Reproductive Psychiatry and Women’s Mental Health Area of Concentration

Expanding on our program’s existing women’s mental health curriculum, the Reproductive Psychiatry and Women’s Mental Health Area of Concentration (AOC) is an enhancement provided for residents with a special interest in this area.  The aim of the initiative is to improve clinical practice, provide opportunities for mentorship, and promote consideration of a career in women’s mental health.

Drs. Spada, Gopalan and Glance
Co-Directors Meredith Spada, MD; Priya Gopalan, MD; and Jody Glance, MD

Goal and Objectives


Through this program, residents will: 

  • Gain comfort in conducting risk-benefit discussions regarding treatment options during pregnancy.
  • Attain knowledge in learning about mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders during pregnancy.
  • Outline effective treatment options (medications and nonpharmacological measures) that may be used during pregnancy.
  • Learn to detect and diagnose postpartum syndromes (postpartum depression, psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder).
  • Learn approaches to treating substance use disorders during pregnancy and the peripartum period and potential fetal effects of drugs of abuse.
  • Gain experience in managing psychiatric medications in the context of breastfeeding.
  • Appreciate the nuances of clinical management around perinatal loss.
  • Discuss women’s health considerations in palliative care and psycho-oncology.
  • Appreciate challenges surrounding law and ethics in pregnancy and the treatment of mental illness during pregnancy.
  • Learn strategies for identifying PTSD and interpersonal violence.
  • Gain additional knowledge about postmenstrual disorders, PMDD, menopause and hormonal treatments.
  • Understand women’s health issues particular to eating disorders.