Educational Objectives

We believe these qualities will allow our graduates to work effectively in any psychiatric setting as evidenced by the number of our graduates who have entered academia and private practice both in rural community settings and urban areas.

Our fundamental goals are that Dartmouth-trained psychiatrists be knowledgeable in normal and abnormal behavior, be physicians who take full responsibility for all aspects of patient management, and be dedicated to the continuing care of the distressed individual. To this end, we teach a wide variety of clinical techniques and interventions without any single therapeutic regimen holding preeminence. Psychotherapy in all of its forms, behavioral health and other evidence-based psychotherapies, pharmacotherapy, and other somatic treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy are used and taught. The didactic offerings of the department reflect this basic philosophy of patient care. Since we are an academic center, we also require our residents to teach Dartmouth medical students as well as each other. A scholarly approach to problem-solving is tantamount to our educational philosophy, and research projects are valued and encouraged in our trainees.