Teaching Sites

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University is a partner with outstanding facilities that excel in research, education, and patient care. Our program is affiliated with all London hospitals and various sites in the surrounding areas. Residents will complete many off-service rotations at University Hospital near the Western University campus.

Western partners with the following teaching sites:

London Health Sciences Centre (Victoria Hospital and University Hospital) is one of Canada's largest acute-care teaching hospitals and includes Adult, Child and Adolescent, Geriatric, and Emergency Psychiatry Services.

St. Joseph's Health Care is a recognized leader in the delivery of compassionate care and renowned research. The mental health division of St. Joseph's operates Regional Mental Health Care (RMHC) - London and St Thomas. These facilities offer specialized programs in Adolescent, Dual Diagnosis, Mood and Anxiety, Psychosis, Concurrent Disorders, and Forensic Psychiatry. RMHC London has now transitioned to the new Mental Health Care Building at Parkwood Institute, which opened in November of 2014.

The Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care, the forensic site of St. Joseph’s Health Care, features a new facility opened in 2014 located less than 20 minutes south of London in beautiful Elgin County. Junior elective rotations and extended PGY-4 chronic care rotations are unique opportunities to learn about major mental illness, violence risk assessment, problematic sexual behaviours, and the interface between psychiatry and the legal system. Residents participate in both assessment and forensic rehabilitation. There are frequent opportunities to participate in independent psycholegal assessments, including assessments of Criminal Responsibility, Fitness to Stand Trial, and civil psychiatric assessments. Interested residents will have the option of presenting evidence to Review Boards and, when possible, in court. The Forensic rotations feature a high ratio of teaching to service.

The Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI) provides specialized assessment and treatment services for children and youth in Ontario with complex combinations of special needs. These needs include severe behavioural and emotional challenges and mental health disorders, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder. Services are provided in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Lawson Health Research Institute is the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care, London. As one of Canada’s largest hospital-based research institutes, Lawson is committed to furthering scientific knowledge to advance health care worldwide. Within the Institute, a 'bench to bedside' approach to medical research is encouraged (meaning that researchers focus their efforts on developing new knowledge that can be applied directly to patient care within the hospitals).

There are no mandatory rural rotations; however, the program fully supports and encourages the rural experience, with support from Southwestern Ontario Medical Education Network (SWOMEN) and Ontario Psychiatric Postgraduate Education Network (OPPEN).