Cross-cultural psychiatric residency training: the Oregon experience.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to describe the goals and structure of cross-cultural psychiatric training at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). This training in core knowledge, skills, and attitudes of cultural psychiatry over the past three decades has included medical students, residents, and fellows, along with allied mental health personnel. The curriculum includes both didactic sessions devoted to core topics in the field and varied clinical experiences in community settings and the Intercultural Psychiatric Program under the supervision of experienced academic faculty.


METHODS
The authors review the central elements of the training experiences and include a detailed description of the core clinical settings and experiences.


RESULTS
At the conclusion of their clinical experiences, trainees have specialized cross-cultural psychiatric knowledge and skills, including treatment of refugees and immigrants, sociocultural variables that influence the assessment and treatment of a wide range of psychiatric conditions, and comfort with cultural dynamics that influence both the doctor/patient relationship and collaboration with a wide range of mental health professionals.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of rapid demographic changes in the U.S. population, providing cross-cultural training for students, residents, and fellows is an essential foundation for the education of the next generation of clinicians and health care leaders. OHSU has provided a long-term model for this training in a busy clinical and academic setting that places an emphasis on multidisciplinary and multicultural collaboration.
Boehnlein
James K
JK
Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA. boehnlei@ohsu.edu
Leung
Paul K
PK
Kinzie
John David
JD
D003158:Community Psychiatry / Q000193:education; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009922:Oregon; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*