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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)

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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:
Training Director Email: scott.mcdonald@va.gov
Co-Training Director Email:
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:
  • Medical School
  • Psychology Department
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center
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 2
Position Information
Start Date: 09/01/2026
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 2
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 55658
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: 12/01/2025 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 Bronx VA Medical Center Central Virginia VA Health Care System at the Richmond VA Medical Center (formerly the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center) Durham VA Medical Center MUSC/Charleston VAMC Consortium New York City Healthcare and Hospitals Corporation Salem VA Medical Center VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven VA St. Louis Health Care System
The program uses the APPA Centralized Application Service: No
Interview notification date: 01/06/2025
Tentative interview date: N/A
Interview process description:

Applications are due December 1st. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. 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.
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

This fellowship trains health service psychologists to become leading VA clinical researchers in high priority areas of mental health. The program is affiliated with the Mid-Atlantic (VISN 6) Mental Illness, Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) whose mission is to advance post-deployment mental health and wellness for Veterans and their families. Over the course of the two-year program, Fellows receive intensive mentoring and didactics in clinical research competencies such as grant writing, research design, regulatory compliance, and ethics while receiving supervised clinical training. Mentored areas of research include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury and related disorders (SCI/D) rehabilitation, neuroscience and substance use, and health disparities. Additional information regarding our core research areas, mentorship opportunities, training goals, and application information can be found in our Program Brochure.

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
LGBTQ+: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking:
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Individual Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Couples Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Crisis Intervention:
Brief Psychotherapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Evidenced Based Practice: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Evidence Based Research: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Supervision of Practicum students : Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Women's Health: Exposure (1% to 20%)
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Physical Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Anxiety Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Trauma/PTSD: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Abuse: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Substance Use Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy:
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Research: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - specialty: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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) rehabilitation research (Drs. McDonald and Bjork), traumatic brain injury and brain health (TBI; Drs. Klyce, Perrin, Walton, and Walker), neuroscience and substance use (Drs. Bjork and Reisweber), PTSD (Dr. Amstadter), and health disparities (Drs. 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 2024-2025 2025-2026 2026-2027
Number of Completed Applications: 5 3 5 6 3 0 3 2
Where did Former Postdoctoral Fellows Go (1st Placement)?
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
Total Number of post-docs: 1 1 1 0
Still a Postdoctoral Fellow: 0 0 0 0
Academic teaching: 0 0 0
Community mental health center: 0 0 0 0
Consortium: 0 0 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0 0 0 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 1 0 0 0
Psychiatric facility: 0 0 0 0
Correctional facility: 0 0 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0 0
School district/system: 0 0 0 0
Independent practice setting: 0 1 1 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 0 0 0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data: https://www.va.gov/richmond-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-services/
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