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ForwardValley Health Residency Program 2026-2027
Valley Health Residency Program 2026-2027
Start Date: July 6. 2026
End Date: June 30, 2028
Program Overview:
By educating on a variety of psychiatric tools and resources, the course aims to enhance the practical skills of participants, enabling them to utilize these tools effectively in their practice. The course addresses the need for up-to-date knowledge on drug mechanisms, side effects, and psychotherapeutic techniques. This is critical given the rapid advancements in psychiatric medications and therapies. The focus on managing psychiatric emergencies and understanding patient rights, including involuntary hospitalization, prepares participants to handle acute situations more effectively, addressing a common challenge in psychiatric settings.
Live Monthly Lectures with MGH Faculty
Students will meet with MGH faculty for Live monthly Zoom lecture sessions. The sessions will be recorded for those who can't attend live and posted in the course.
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| Thursday, July 30th, 11 am-12pm EST | ||||
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| Thursday, July 30th, 11 am-12pm EST | ||||
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| Thursday, July 30th, 11 am-12pm EST | ||||
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| Thursday, July 30th, 11 am-12p | ||||
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| Thursday, July 30th, 11 am-12p |
Program Outcomes & Learning Objectives:
- Develop a repertoire of clinical skills in the diagnosis and management of patients presenting with psychiatric symptoms.
- Apply neurobiological principles to the care of psychiatric patients.
- Implement appropriate therapeutic approaches in the management of patients with psychiatric conditions.
Accelerated PA Course Schedule January 5th-May 19th, 2026
Week 1 1/4//2027 | Lesson 1.1 Introduction Lesson 1.2 Pathways to Psychiatric Diagnosis Lesson 1.3 Mental Health Inequities and Implicit Bias |
Week 2 1/11/2027 | Lesson 1.4 The Patient Interview Lesson 1.5 The Mental Health Examination Lesson 1.6 Treatment Planning |
Week 3 1/18/2027 | Lesson 2.1 Mood Disorders I: Depressive Disorders Lesson 2.2 Mood Disorders II: Bipolar and Related Disorders Lesson 2.3 Anxiety Disorders |
Week 4 1/2652027 | Lesson 2.4 Part I: Psychosis Lesson 2.5 Part II: Psychotic Disorders |
Week 5 2/1/2027 | Lesson 3.1 Trauma and Related Disorders Lesson 3.2 Dissociative Disorders |
Week 6 2/8/2027 | Lesson 3.3 Somatic Symptom Disorder Lesson 3.4 OCD and OCRD 3.5 Prolonged Grief Disorder |
Week 7 2/15/2027 | Lesson 4.1 Feeding and Eating Disorders Lesson 4.2 Diagnoses Related to Sex and Sexuality Lesson 4.3 Disruptive, Impulse Control and Conduct Disorders Lesson 4.4 Personality Disorders |
Week 8 2/22/2027 | Lesson 5.1 Intellectual Disability Lesson 5.2 Specific Learning Disorders and Communication Disorders Lesson 5.3 Motor Disorders |
Week 9 3/1/2027 | Lesson 5.4 Elimination Disorders Lesson 5.5 Autism Spectrum Disorders |
Week 10 3/8/2027 | Lesson 5.6 ADHD Lesson 5.7 Neurocognitive Disorders Lesson 5.8 Sleep Wake Disorders |
Week 11 3/15/2027 | Lesson 6.1 Substance Use Disorders Lesson 6.2 Additional Addiction Disorders |
Week 12 3/22/2027 | Lesson 7.1 Psychiatric Neuroscience Lesson 7.2 Review of Neuroanatomy Lesson 7.3 Essential Neurotransmitters |
Week 13 3/29/2027 | Lesson 8.1 Tools and Tips for Prescribing Psychotropics Lesson 8.2 Antidepressants and Anxiolytics |
Week 14 4/5/2027 | Lesson 8.3 Antipsychotics Lesson 8.4 Mood Stabilizers |
Week 15 4/12/2027 | Lesson 8.5 Psychotropics for Sleep Lesson 8.6 ADHD and Neuro |
Week 16 4/19/2027 | Lesson 9.1 Approaches to Counseling and Psychotherapy Lesson 9.2 Psychodynamic Therapy Lesson 9.3 Behavioral Therapy |
Week 17 4/26/2027 | Lesson 9.4 Cognitive Therapy Lesson 9.5 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Lesson 9.6 Motivational Interviewing Lesson 9.7 Humanistic, Existential and Eclectic Therapies |
Week 18 5/3/2027 | Lesson 10.1 Psychiatric Emergencies Lesson 10.2 Suicidality Lesson 10.3 Managing Acute Agitation |
Week 19 5/10/2027 | Lesson 11.1 Legal and Ethical Considerations Lesson 11.2 Evaluating Patient Rights |
Note: Continuous Improvement
The contents of this syllabus may be added to, deleted from, or altered if the faculty believes it is necessary to achieve the course objectives. New material appropriate to contemporary practice may be added by the instructor during the course.
Course Director:
Jessica Spissinger, LICSW, PA-C, CAQ-Psychiatry
Instructor: Physician Assistant Studies
Jessica Spissinger serves as Course Director and SME. Jessica Spissinger retains credentials as a LICSW, PA-C, with a certificate of additional qualification in psychiatry. She is currently Faculty Instructor at the MGH IHP PA Program and continues to practice clinically in an outpatient psychiatric practice. Jessica has no financial disclosures to report.
J. Michael Smith, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, CAQ-Psychiatry, is a Psychiatric Physician Assistant at Morning Star Psychiatric Services, PLLC in Sugar Land, TX and is the Physician Assistant Post Graduate Fellowship Program Director at the Harris Center for Mental Health.
Available Credit
- 50.00 AAPA Category 1 CMEMGH Institute of Health Professions has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 50.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 12/31/2027. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Price
Course Begins January 5, 2026 and ends May 15, 2026.
Cancellation Policy (before course start date):
A refund, minus a $100.00 administrative fee, will be issued for refund requests received by October 31, 2025.
All requests must be made in writing before the end of the week of cancellation.
There are no exceptions to these policies.