© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and The Association for the Study of Medical Education. THE CLINICAL TEACHER 2017; 14: 1–6 1 Original Article Training residents in depression and grief Angela Ghesquiere 1 , Johanna Martinez 2 , Cathy Jalali 3 , Jo Anne Sirey 4 and Susana Morales 2 1 Hunter College of the City University of New York, Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, New York, New York, USA 2 Weill Cornell Medical School, Weill Cornell Internal Medicine Associates, New York, New York, USA 3 Weill Cornell, Department of Medicine, New York, New York, USA 4 Weill Cornell Medical College, Department of Psychiatry, White Plains, New York, USA SUMMARY Background: About 20 per cent of Americans will experience depression in their lifetimes, and almost all will experience the death of a loved one. Both depression and grief have been associated with adverse health outcomes, including a decline in quality of life and excess mortal- ity. Primary care physicians (PCPs) are the initial health care contact for most patients with depression and grief, yet often perceive that they lack the skills to adequately address these issues. Previous studies have investigated whether educational efforts improve PCP depression and grief knowledge or perceived skills, but few have focused on medical residents. There is the potential that resident education may impact practice over a longer span of time than later career training, simply because it occurs earlier in one’s medical career. Methods: The authors examined whether a brief educational curriculum, delivered in two 2-hour sessions to 40 internal medicine residents, was associ- ated with changes in knowledge, attitudes, comfort level and reported behaviours, with regards to grieving or depressed patients. Self-report surveys were adminis- tered before and about 5 months after receipt of the new curriculum. Results: Residents receiving the curriculum reported in- creases in knowledge, confi- dence and self-reported behaviours in working with patients suffering depression and grief. Discussion: Although more research is needed to deter- mine whether these findings can be replicated in other settings, the results are promis- ing. Further dissemination of such training may ultimately enhance the detection and treatment of depression and grief in primary care, and decrease the associated emotional and functional burdens in patients. Both depression and grief have been associated with adverse health outcomes