Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Psychology Internship – Geriatric Emphasis
With the large, aging “Baby Boomer” population and longer life expectancies, there is an increasing demand and vast range of fascinating opportunities for psychologists to develop careers in GEROPSYCHOLOGY. We are pleased to notify you of our Geropsychology internship training track through the GRECC (Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center) at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center (MVAMC).
Our GRECC internship position proudly offers:
- A 12-month full-time internship, fully accredited by APA, beginning in September 2006, with a 6 month full-time rotation in GRECC and two 3-month rotations in other areas of interest.
- Yearly stipend of $19,000, 10 federal holidays, 13 days of vacation, 13 days of sick leave, and up to 5 days of additional leave for conferences/school requirements.
- Specialized training in psychological interventions with elderly patients including individual therapy (inpatients and outpatients), group therapy (PTSD group, bereavement group, caregivers/dementia group), and marital/couples therapy depending on training experience. Common diagnoses include depression, bipolar disorders, PTSD, anxiety spectrum disorders (GAD, OCD, panic), and personality disorders.
- Training in assessment specific to elderly patients including diagnostic intake interviews for Geropsychiatry Team; neuropsychological screenings and assessments (e.g., for dementia, delirium, stroke, TBI, or Parkinson’s disease); psychological/personality assessment; and cognitive assessment.
- Additional therapy (e.g., Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy, Time-Limited Psychodynamic Therapy) and assessment training opportunities (MMPI-2, Rorschach) integrated with the larger intern class (total n=7) and post-doctoral fellows (n=2).
- Integrated team member/consultant with the GRECC New Patient Clinic (dementia evaluations), Geropsychiatry Team (outpatient mental health services), and Caregiver Clinic (weekly didactic educational series, day-long seminars, individual/couple’s work), with weekly psychological consultative services to the Extended Care Center (inpatient nursing/rehabilitation unit), in conjunction with our Geropsychiatrists and medical trainees.
- Participation in weekly Neuropsychology Case Conference, GRECC Aging Seminars, Geropsychiatry Journal Club, Neurology Grand Rounds, and Psychiatry Grand Rounds.
- Opportunities for involvement in ongoing research projects or developing scholarly products (e.g., writing a paper or presenting at a conference).
- Interns often apply and have been chosen for one of two available slots in our APA-accredited post-doctoral fellowship in clinical psychology (estimated stipend of $38,500) offering a variety of specialty emphasis areas (external candidates also accepted).
Setting and Presence of Psychology
- A large, modern, teaching facility – a Flagship Veterans Affairs Medical Center with multiple specialized programs (e.g. Research Centers, Women’s Clinic, TBI Program, etc.) with strong affiliation with the University of Minnesota and 50 other institutions.
- Internship training staff consisting of 30 doctoral staff psychologists representing diverse theoretical orientations, clinical specialties, and interests, typically having academic appointments at the University of Minnesota. The staff is highly committed to science and values training and trainees.
Psychological Research at the Minneapolis VAMC
- Staff psychologists are actively involved in research, with more than $2,500,000 of current funding in merit reviewed multi-year grants, and actively publish and present research findings at national and international conferences.
- Interns and post-doctoral fellows have the opportunity to collaborate with staff on ongoing research projects in areas such as neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia, revictimization after sexual abuse/assault, smoking cessation, and the MMPI-2 (developing and validating the F(p) and the RC scales and validation of the computerized adaptively administered version). Student collaboration often results in a presentation at national conferences and/or publication.
- Many of the staff serve on journal editorial boards (Counseling Psychologist, Assessment, Psychological Assessment; Journal of Personality Assessment) and national advisory boards. Several of the staff have ABPP and Fellow status in professional societies.
This VA Medical Center is set in the beautiful twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, a recreational paradise, with magnificent lakes and parks, hiking, biking and cross country skiing trails, the Mall of America, the world-renowned Guthrie Theater, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, a strong contemporary music scene, and ready access to camping, fishing, hunting, and the great outdoors.
Please see our website for a more detailed description of training opportunities (http://www1.va.gov/minneapolis/education/psychology/psyc_home.html) or contact the Training Director,
Wayne Siegel, Ph.D., ABPP at 612.467.4024.
Wayne G. Siegel, Ph.D., ABPP
Licensed Psychologist
Director of Training in Psychology
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
612.467.4024
wayne.siegel@med.va.gov
http://www1.va.gov/minneapolis/education/psychology/psyc_home.html
