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Site Name: Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center

Department: Psychology

Department : Psychology

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 2173
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
Department: Psychology
Address: Mailstop 116
3900 Woodland Ave
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
Country: United States
Metro Area: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Distance from Major City:
Phone: 215-823-4456
Fax:
Email: Susan.Delmaestro@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/philadelphia-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-internship-and-fellowships/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/philadelphia-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-internship-and-fellowships/
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Susan DelMaestro
Chief Psychologist: Johanna Klaus
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 65
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 10
Position Information
Start Date: 07/29/2024
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 6
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 36565
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Health Insurance, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): In addition to vacation and sick leave (13 days of each during the training year), interns are allowed up to 5 days of administrative leave to attend conferences, trainings, or other activities that are in line with the intern's training goals. In addition, interns can apply for up to $1000 in additional funding to attend a conference or training during the internship year.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site There is not a typical day on internship, as the intern is involved in multiple training experiences. Interns will complete 4, six month rotations (2x2). The internship program will highlight the integration of mental health services into primary care consistent with the Patient Centered Medical Home as well as training in Evidence Based Practices. Thus, one rotation will be working either on the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration rotation or on the Health Promotion Disease Prevention rotation, and one rotation will be Evidence-Based Therapies. The two additional six month rotations will be selected by the intern prior to the start of internship. Interns will be expected to provide long-term treatment throughout the year to Veterans in one of the outpatient settings, and interns will be involved in either clinical or neuropsychological assessments during the year. They will complete 2080 hours of training including at least 520 hours of direct patient contact. Interns will be given at least four hours of weekly supervision, two hours of which will be individual supervision. Group supervision will provide an opportunity to practice supervision skills and address professional development. Additionally, interns will participate in 5 evidence-based treatment trainings and at least two hours of weekly didactic instruction. Time for research will be available throughout the year.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? Yes
Doctoral Psychology Practicum StudentsYes
Masters Psychology Practicum StudentsNo
Do Psychology Interns/Postdocs Have the Opportunity to Supervise Practicum Students?Yes
Is this program fully affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Is this program partially affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Internship Application Process
Accepting Applicants: Yes
Application Due Date: 11/01/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 11/29/2023
Tentative interview date: 12/11,12/13,12/14,1/3,1/5
Interview process description:

 

Candidates will be informed by e-mail by November 29th as to whether or not they have been invited for a personal interview. Interviews will be held remotely using video conferencing on December 11th, 13th and 14th and January 3rd and 5th. Interviews are a two-way process: a chance for us to meet and learn more about you, and an opportunity for you to meet us and get a better understanding of our program.  Your interview day will begin with group program orientation for an hour that is comprised of a detailed overview of internship and information about living in Philly with aspects of the city’s diversity and cultural highlights.  The day continues with a series of interviews with the training director or assistant director, and with two or more staff psychologists. We are also happy to arrange meetings with specific staff psychologists at your request on interview day or shortly thereafter.   Lastly, there will be a group meeting with the current intern class that will be non-evaluative and an opportunity to learn more details about the internship. The total interview process should take four to five hours. We understand that choosing an internship is a major decision made more difficult by the inability to actually visit the Crescenz VAMC and the City of Philadelphia.   Thus, we encourage you to reach out at any time with questions that will help you make an informed decision.  We adhere strictly to the selection process guidelines established by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC).

 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Temple U, Drexel U, and U of Penn Ph.D Programs, LaSalle U Psy.D., Rutgers Psy.D., U of Miami Ph.D., Stanford-PGSP Consortium Psy.D., East Carolina U, U of Notre Dame, and U of Delaware Ph.D. programs, U of Maryland programs, Rowan U :Ph.D. program, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lehigh Counseling Ph.D., Immaculata U Psy.D., Purdue U Counseling Ph.D., U of Massachusetts at Boston, Yeshiva U Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs, Fordham U Ph.D., U of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Internship Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: Yes
If NOT a U.S. Citizen, Authorization to Work or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in the US is Required: No
Canadian Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a Canadian Citizen, Authorization to Work in Canada or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in Canada is Required: No
Masters Degree Required: No
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 350
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 50
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable):
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology Not Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited
Non-Accredited Not Accepted
Ph.D Degree Accepted
Psy.D. Degree Accepted
Ed.D. Degree Not Accepted
This institution, department, internship, or postdoctoral program requires trainees to sign a statement about personal behavior and/or religious beliefs as a condition of admission and/or retention in the program: No
How to obtain text of statement:
Other Requirements:
Program Description

The Corporal Michael J. Crescenz  VA Medical Center psychology internship in Philadelphia, PA began in 2011. The program received initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association in March, 2013, and re-accreditation for the maximum 10 years in 2021. Six internship slots are available.  One of the positions will meet the general internship requirements but will also have year-long training in clinical neuropsychology.  Please note the separate match number for this position. You may apply to one or both positions. 

Four 6-month rotations will be selected based on intern training needs and interests. Two rotations are required, and reflect strengths of the CMC VA as well as areas of focus for the VA nationally.  One required rotation is working in a patient-centered medical home model of care (Primary Care-Mental Health Integration or Health Promotion/ Disease Prevention) and one rotation is robust training in Evidence-Based Therapies. Other optional rotations include: PTSD Clinical Team, Inpatient Behavioral Health, Comorbid PTSD and Substance Use Disorders, Comorbid SUD and MH Disorders, Home-Based Primary Care, Sleep Clinic, PCMHI-Brief EBP Interventions, Community-based Outpatient Clinic EBP Therapies, Pain Clinic and Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program. Interns also have an outpatient clinic therapy supervisor throughout the year who supervises a small caseload of cases from the outpatient mental health clinic. Alternatively, a year-long track in Integrated Behavioral Couples Therapy involving a seminar and supervised practice is available. Interns also have an assessment supervisor as a minor part of the internship.

In addition, the internship is packed with didactic and other learning opportunities.  All interns participate in a 2 hour weekly didactic series on a variety of topics, 1 hour weekly group supervision, monthly journal club on assessment and biweekly seminar on cultural competence.  Interns receive training in several evidence-based treatments over the course of the training year including Prolonged Exposure, CBT for Depression, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, CBT for insomnia, and Competency-based training in Whole Health.  Additional educational opportunities are available throughout the internship. All interns will work with a faculty member and have the ability to conduct a relatively small research project by the end of the training year.

The philosophy of our psychology training program is best described as scholar-practitioner. We advocate the integration of clinical research with clinical practice. Our training model is developmental and designed to promote professional competence through a sequence of training experiences that are graded in complexity.

More broadly, the CMC VA in Philadelphia is located in an urban location, serving Veterans who are racially/ethnically diverse. CMCVAMC Psychology is organized as a section within Behavioral Health and has grown in the past ten years to over 70 doctoral level psychologists working in a wide range of clinical and research settings. The CMCVAMC has an extensive history of excellence in health profession education, is home to five VA Centers of Excellence, and is adjacent to and affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, offering an atmosphere of rigorous academic research and clinical applications. In recognition of our diverse Veteran population, our Psychology Department strives to enhance culturally-competent care through the opportunities provided by the interprofessional Diversity Team and Psychology training program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients: Yes
Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students:
International Students:
Rural:
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: Yes
Other: Veterans

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Experience (21% to 30%)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Experience (21% to 30%)
Crisis Intervention: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Primary Care: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision of Practicum students : Experience (21% to 30%)
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health: Experience (21% to 30%)
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Physical Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Experience (21% to 30%)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Anxiety Disorders: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Experience (21% to 30%)
Substance Use Disorders: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Program Development/Evaluation: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Supervision: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Research: Experience (21% to 30%)
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Integrated health care - specialty: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Other:

Of note, one of the six internship positions will have a focus on clinical neuropsychology.  The intern will still meet the general internship requirements, but will have neuropsychology training experiences instead of the two optional rotations.  Please see the brochure for more details.

Additional information about training opportunities: Not all rotations or training experiences may be available as described in the APPIC Directory. Please consult the program's application materials or their website at: https://www.va.gov/philadelphia-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-internship-and-fellowships/  for a complete description of the training opportunities available at this training site. IF the site has not updated their information by August 1, feel free to contact the Training Director for additional information.

Summary of the Characteristics of the Specified Internship Class
2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024
Number of Completed Applications: 161 157 155 191 180 179 165
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 46 45 56 48 56 65 65
Total number of interns: 6 6 6 6 6 7 7
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 6 6 6 6 6 7 7
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 5 5 4 4 2 4 7
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 1 1 2 2 4 3 0
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs:
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 6 6 4 4 5 7 7
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 2 2 1
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 3 7 0 2 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 38 26 29 26 65 87 50
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 0
Consortium: 0
University Counseling Center: 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 2
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 2
Psychiatric facility: 0
Correctional facility: 1
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 2
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0
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