PSYCHIATRY CLERKSHIP DIRECTORS - WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY DO, AND WHATTHEY THINK

We mailed questionnaires to ascertain biographic, academic and attitud inal data about psychiatry clerkship directors in the U.S. The average director is 46 years old, has been in academic medicine for 13 years, and has directed the clerkship for 5.9 years. Most are associate or f ull professors and hold one or more additional administrative position s, most often director of medical student education in psychiatry. Mos t view their role as fulfilling and want to direct the clerkship for t he rest of their careers. However, most also perceive that their medic al school does not provide enough support, that faculty don't teach en ough, and that the current economic climate impedes learning. Unless m edical student education is supported under managed care, the quality of clerkships and job satisfaction for clerkship directors will declin e.