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Site Name: Central Virginia VA Health Care System (Richmond VAMC)

Department: Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRT)

Department : Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRT)

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 9123
Program Type: Post Doctoral
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Central Virginia VA Health Care System (Richmond VAMC)
Department: Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRT)
Address: 1201 Broad Rock Blvd (116-B)
Richmond, Virginia 23249
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 0
Phone: 804-675-5000x3633
Fax:
Email: scott.mcdonald@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/richmond-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-services/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/richmond-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-services/
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
Member of APPIC since: 2012
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Postdoctoral Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Scott McDonald
Chief Psychologist: Mary Bradshaw
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 70
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 2
Number of Non-Psychologist Staff/Faculty who Supervise Post-docs 1
Position Information
Start Date: 08/31/2024
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 1
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 53992
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Licensing Exam Release Time, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Please see Brochure.
Brief description of the typical work day for a postdoc at this training site Please see Brochure.
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
Postdoctoral Application Process
Application Due Date: 12/01/2023 11:59 PM EST
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Atlanta VA Medical Center McGuire VA Medical Center (Richmond VA Medical Center) MUSC/Charleston VAMC Consortium Salem VA Medical Center VA St. Louis Health Care System VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven Bronx VA Medical Center New York City Healthcare and Hospitals Corporation Durham VA Medical Center
The program uses the APPA Centralized Application Service: No
Interviews at this site are: Optional
A Virtual Interview is: Preferred
Interview notification date: 01/01/2024
Tentative interview date: N/A
Interview process description:

Applications are accepted and reviewed, and candidates will be interviewed, on a rolling basis, starting October 1st with priority consideration ending December 1st. If you would like to submit an application after December 1st, please contact the Fellowship Director to learn whether applications are still being accepted. The position(s) will remain open until filled.

Interviews will typically be conducted by video-teleconference with a panel of three faculty members. Additional meetings will be provided with current Fellow(s) and potential mentor(s). A scheduled visit to the CVHCS and VCU to meet with the fellowship director and a potential research mentor prior to the application deadline is welcomed but not required (and is subject to COVID-19 visitation policies).
Postdoctoral Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: Yes
If NOT a U.S. Citizen, Authorization to Work in the US is Required No
Canadian Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a Canadian Citizen, Authorization to Work in Canada is Required: No
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: Yes
How to obtain text of statement: Behavioral Code of Conduct (MCM-00-31). Outlines rules for behavior for medical center employees. (HR: 804-675-6538)
Program Description

What is the Goal of the Fellowship Program?

The MIRECC/CoE VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRT) at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS) trains health service psychologists to become leading clinical researchers in high priority areas of mental health. Over the course of the two-year program, Fellows receive intensive mentoring and didactics in clinical research competencies such as grant writing, research design, and ethics while receiving supervised clinical training in cutting-edge treatments and programs. A special emphasis of the fellowship program is to train Fellows to conduct translational research that brings basic science to clinical practice.

Through our partnership with the CVHCS Rehabilitation Psychology Fellowship, Psychology Fellows seeking board certification may develop a training plan that fulfills eligibility requirements for board certification in Rehabilitation Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

Who are We?

We are a two-year, research-oriented (75% research, 25% clinical) psychology post-doctoral fellowship at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS) in Richmond, Virginia (i.e., the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center). We are one of the 25 VA MIRECC/CoE VA Advanced Fellowship Programs in Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRT) and are affiliated with the Mid-Atlantic (VISN 6) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), whose mission is to develop and apply scientific knowledge and best practices to enhance post-deployment mental health and wellness for our Nation's Veterans and their families. We collaborate with our academic affiliate, Virginia Commonwealth University, to expand training and mentorship opportunities for our Fellows.

What are the Program’s Guiding Principles?

The structure and activities of the program are designed to meet the guidelines established by the American Psychological Association and the VA Guidelines for Postdoctoral Programs. Our program is based on a scientist-practitioner model of training and, as such, provides a foundation for our Fellows to develop as health service psychologists who (1) utilize evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) within the context of evidence-based medicine (EBM), (2) critically evaluate the research literature to inform treatment, and (3) engage in clinical research to enhance health care. More information about the VA MIRECC Advanced Fellowship Program can be found at https://www.mirecc.va.gov/mirecc_fellowship.asp.

What are the Core Research Areas and Mentorship Opportunities?

Fellows develop a career-building research program through work with a mentor, selected from: spinal cord injury research (SCI; Dr. McDonald), traumatic brain injury (TBI; Drs. Klyce, Perrin, and Walker), neuroscience and substance use (Drs. Bjork and Reisweber), PTSD (Dr. Amstadter), and health disparities (Dr. Perrin). Fellows may also collaborate with investigators at VCU and across the Mid-Atlantic MIRECC to learn specific skills, join writing teams, and access other resources that are useful for career development. More information about our research training and our mentor biosketches can be found under the Research Training Activities and Research Advisors and Mentors subsections, respectively.

What is the Approach to Training?

Over the course of the program, Fellows receive intensive mentoring and didactics in clinical research competencies such as grant writing, research design, and ethics while receiving supervised clinical training in cutting-edge treatments and programs. In collaboration with research mentors and the Fellowship Director, Fellows develop an individualized Learning Plan which includes organized, experiential, and sequential learning experiences in research, clinical service, and education during each year of the fellowship based on the goals and objectives of the program and the Fellow. The Learning Plan allows Fellows to tailor their learning experiences in order to best meet their individual training needs, while also providing sufficient structure to help ensure successful completion of training goals. Fellows are expected to develop and implement a research pilot project, publish and present findings, and utilize the latest technology for educational activities and clinical service delivery.

For more information, please see our Brochure at: https://www.va.gov/richmond-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-services/

Postdoctoral 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:
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment:
Individual Therapy:
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy:
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison:
Crisis Intervention:
Brief Psychotherapy:
Long-term Psychotherapy:
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care:
Evidenced Based Practice:
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students :
Other: The CVHCS is a 1-A designated, tertiary medical center with over 70 psychologists on staff. A wide assortment of supervised clinical training experiences are available.

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology:
Women's Health:
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities:
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment:
Neuropsychology-Adult:
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness:
Anxiety Disorders:
Trauma/PTSD:
Sexual Abuse:
Substance Use Disorders:
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology:
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy:
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments:
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation:
Supervision:
Research:
Administration:
Integrated health care - primary:
Integrated health care - specialty:
Other:

In addition to supervised clinical training, Fellows develop a career-building research program through work with a mentor, selected from: spinal cord injury (SCI; research (Dr. McDonald), traumatic brain injury (TBI; Drs. Klyce, Perrin, and Walker), neuroscience and substance use (Drs. Bjork and Reisweber), PTSD (Dr. Amstadter), and health disparities (Dr. Perrin). Fellows may also collaborate with investigators at VCU and across the Mid-Atlantic MIRECC to learn specific skills, join writing teams, and access other resources that are useful for career development. More information about our research training and our mentor biosketches can be found in the Fellowship Brochure.

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/richmond-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-services/  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 Postdoctoral Class
2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024
Number of Completed Applications: 5 3 5 6 3
Where did Former Postdoctoral Fellows Go (1st Placement)?
2022-2023
Total Number of post-docs: 1
Still a Postdoctoral Fellow: 0
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 0
Consortium: 0
University Counseling Center: 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 1
Psychiatric facility: 0
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0
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