PROPS: Psychiatry Residents Outreach to the Public Sector
PROPS:
Psychiatry Residents
Outreach to the Public
Sector
The Menninger Department of
Psychiatry & Bhavioral
Sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX
History and Overview
PROPS was orignially created by a group of residents at Baylor in the mid-1980's to organize efforts for community service and thereby enhance resident participation in the public sector. In 1985, Dr. John Battaglia, then a second-year resident, worked with Houston Independent School District and the Houston Psychiatric Society to address mental illness among children. He created a course on suicide awareness which residents taught in area middle schools. This became the beginning of PROPS. Years later the activities of PROPS have multiplied such that there are now many programs in which residents participate each year. Though there are faculty mentors involved with the program, including Dr. Asghar-Ali, the efforts are provided entirely by residents.
The Projects
Community Resources Seminar
Various community organizations are invited to present information to residents to increase their awareness of resources available in Harris County, while meeting some of the physicians providing their referrals.
Interprofessional Drug Education Alliance (IDEA)
In this drug-education program developed by the Harris County Medical Society (HCMS) and the Houston Bar Association (HBA), physicians and attorneys present information on medical and legal consequences of drugs to local fifth grade classrooms. In the past, The Health Museum has helped to enhance the persentations by lending models to program participants.
National Depression Screening Day & National Anxiety Disorders Screening Project
In the fall, mental health providers volunteer with the Houston Psychiatric Society to conduct free, confidential screenings and address concerns about depression on National Depression Screening Day. In the Spring, Baylor residents host one of the sites for the National Ansiety Disorders Screening Project, whose mission is to educate the public about anxiety disorders, provide screenings, and facilitate access to treatment.
Building Bridges & The Bridge
Both of these programs aim to decrease the divide between mental health and religion. Building Bridges, a year-round project developed by Baylor partnered with the Houston, disseminates information and conducts screenings. The Bridge is a panel discussion wihich occurs in the Spring and is designed as a forum for mental health providers and religious leaders to discuss psychiatric illness.
Mental Health Curriculum
Mental Health Association of Greater Houston organizes psychiatrists to speak to various community organizations to increase awareness and provide basic knowledge in 5 modules: Mental Health Basics, Handling Mental Health Emergencies, Assessing Community Resources, Child/Adolescent Mental Health, and Mental Health & Aging.
Capital Day
Bi-annually, the Texas Society of Psychiatric Pshysicians (TSPP) organizes Capitol Day in Austin where training is provided and then participants can meet with legislators.
Summary
PROPS is a subcommittee of the Residency Program Committee at The Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine. Residents participate in various outreach activities to enhance their exposure to the field of community psychiatry while providing service to the community.
PROPS
The Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine.
Houston, TX
Program Contact:
Valdesha Ball, MD
vlball@bcm.edu
Chairpersons
Candace Adair, MD
adair@bcm.edu
Molly Camp, MD
camp@bcm.edu
Cecil Webster, MD
cw144124@bcm.edu
Former Chairs
Valdesha Ball, MD
Sindhu Idicula, MD
Mahta Ostadian, MD