Name
Beyond Didactics: Bringing Behavioral Health Training to Life Through Psychologist–Physician Co‑Precepting
Description

Family medicine residents frequently encounter patients with behavioral health needs but receive limited practice‑based training to manage these needs. This session describes a psychologist co‑precepting model implemented in continuity clinic to reinforce biopsychosocial reasoning and enhance skills in the areas of communication, motivational interviewing, trauma‑informed care, and risk assessment. The session will include review of mixed‑methods program evaluation data, including impacts on resident confidence, resident skill development, and patient‑level process outcomes (the latter may not be available at the time of this conference). Attendees will observe demonstrations of co‑precepting strategies and engage in applied micro‑skills practice relevant to integrated primary care settings. The session is ideal for clinicians, educators, and program leaders seeking scalable approaches to behavioral health training in residencies.

Speakers
Maggie McCormack, Psy.D.
Content Level
Intermediate
Tags
Quality improvement programs, Social determinants of health or SDoH, Training/Supervision
Session Type
Concurrent
Objective 1
Describe how psychologist–physician co‑precepting enhances practice‑based behavioral health learning in family medicine residencies
Objective 2
Identify key behavioral health teaching strategies that can be applied in real time during resident precepting
Objective 3
Discuss impact of the co-precepting intervention on resident skills, resident confidence, and patient‑level processes
Content Reference 1

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. (2025). ACGME program requirements for graduate medical education in family medicine. https://www.acgme.org

Content Reference 2

DeGruy, F. V., III, & McDaniel, S. H. (2021). Proposed requirements for behavioral health in family medicine residencies. Family Medicine, 53(7), 516–519. https://doi.org/10.22454/FamMed.2021.380617

Content Reference 3

Kowalski, A., Gupta, A., Pellegrino, T., Petrides, J., Sepede, J.C., & Vermeulen, M. (2020). Innovative Family Medicine and Behavioral Health Co-Precepting via Telemedicine. The Annals of Family Medicine, 18, 467 - 467. DOI:10.1370/afm.2577

Content Reference 4

Savaria, M. C., Min, S., Aghagoli, G., Tunkel, A. R., Hirsh, D. A., & Michelow, I. C. (2022). Enhancing the one-minute preceptor method for clinical teaching with a DEFT approach. International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, 115, 149–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.12.314

Content Reference 5

Chea A, Heo M, Zeller TA. Family Medicine Physician Readiness to Treat Behavioral Health Conditions: A Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. 2024;15. doi:10.1177/21501319241275053