Undergraduate
Curriculum, Observerships and Clerkship Rotations
First year undergraduate students are able to complete clinical observerships in developmental disabilities.
During third year clinical clerkship, students may elect to do two weeks of training in developmental disabilities as part of their psychiatry rotation, either with adults (at the Mental Health Care Building, Parkwood Institute) or children and adolescents (at the Child and Parent Resource Institute - CPRI). Additionally, as part of the seminar series for clinical clerks in psychiatry, there is a one hour lecture on developmental disabilities.
Additionally, each year a number of students complete their family medicine rotation with Dr. Greg Gillis, a family doctor who has expertise in the primary care of people with developmental disabilities.
Fourth year students may do electives in developmental disabilities. This opportunity has attracted students from Western University and from other medical schools.
Medical students, please contact the Department of Psychiatry UGE Coordinator, at ugepsychiatry@lhsc.on.ca or 519-685-8500 ext. 77781 for information on how to arrange these opportunities.
Awards and Grants Available to Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate (medical) students at Western are eligible to apply for the 3 research awards and grants that are offered by the Developmental Disabilities Program in the Department of Psychiatry.
The Dr. Greta Toni Swart Essay Award in Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
An annual essay award is available to an undergraduate medical student at Western. The essay should describe an experience managing a patient at any stage in the lifespan with a developmental disability.
The Annual Dr. Benjamin Goldberg Research Award
This grant is available to anyone registered as a student at a community college or university in Southwestern Ontario. It provides seed grants to students who seek to gain a better understanding of the health and mental health conditions of people living with intellectual disabilities.
The C. Kingsley Allison Research Grant
This award is open to any student, faculty member or employee of the Western University Community. This grant is intended to fund any and all research projects which are of relevance to the understanding of the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
For more information on any or all of our award and grant opportuntites, please visit our research page.
Other Opportunities
Medical Students are welcome to attend our Spring CPD, as well as our Fall Rounds presentations. Please visit our Continuing Professional Development page for more information and details around the registration process.
