Students Lauded for Excellence in Psychosocial Rehab

Two Middlesex County College students, Laura Mujia and Joshua Yigdal, received awards from the Rutgers University Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Treatment Program this spring. Ms. Mujia received the Clinical Excellence Award for demonstrating superior clinical skills at her practicum placement, and Mr. Yigdal received the Academic Excellence Award for having the highest grade point average.

The Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Treatment Program is a partnership between Rutgers and nine community colleges. The students complete their general education courses at their community college and then apply to the Rutgers School of Health Professions for the professional phase of the program. They then complete 30 credits and receive their Associate Degree from both schools. Every year, each program at Rutgers-SHP nominates students for the clinical excellence and academic excellence awards. This year, both winners were from MCC.

“For the clinical piece of the program, students take the Clinical Practicum I & II courses where they are placed at a psychiatric rehabilitation program that provides mental health services to people who have psychiatric disabilities such as schizophrenia, bipolar illness, major depressive disorder, and schizoaffective disorder,” said Peter M. Basto, program director. “They spend two semesters – for a total of 480 hours – at the clinical site. We assess how well students put into practice the knowledge and skills they learned in the classroom.”

Dr. Basto said they rely on feedback from the onsite clinical practicum supervisor, the faculty supervisor, observation of the student by faculty at  the clinical site, the students’ written work, and class discussions.