Behavioral Health

This course unites the disciplines of psychology, philosophy, integrative medicine (including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine), and behavioral change science. Its aim is to educate individuals about effective techniques of wellness and personal resilience. This course includes various activities such as video presentations, building healthy habits, and engaging in group and peer coach check-ins to evaluate personal progress.

This pass/no pass course offers students the opportunity to learn and apply evidence-based study techniques, test-taking strategies, mindfulness, and time management skills. The course will address well-being maintenance and coping strategies to navigate stressful life experiences. This interactive and self-reflective course consists of six sessions throughout the semester. Students will need to complete two self-care reflections and two surveys.

The Community Health: Pediatric Obesity Prevention Program, also known as The Project HAPPY (Healthy Attitudes Produce Positive Youth), elective offers students the opportunity to engage with the pediatric community. Through patient education and behavioral modification, the program aims to establish healthy habits and reduce the rate of pediatric obesity. This elective consists of two parts, allowing students the opportunity to provide counseling to families, employ practice-based learning, and participate in an ongoing research project.

Part A of Project HAPPY focuses on training students to lead a research program centered on behavioral modification that is currently underway in Vallejo, CA. Participating Vallejo families are paired with a Touro student health navigator who delivers a predetermined curriculum focusing on attitudes toward health and wellness. Upon completion of Part A, students will be eligible to enroll in Part B of Project HAPPY, in which students will partner with a family to guide them through the Project HAPPY curriculum. Please note that completion of Part A is a prerequisite for enrollment in Part B of Project HAPPY Elective.

The first course in the series expands PA students’ knowledge and skills in Behavioral Health, focusing on recognizing, evaluating, and treating psychiatric disorders. It emphasizes managing mental health conditions in diverse healthcare settings, especially where specialized care is limited. Students will learn how to thoroughly evaluate mental health problems, assess for safety concerns, build a therapeutic relationship, and collaborate with the patient to design comprehensive treatment plans. In this course, students will also expand on their existing psychopharmacology knowledge. By the course's end, participants will be equipped with an advanced foundational knowledge of the evaluation and management of psychiatric disorders.

The second course in the series focuses on treating psychiatric disorders across medical settings, and longitudinal care management, including integrating psychopharmacology and psychotherapy concepts. Students will examine how emotional and behavioral disorders impact outcomes and explore cultural and social factors in disease processes. Using case studies, they will refine diagnostic and clinical skills, develop comprehensive treatment strategies, and learn when to seek specialized consultation. By course end, students will be prepared to manage complex psychiatric cases in general practice.