Concentration in Reproductive Psychiatry & Women’s Mental Health

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.