportunities may be held at the level of the Faculty of Health Sciences as well as PARO.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences delivers an annual leadership program that is available to all residents. Those residents in a leadership position are invited to join an exclusive leadership community of practice to further develop their particular skills and leadership portfolios.

Resident-initiatives are welcome and often include resident leadership. Residents may also develop their administrative skills through horizontal and block elective opportunities, with supervision by one of our department or clinical leaders.

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Research & Concurrent Graduate Studies

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