title: Introducing a psychosomatic medicine interest group for psychiatry residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Having gained subspecialty certification in 2003, the field of psychosomatic medicine (PM) addresses the mental health needs of individuals who suffer from general medical conditions. The rising prevalence of chronic illness, along with trends in medical delivery toward more collaborative models of care, underscores the value of recruitment to PM specialty programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To foster interest and education in PM, we have developed and implemented a Psychosomatic Medicine Interest Group for trainees within a psychiatry residency program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants have found the Psychosomatic Medicine Interest Group to be an enjoyable experience that has improved their clinical practice and interest in PM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Psychosomatic Medicine Interest Group has also been a successful vehicle to enhance clinical knowledge and mentoring opportunities during training, while bolstering residents' desire to pursue a career in PM.
authors.affiliation: The Menninger Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: npuri@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Neil V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.affiliation: The Menninger Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Azzam
authors.affiliation: The Menninger Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gopalan
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008511:Medicine; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine / Q000193:education*