Psychology Internship at Geisinger Medical Center

Transcription

1 Psychology Internship at Geisinger Medical Center Geisinger Health System s Division of Psychiatry offers a one-year predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at Geisinger Medical Center (GMC), located in Danville, Pennsylvania. The internship begins with orientation in mid-june 2015 and runs through the end of June Geisinger serves nearly three million residents in central and northeast Pennsylvania as a non-profit, fully integrated system dedicated to excellence in healthcare, education, research and service. This physician-led system includes a more than 900-member multidisciplinary group practice, successful clinical programs, a mature electronic health record connecting a comprehensive network of four hospitals, a robust research program and an insurance provider (Geisinger Health Plan). Educational opportunities available to physicians and allied healthcare professionals at Geisinger Medical Center include (in addition to the predoctoral internship in clinical psychology) postdoctoral fellowships in adult behavioral medicine, neuropsychology, integrated primary care, pediatric/child clinical psychology, 20 medical residency programs and 18 medical fellowship programs. Geisinger fosters an atmosphere of clinical excellence while offering the best of life in small-town America excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and plenty of summertime fun like kayaking and hiking and winter sports like snowboarding and skiing. Urban life is easily accessible with New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. just an afternoon s drive away. The Internship Seven interns are accepted into one of two primary tracks: Adult Clinical/Behavioral Medicine or Child Clinical/Pediatric Psychology. Three interns are selected for the Adult Clinical track and four interns are selected for the Child Clinical track. The program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). For further information about our accreditation status, contact the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation by calling , or contacting them at 750 First Street NE, Washington, D.C By focusing on broad training in clinical psychology, the internship primarily prepares interns for careers as practitioners in medical or applied practice settings. We adhere to the scientist-practitioner model of psychological practice. Clinical training experiences follow the apprentice model. Each intern is supervised by faculty members directly involved in providing clinical services to specific patient groups within the medical center. Interns function with a good deal of autonomy, assuming junior level staff responsibilities. Participants in the program are expected to: Further develop basic clinical skills to begin independent practice Collaborate in the medical setting by learning about the medical culture, serving as interdisciplinary team members and consulting with physicians Work with culturally diverse groups and respect individual differences

2 Apply clinical research skills in a clinical setting Uphold high standards of patient care and professional ethics Use scientific evidence to guide practice Advocate for the profession of psychology Interns expand their skills in the areas of assessment, psychotherapy, consultation and research. Clinical experiences are of primary importance in the internship with particular emphasis placed on learning behavior change methods for use with medical patients. Faculty frequently use Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing in psychotherapy, although other treatment methods with empirical support are encouraged. Curriculum Evidence Based Practice in Psychology We adhere to a scientist-practitioner model of clinical psychology. As such, interns are challenged to seek empirical data to help guide treatment planning and implementation. We are aware that some of the clinical challenges we face represent complex patients whose problems may not fit models of empirically supported treatment. Sometimes clinical psychologists seek empirical data representing similar patient populations and accept that our practice represents art as well as science. We encourage interns to seek data and to apply that information in a thoughtful and compassionate manner. Cultural Awareness Psychologists continually enrich their understanding of their own and their patients cultures. The lifelong cultural awareness journey is vital for competent practice, but it is also a recurring joy throughout a psychology career. Our patients and our community experiences teach us best, so we model methods of incorporating cultural awareness. Interns integrate cultural assessment into case conceptualizations, therapy, and supervision. They are directed to community experiences that enhance their awareness of cultural subgroups. Interns meet monthly to review the learning prompted by patients and community experiences Research/Program Development Interns have four hours each week to participate in ongoing research and program development projects with faculty members. Often research focuses on treatment outcomes; models of treatment demonstrated as efficacious in highly controlled settings are implemented and evaluated for their effectiveness in this applied setting. There are ongoing projects currently in integrated primary care, bariatric surgery, cancer, chronic pain, cardiology, and general outpatient psychology. This option is not designed for completion of the doctoral dissertation. Year-Long Training Experiences Opportunities are available for year-long training experiences such as serving as a co-therapist in a group, or conducting psychotherapy with patients who need long-term treatment.

3 Supervision At least two hours of individual clinical supervision are provided weekly by the faculty members responsible for the specific rotations. Although formal supervision times are established, on-site supervisors are also available for impromptu supervision as needed. Performance Evaluation Performance feedback is provided by supervisors during the twice-weekly supervision meetings. Written evaluations are completed at three-month intervals. Written progress reports summarizing performance are sent to the intern s graduate program at six months and the end of the internship year. Each intern maintains a log detailing his or her clinical work to encourage self-awareness. This log also provides information to supervisors offering clinical guidance. Required Hours A minimum of 2,000 hours is required to complete the internship. Educational Conferences Four weekly educational conferences complement the clinical component of the internship. Psychology Intern Seminar A weekly didactic seminar is designed specifically for the interns. A sample of topics presented by faculty include: ADHD Emergency evaluations Practical issues for psychologists in medical settings Treatment of anxiety disorders Conducting clinical research in a medical setting Getting your first job Learning disabilities Cultural diversity in clinical practice Helping people change health risk behavior Behavioral interventions with pediatric patients Evidence-based treatments Depression Approaches with geriatric patients Chronic illness Psychopharmacology Case Conference The faculty and interns meet weekly for a case conference in which interns and staff present and discuss challenging and interesting clinical cases.

4 Psychiatry Grand Rounds Interns attend weekly psychiatry grand rounds, which include presentations by Geisinger faculty as well as outside speakers. Each intern makes a presentation at psychiatry grand rounds near the end of the internship year. Interns are also encouraged to attend conferences sponsored by other medical center departments. Professional Issues and Ethics Conference Interns participate in a weekly conference with the director of training during which a variety of professional and ethical issues are discussed. Ethical principles and codes as well as practical and challenging ethical dilemmas faced by faculty and interns are reviewed. In addition, professional issues such as efforts to expand the scope of psychology practice, licensure, and employment options are reviewed during the conference. Selection Procedures and Benefits Eligibility Seven interns are accepted each academic year. Preference is given to applicants who meet four admission criteria: 1) Enrolled in an APA or CPA approved doctoral training program; 2) At least three years of full-time graduate level training (four years preferred); 3) Passed the comprehensive or qualifying exam by the application deadline; and 4) Approved dissertation proposal by application deadline. All qualified applicants regardless of race, color, sex, marital status, age, religion or national origin are encouraged to apply. Salary & Benefits For the academic year, each intern will receive a $22,365 yearly stipend (paid bi-weekly) with two weeks paid vacation. One week of educational leave is provided, along with $1,100 for conference expenses. In addition, research presentations at appropriate psychology conferences are encouraged and financially supported. One week of job search or relocation time is also available. Excellent health insurance coverage is provided for interns and dependents. Professional liability insurance and a $30,000 life insurance policy are also included as benefits. Application Procedures Predoctoral internship applicants apply by completing the APPIC Application for Psychology Internships. Applicants must submit a copy of the APPIC application form, curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference. Applicants may only apply for one track within the program: Adult Clinical/Behavioral Medicine Track or Child Clinical/Pediatric Psychology. The application deadline is November 1st. The Predoctoral internship participates in the APPIC match and complies with all APPIC policies. Visit APPIC for a comprehensive overview of the application and matching process: Applicants use the APPIC Internship Matching Program, operated by National Matching Services, Inc. to

5 rank potential internship sites. We recommended that all internship applicants subscribe to the APPIC Match-News List as early as possible in this process. APPIC Code Numbers for Geisinger Child Clinical/Pediatric Psychology track Adult Clinical/Health Psychology track Post-Doctoral Opportunities Interns are often eligible for post-doctoral fellowships, which occur in the year following the internship. Staying for a second year provides trainees the opportunity to expand on skill sets learned during internship, specialize in areas of focused clinical interest, provide supervision to lower level trainees, and engage more fully in ongoing research projects. Fellowships are offered in Pediatric/Child Clinical Psychology, Adult Behavioral Medicine, and Integrated Primary Care (at various Geisinger Community Practice sites within a one hour radius of the main medical center). Past fellows have been very successful in presenting research projects at regional and national conferences during their postdoctoral training year, and many have gone on to work in well-respected health systems after graduation. Fellowship opportunities are presented to interns in October, with the goal of finalizing decisions regarding fellowships by December of the internship year. Recently, there have been 7-8 psychology fellowship opportunities available each year. For more information go to