All interns in our program receive very broadly-based training at this major academic medical center in primary mental health and clinical health psychology across the lifespan. We aim to develop individuals who establish excellent working relationships with patients, competently provide evidence-based assessments and interventions, work well with others in fast-paced interdisciplinary environments, while reflecting the highest professional standards. The program provides core training in inpatient and outpatient adult and child psychiatry and a very broad exposure to health psychology in elective rotations including a specific clinical health psychology rotation which can include specialty clinics and primary care (flexibility in choice within the rotation), as well as a neurorehabilitation psychology rotation. The program will provide outstanding preparation for work in an academic medical center or other interdisciplinary medical settings.
There are two tracks, the Comprehensive Track and the Underserved Populations Track. There is substantial overlap between the tracks and interns on both tracks work closely together.
Comprehensive Track. The Comprehensive Track offers a very broad range of mental health and health psychology exposures within an academic medical center setting.
Interns will participate in the following full (three month) rotations.
- Inpatient Adult Psychiatry
- Inpatient Child Psychiatry
- Neurorehabilitation Psychology
- Clinical Health Psychology
For the Clinical Health Psychology rotation interns choose up to three of the following activities: pain psychology, neurology/CBTi, Internal Medicine, onco-psychology, Psychosocial Evaluations for Medical Interventions (PEMI program), inpatient pediatric consults, and liver transplant team.
Interns on the Comprehensive Track will have 6 hours per week of patient care (mainly psychotherapy) in the outpatient Psychiatry Clinic throughout the year.
Underserved Populations Track. The Underserved Populations Track is for individuals who envision further training and work in integrated care, particularly primary care, and with rural populations, including telemedicine outreach. The Track also offers a broad range of mental health and health psychology exposures in the academic medical center setting. A significant feature of the track is that the interns do a rotation in a rural integrated primary care clinic- for three months, two-three days per week. As a location may be 1.5-2 hours from main campus or home, a no-cost apartment is provided if desired and interns receive compensation for travel once per week. Although on-site training is the intent, interns may be able to do a teleheath component. There is also a significant emphasis on SUDs on this track including training in the KUMC Addiction Treatment Center.
Underserved Populations Track interns will participate in the following full rotations (three months each):
- Inpatient Adult Psychiatry at KUMC
- Inpatient Child Psychiatry at KUMC
- Rural Integrated Primary Care
Underserved Populations Track interns will choose an additional full elective rotation (three months) from the following:
- Neurorehabilitation Program
- Clinical Health Psychology
Underserved Populations Track interns will have 4 hours per week of patient care (mainly psychotherapy) in the Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic throughout the year.
Underserved Populations Track interns will also:
- Receive specialized training in, and clinical experience with, the KU Center for Telemedicine and Telehealth system.
- Participate in preparing and presenting an educational offering to rural or other underserved area consumers, providers or the public.
- Participate in the Underserved Populations Touring Activity which will involve visits to multiple sites including an FQHC, rural clinics, and/or state hospital.
All interns receive extensive didactic training emphasizing clinical application. Didactics feature primarily evidence-based practice, and there are series specific to several major evidence-based approaches. There is a strong focus on developing an excellent knowledge of many medical and mental health conditions. A special seminar is devoted to individual and cultural competency training. Interns receive training in supervision, educate other trainees in multidisciplinary settings, and present in a didactic format. All interns also work with a mentor to design and carry out a program evaluation research project.