LGBT Health Post-doctoral Psychology Fellowship at Boston VA

The VA Boston Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is accepting applications for the 2014 fellowship class. The Fellowship Program is organized into two separately accredited APA programs, Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology, and is affiliated with Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School.

VA Boston Healthcare System is pleased to announce an opportunity in our APA-accredited clinical psychology fellowship program for a Postdoctoral Fellowship with a focus onLesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender (LGBT) Health Care for Veterans. One full-time Fellow will be admitted to a one year position to begin 9/1/2014. This is a clinical position, primarily located on the Brockton campus of VA Boston within multiple mental health clinics and a medical Women’s Clinic, building a caseload and a program with a focus on LGBT issues.   However, at least one day/week will be spent at the Jamaica Plain campus to work with Dr. Jillian Shipherd and others to learn about national policy development and implementation in this area, as well as program development and research activities. 

The Fellow will work at the Brockton campus 3.5-4 days/week, in a large outpatient building and within the Women’s Health Clinic (WHC; a primary care setting). Cases and experiences will be drawn from a variety of clinics and residential programs to ensure an adequate LGBT focus. Approximately 1-1.5 days/week, the Fellow will be located at the JP campus of VA Boston.  The Fellow will work with Dr. Shipherd, VA Central Office LGBT Program Coordinator to learn about national policy development and implementation regarding LGBT issues.  In addition, the Fellow will participate in the monthly Interdisciplinary Transgender Treatment Team (ITTT), an administrative meeting to coordinate transgender care.   The Fellow will also be involved in Behavioral Medicine assessments for psychological readiness for cross sex hormones and sex reassignment surgery.  Additional clinical opportunities within the community may be available as well.

Fellowship training is designed to build competency in the six core (APA) clinical competencies as well as the specialty focus of LGBT issues.  Supervision will be provided by various staff.  The Fellow will receive a minimum of four and a maximum of eight hours of protected research time, based on Fellow interests and experience, although additional time may be spent in program development. The Fellow will have ample opportunities to get involved with program development opportunities both locally and nationally. 

Altogether, within the Clinical Psychology Training Program at VA Boston, we offer training in nine areas of emphasis (“tracks”). For the 2014-2015 training year, we will be recruiting 11 postdoctoral fellows in the below tracks:

• Behavioral Medicine
• Dual Diagnosis
• General Mental Health
• Geropsychology
• Interprofessional Mental Health Care
• Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Health Care• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Post-Deployment Readjustment and Substance Abuse, and
• Substance Abuse Treatment Program

Information about our program and application materials are available at http://www.boston.va.gov/psychologytraining/fellowship.asp. The application deadline is January 3, 2014.

The VA Boston Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is 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, (202) 336-5979.

Please contact Amy Silberbogen, Ph.D., at amy.silberbogen@va.gov with questions. The Fellowship Program is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to enhancing diversity within our staff and trainees.