The UAB Department of Psychiatry initiated a doctoral clinical psychology internship in 1965. Soon after, UAB joined forces with the Birmingham VAMC to start the UAB-BVAMC Internship Consortium. Due to significant growth in our psychology services at both institutions since the initiation of the consortium in the 1960s, we have begun the process of dissolving the consortium relationship. BVAMC and UAB are each seeking accreditation as independent internships. We have both submitted self-studies to APA and await scheduling of site visits. We will remain an accredited consortium during the 2023-2024 training year. We are working closely with APA and are utilizing an option to independently apply for accreditation while we remain an accredited consortium. We will dissolve the consortium after independent accreditation has been achieved, while closely considering the timing in relation to our internship cohorts. While it’s true that big changes are coming to the consortium, one thing that has NOT changed is our commitment to high-quality psychology training.
While we will remain a consortium for the 2023-2024 training year, interns will complete all rotations within their matched site—either BVAMC or UAB, and any performance improvement plans, probation/termination decisions, or grievances will be handled internally within the matched site. All consortium interns participate in a weekly didactic seminar together.
Birmingham VA: The Birmingham VA internship track consists of 2 6-month semesters. Within each semester, interns choose a combination of major and minor rotations across a variety of settings including Primary Care (both in clinic and home-based primary care); a General Mental Health Clinic, as well speciality mental health clinics such as the PTSD Clinical Team, Substance Treatment and Recovery, Telehealth Team, and Behavioral Sleep Medicine, a Blind Rehabilitation Center, and the Pain Rehabilitation Outpatient Program. Interns receive training in a variety of evidence-based psychotherapies and are typically able to obtain certification in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. Following internship, our trainees frequently accept staff positions in VAMCs or complete postdoctoral training within VAMCS or academic medical centers.
UAB: The UAB tracks offer an incredible variety of training opportunities. We have a wide range of populations and specialty clinics at one of the premier medical settings in the South. Stipend sites include the Department of Psychiatry, Family Medicine, and Civitan International Research Center (Child). Other training sites include Departments of Neurology, Preventive Medicine, Childrens Hospital, and Spain Rehabilitation Center. Interns can choose 3 major and 3 minor rotations where they train for 4 months each during the year or they may choose two major and minor rotations where they train for 6 months. Major rotations are only available through the stipend sites while minor rotations are available within any affiliated UAB or Childrens department. Because of the variety of minors, interns can specialize within a generalist framework. We have faculty members providing behavior sleep medicine services, functional movement disorders interventions, trauma intervention, and a specialty clinic for the LGBTQ+ population. Interns strongly invested in a career as neuropsychologists can easily obtain the 50% neuropsychological experience requested by APA Division 40 by choosing certain minor and major rotations. Most rotations are easily adaptable to the interns level of knowledge: to offer an initial experience or enhance mastery. In addition, we offer multidisciplinary training opportunities when available. Following internship, our interns most frequently continue their training in postdoctoral experiences, are employed in medical settings, or enter private practice. UAB offers postdoctoral fellowships in several areas including neuropsychology, inpatient/outpatient psychiatry, internal medicine, and preventive medicine, as well as others. Opportunities vary depending upon the funding mechanism and change yearly. For more information, feel free to contact the Training Director or specific faculty members.