Medical Student Electives in Psychiatry
Student Electives in Psychiatry
The student medical elective is perhaps one of the highlights of any medical career. With the
proper planning the medical elective has the potential to be remembered as an experience of a
lifetime, whereas without proper planning it should be viewed as a wasted opportunity.
For those that wish to lay the foundations for a career in Psychiatry, or wish to explore the
possibility of such a career, then the medical elective is an ideal opportunity to do this.
Psychiatric research is exciting, challenging and often cutting-edge, particularly with studies into
pharmacology, genetics and neuro-imaging. Although, elective projects are often modest in their
scope, more ambitious students may be able set up projects within these exciting fields of
research, but this will depend on the right contacts and their own motivation.
The range of student electives in psychiatry over the years has been diverse and varied, with
some electives involving far-reaching destinations such as New Zealand, Malaysia, the United
States, Bermuda, India, British Columbia, South Africa and the Arctic Circle. Topics have included
studies into childhood autism, ECT, eating disorders in pregnancy, seasonal affective disorder in
the Arctic Circle, and psychological trauma within the emergency services.
High quality elective projects can also be undertaken within UK institutions and locally in
Aberdeen. Such projects are often easier to organise, more certain in their setup, and it must be
said that there is always an advantage in actually meeting your host supervisor at your elective
destination before the elective starts.
Electives can be arranged within any of the Psychiatric subspecialties: General Adult,
Rehabilitation, Liaison, Old Age, Eating Disorders, Child and Adolescent, Addictions, Forensic and
Psychotherapy, with provisions for the arrangement of local supervisors. Local supervisors may
have contacts abroad that the student can pursue, although if this is not the case and the student
wants to go abroad, it will be the responsibility of the student to find the necessary contacts.
For advice and further information about student Electives in Psychiatry and arrangements for
local supervisors, please contact the Elective Coordinator for Psychiatry:
Dr James Currie
Clinical Lecturer
Department of Mental Health
University of Aberdeen
Royal Cornhill Hospital
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD
Telephone: 01224 557957
Email: j.currie@abdn.ac.uk