Kolabo 2019: Day Eight Blog
Dean of CUHAS Visits Small Groups
The MD5 student leaders facilitated a small group teaching session on “Special Presentations in Psychiatry” which included vital topics, such as delirium, catatonia, and adverse events related to psychiatric medications. We were kindly visited by the Dean of the Weill Bugando School of Medicine at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS), Prof. Erasmus Kamugisha, to see the small group teaching sessions in action.
Dean of the Weill Bugando School of Medicine at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS), Prof. Erasmus Kamugisha, visiting the psychiatry small group sessions.
MD5 student leader, Godfrey Msafiri, facilitating a small group of his junior peers related to special presentations in psychiatry.
MD5 student leader, Estherina Godfrey, facilitating a small group of her junior peers related to special presentations in psychiatry.
Somatic Disorders Lecture
Dr. Jaylynn Arcand presents a lecture to the MD3 students on Somatic Disorders, which in psychiatry include disorders with a severe focus on physical symptoms that are not found to have another medical cause, and that cause emotional distress and functional impairment for patients.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Lecture
Dr. Kathy Fitch presents an important topic to the MD3 students related to experiences of trauma and resulting disorders, such as post traumatic stress disorder (commonly known as PTSD). Trauma and adverse childhood events (ACEs) have been associated with a high morbidity of mental and medical illness globally and Dr. Fitch works with many patients with severe trauma in her clinical practice in Calgary.
Substance Use Disorders Lecture
Dr. Megan Howlett delivered a lecture to the MD3 students on substance use disorders in tandem with Dr. Will White, who is an Addictions expert and works at the Foothills Medical Centre Addiction program in Calgary. The topic discussed substances including alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, opioids and smoking, as well as behavioural addictions, such as gambling. Utilization of the biopsychosocial management plan and harm reduction methods were emphasized.
Focus on Resilience
Dr. Kathy Fitch presented the topic of resilience for healthcare providers to the MD3 students. Next, the students broke into small groups and residents and staff psychiatrists from the University of Calgary facilitated a discussion about things that negatively impact wellness and how we can bolster resilience. Many students identified themes of stressors that are similar to what medical students in North America face, including finances, long work hours, unsupportive learning environments, high stakes and pressured clinical situations, and relationship stressors. Methods described by both the Calgary team and the CUHAS students themselves for fostering resilience as budding physicians included prayer or spiritual aid, exercise, making time for themselves to relax or have fun, utilizing our social supports, and choosing to spend our time in ways that give us purpose and meaning. The feedback from the students was highly positive and they asked for more lectures being dedicated to physician wellness in their curriculum.
