Psychiatrist

Careers in Mental Health

Michael Duran, MD
Psychiatrist

Generic Information

Job Responsibilities:

Diagnose the presence, nature, and severity of mental illness through psychiatric and physical examination of patients and evaluation of test data
Prescribe medication and provide psychiatric treatment and therapy
Formulate treatment plans
As the interdisciplinary team lead, collaborate with other physicians, clinicians, nurses,
therapists, and allied health professionals
Provide clinical leadership to interdisciplinary treatment teams

Education Requirements:

Degree in Medicine (M.D. or D.O.) from an accredited university.
Psychiatric residency from an accredited program

Certification Requirements :

License to Practice Medicine issued by the State Board of Medical Examiners
Board Certification as required by position or specialization

Essential Skills:

Empathetic active listening skills
Clinical knowledge, skills, and abilities in working with persons with mental illness
Ability to function independently and as a part of a patient-centered interdisciplinary
treatment team
Highly attentive to detail, confidentiality, and accuracy
Verbal and written communication skills

Other Job Settings:

Private practice
Medical hospitals
Outpatient Clinics
Universities
Government and community agencies
Civil and criminal courts
Corrections facilities
Military facilities
Rehabilitation facilities

Overview

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D. or D.O.) specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Following medical school at an accredited university, the psychiatrist completes a residency program in preparation for diagnosing and treating patients with symptoms of mental health illnesses.

Psychiatrists at the Oregon State Hospital utilize tools including, but not limited to, psychotherapy, psychosocial interventions, and/or medications to diagnose and treat patients with mental illness. Psychiatrists lead and oversee the patient-centered interdisciplinary care teams which include psychologists, nurses, social workers, and other mental health care professionals to provide individualized treatment plans which best suit each patient’s unique needs.

History at OSH

The psychiatry program at OSH was initially approved by the American Psychiatric Association in 1952, and reached full accreditation in 1960. At full accreditation, fourteen full-time medical residents participated in the three-year program.

In 1990 Oregon’s psychiatric training programs were consolidated and transferred to Oregon Health Sciences University. OHSU psychiatry residents now rotate through OSH for training in forensic and geriatric psychiatry.