Psychiatry clerkship directors: who they are, what they do, and what they think.

We mailed questionnaires to ascertain biographic, academic and attitudinal data about psychiatry clerkship directors in the U.S. The average director is 46 years old, has been in academic medicine for 13 years, and has directed the clerkship for 5.9 years. Most are associate or full professors and hold one or more additional administrative positions, most often director of medical student education in psychiatry. Most view their role as fulfilling and want to direct the clerkship for the rest of their careers. However, most also perceive that their medical school does not provide enough support, that faculty don't teach enough, and that the current economic climate impedes learning. Unless medical student education is supported under managed care, the quality of clerkships and job satisfaction for clerkship directors will decline.