VA Palo Alto Health Care System Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship position
Applications currently are being accepted for Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowships at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System with an emphasis in Palliative Care.
The Palliative Care emphasis area provides training in multiple domains:
· Psychological, sociocultural, spiritual and interpersonal factors in advanced, life-limiting and terminal illness
· Biological aspects of disease, dying process
· Socioeconomic, health services and systems issues in palliative care
· Normative, non-normative grief and bereavement
· End-of-life decision-making and ethical issues in providing palliative care and hospice services
· Assessment of specific issues common in pts with chronic, life-limiting, terminal illness (e.g. pain, psychopathology, existential distress, caregiving strain, end-of-life issues)
· Treatment of patients with chronic, life-threatening or terminal illness
· Treatment of family and social systems
· Interface with other disciplines through interprofessional teams and consultation
· Research, teaching and leadership skills
· Supervision
Potential Training Sites. VA Hospice and Palliative Care Center (Inpatient unit; hospital-wide Palliative Care Consult team, Outpatient Clinic) and Sub-acute medicine ward; Community Living Center; Home Based Primary Care; Spinal Cord Injury Center; Cardiovascular Clinic; Oncology/ Hematology, Pain Clinic, Infectious disease Clinic, Family therapy program, ACT min-rotation. Staff include Drs. Judith Chapman, Margaret Florsheim, Julia Kasl-Godley, Steven Katz, Steven Lovett, Jon Rose, Gary Miles, Douglas Rait, Rachael Rodriguez, Elaine McMillan, Veronica Reis, Robin Walser. Option for limited exposure to non-VA Palliative Care programs (e.g. Stanford, UCSF, California Pacific Medical Center).
Training Plans. The specific training plan is developed with assistance from the Primary Preceptor who helps plan the Fellow's overall program to ensure sufficient depth and breadth of experience. Although the specifics will vary depending on the individual needs of the particular fellow, fellows in the Palliative Care emphasis area develop an expertise in chronic and advanced illness and palliative care that allows them to provide effective assessment, intervention (individual, family, group, staff), and interprofessional service delivery to patients and family members to meet the full range of issues across the disease continuum, from initial diagnosis to death and subsequent bereavement. Fellows work with interprofessional teams that share decision-making, treatment planning, and treatment implementation responsibilities. Fellows are encouraged to use current literature on evidenced based treatment (e.g. CBT, ACT, Dignity Therapy, MI) in planning and delivering services. Fellows dedicate a day/week to research or an educational dissemination project. Fellows also participate in a variety of educational and professional development activities (e.g. seminars, PC didactics) and receive training in supervision.
Stipend and Benefits
The Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship will be for a full year, full-time with a salary of $50,006 per annum. Vacation, sick leave, authorized leave for conferences, and health insurance are available. Malpractice claims are covered, and no additional professional insurance needs to be obtained.
Requirements
U.S. citizens who are candidates in or have completed an APA-accredited doctoral program in clinical/counseling psychology and who are enrolled in or have completed an APA-accredited internship are eligible to apply. All Ph.D. requirements, including dissertation defense, must be completed prior to beginning the fellowship. Preference is given to candidates with prior training and experience in the specific emphasis areas, but it is not a requirement. Applications must be received by January 2, 2013.
More Information
The postdoctoral brochure and further information about the application process can be obtained at http://www.paloalto.va.gov/MentalHealth/PsychologyTraining.asp. For additional questions, please contact the Postdoctoral Coordinator, Bill Faustman, Ph.D., at William.Faustman@va.gov or (650) 493-5000 X 64950
*The postdoctoral training program at the VA Palo Alto is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. The APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation can be reached at the APA, 750 First St. NE, Washington DC 20002-4242; phone number 202 336-5979.
Julia Kasl-Godley, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
VA Hospice and Palliative Care Center
VA Palo Alto Health Care System (116B)
3801 Miranda Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: (650) 493-5000 x63592
Fax: (650) 849-0524
