Rachel Yarmolinsky, Director

The AudioVisual department at PI supplies and maintains the TVs, VCRs, microphones and various projectors that help researchers, educators, visiting speakers and administrators get their message across in meetings and lectures. The department also manages all events in the auditorium to ensure (as much as possible) a smooth interaction between the speaker and the electronic environment. Grand Rounds and special events are videotaped and archived.

The video studio is maintained for taping the student/patient interviews required of each Columbia University Medical Student during their 6-week Psychiatry rotation. PI Residents also complete an initial taped interview; and the Psychoanalytic Center makes use of taped interviews in their training as well.

Since 2000, the AudioVisual department has been home to the New York State Telepsychiatry Consulting Program at PI. Developed by Dr. William Tucker at OMH, the Telepsychiatry Program links experienced doctors at PI to rural clinics and correctional facilities across New York State for assistance with diagnosis and treatment.

During 2001 plans were developed to create a fully digital video studio. The AudioVisual department is also developing a web-based room-and-equipment scheduling service for PI. The scheduling service will become available in the fall of 2002.