Thomas Pak, a student in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, partially credits his interest in child psychiatry to his time spent learning from his mentor, Carissa Gunderson, MD, a child psychiatrist at UI Hospitals & Clinics.

When Taylor Werkheiser arrives on the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) at UI Hospitals & Clinics for her overnight shift, she reminds herself of the importance of patience. It’s something of a mantra for Werkheiser, a psychiatric nursing assistant, as the CSU environment can be different each night.

Psychometrists in the Department of Psychiatry administer neuropsychological tests and evaluations to referred patients, some of whom are as young as four or five years old and some of whom are in their 90s.

Benjamin Miskle, PharmD, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the UI College of Pharmacy, works side-by-side with faculty and staff from the Department of Psychiatry in the outpatient clinics. This year, he has had nine fourth-year pharmacy students work at the MAT clinic for five weeks each.

Laura Fuller writes, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, we all have taken a master class on living with ambiguity. We have had to pivot repeatedly, making many adjustments day after day and week after week. There have been challenges and opportunities during this time. In grappling with pandemic ambiguity, I have started to think of this time as “blursed.” Blursed is a combination of “blessed” and/or “cursed”—things that bring joy and comfort but also bother, confuse, or threaten us, which, in part, epitomizes the past 1.5 years. What do we do with this curse/blessing mashup?"

Students in the medical and physician assistant programs at University of Iowa will soon be learning more about addiction medicine. The intent is for more students at the Carver College of Medicine to learn about addiction-related topics, such as prescribing buprenorphine or taking an effective substance use history without judgement or stigma.

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has signed an agreement with University of Iowa Health Care to develop a comprehensive, statewide opioid treatment program using $3.8 million in settlement funds. UI Health Care will be collaborating with a number of entities: state agencies, community mental health centers, harm reduction coalitions, healthcare collaboratives, county jails, medical societies, and more.