Psychology
Pediatric Psychology Fellowship
Applications are invited for two full-time, 12-month postdoctoral fellowships in Pediatric Psychology. Areas of training include psychoeducational assessment, developmental assessment, neuropsychological assessment, behavioral assessment, psychotherapy, and hospital consultation. Training is limited to child and adolescent populations. Specialized populations include developmental disabilities and pediatric chronic illnesses.
Training Program
Goals and Objectives of Training
Nature of Training
Fellow Evaluation
Stipend
Application Process
Contact Us
Additional Information
The Pediatric Psychology fellowship is part of a comprehensive interdisciplinary training effort in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Other trainees at this site include psychology interns, medical residents, medical students, social work interns, and speech/language pathology interns. The fellowship is under the direction of the Section of Pediatric Psychology. Pediatric Psychology consists of nine doctoral level psychologists, three postdoctoral fellows, and four master's level psychological examiners. In addition, psychologists are in other sections within the department (Children at Risk, Adolescent Medicine, Behavioral Pediatrics, Center for Applied Research and Evaluation). Clinical supervision of the fellows is provided by the psychologists, all of whom are licensed in the state of Arkansas.
Training sites include the J. L. Dennis Developmental Center and Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). The Dennis Developmental Center is an outpatient interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment center which serves a variety of patient populations, primarily children with developmental/learning/behavioral problems from birth through 12 years of age. In the Developmental Center fellows can participate in psychoeducational assessment, behavioral assessment, multi-disciplinary team assessment, and psychotherapy. Pediatric Psychology provides a consultation-liaison service to ACH with which the fellows are involved.
Several outpatient medical clinics must be covered by the fellows—Medical Home, High Risk Newborn, Fitness, Sleep, Chronic Pain. In addition, fellows can select from various elective experiences. These electives include developmental disabilities, research, medical crisis and loss, pediatric neuropsychology, and various pediatric subspecialty outpatient clinics. A variety of didactic training experiences are available, including monthly presentations in pediatric psychology, weekly pediatric grand rounds, a monthly administrative meeting, and a monthly peer review/case conference. Numerous additional presentations are also available in various specialty areas.
The two fellowships are partially funded by a grant to the Partners for Inclusive Communities. Fellows would be expected to participate in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities interdisciplinary training program. The purpose of the LEND program is to provide trainees with experiences to competently apply knowledge and skills to the care of persons with developmental disabilities and their families, to effectively participate in an interdisciplinary process of designing, evaluating, and implementing programs, and to effectively work in an interdisciplinary setting. In addition to these clinical and training experiences, the fellows are encouraged to initiate research and/or participate in ongoing faculty research efforts.
Goals and Objectives of Training
A. To train postdoctoral fellows for independent practice in the area of pediatric psychology/pediatricneuropsychology including assessment and treatment of individuals coping with a variety of medical and developmental disorders
B. To provide structured educational and clinical experiences toward that goal, and corrective feedback as fellows progress toward that goal
- Fellows will understand the variety of factors that affect the mental and physical health of individuals (medical, developmental, genetic, familial, social, behavioral, emotional)
- Fellows will be able to distinguish normal versus atypical reactions to acute and chronic illness.
- Fellows will learn diagnostic assessment for patients across the age span
- Fellows will learn a variety of objective measurements of cognitive, developmental, adaptive behavior, academic, emotional, and behavioral functioning to supplement their clinical interview and facilitate comprehensive assessment of patients seen in health care settings. They will further develop the knowledge of health-related assessment including health beliefs, adherence, quality of life, and coping.
- Fellows will demonstrate the ability to write a comprehensive diagnostic assessment report including summarizing any relevant objective assessment data, interview data, and clinical impressions. They will further demonstrate the ability to assess a variety of differential diagnoses, provide a concise case conceptualization, and design an appropriate treatment plan for patients and their families and document these elements within the context of this diagnostic report.
- Fellows will understand the behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and other theories of behavioral change as they relate to healthy development, psychopathology, health-risk behavior, and prevention of disease throughout childhood and adolescence.
- Fellows will develop expertise in empirically-supported interventions with children, parents, and families for use in health care settings. Fellows will have a working knowledge of best practice methods for a variety of behavioral, emotional, and developmental conditions seen in medical settings, and cultivate a respect and understanding of the empirical support for best-practice methods and treatment protocols.
- Fellows will demonstrate the ability to document summaries of the provision of services within treatment sessions, as well as overall treatment progress and revise the treatment plan as needed based on this progress.
- Fellows will demonstrate the ability to communicate with and coordinate assessment and treatment efforts with a variety of health care disciplines.
- Fellows will have experience on multidisciplinary assessment and treatment teams providing clinical care.
- Fellows will participate in a consultation-liaison service and understand the consultative role of psychology in the context of an inpatient medical setting.
- Fellows will be exposed to advocacy in pediatric health care.
- Fellows will gain a basic understanding of disease processes and their medical management.
- Fellows will appreciate important professional, ethical, and legal issues related to clinical work in health care settings
- Fellows will cultivate an appreciation for cultural and ethnic aspects of clinical care and have experience working with patients from diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds in health care settings.
Competencies expected for postdoctoral fellows are outlined within the goals and objectives noted above, and are consistent with ACGME General Competencies guidelines suggesting advanced practice in the areas of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. This fellowship satisfies the requirements for licensure in the state of Arkansas.
• Clinical experience in a variety of medical and developmental clinics
• Participation in multidisciplinary team assessment and treatment planning
• Individual supervision with each supervisor
• Group supervision with Training Directors
• Direct observation of clinical skill
• Didactics
• Core reading manual
• Supplemental readings
• Case Presentation/Peer Review
• Required presentation to the section with evaluation/feedback to trainee
Program requirements and expectations of fellows are reviewed during orientation. A structured evaluation form is used to provide feedback to fellows in addition to oral feedback during supervision. Evaluation forms are completed after 3 months and 12 months into the fellowship (or more often as needed). Written evaluations are reviewed during supervision and signed by the fellow and the supervisor. If problems arise then supervisors will document discussions of these problems and guidance regarding steps to remedy them (if remediable), and the extent to which corrective actions are or are not successful in addressing these problems.
The current 12-month stipend is $30,000. Typical work hours are approximately 40-50 hours/week with 80% time in clinical service and related activities. A $2000 E-fund is available to the fellow for professional expenses such as conference fees, association dues, licensing fees, etc.
Applicants must have a doctorate in clinical psychology or related field from an APA approved doctoral program and have completed an APA-approved doctoral internship. Individuals interested in applying for the fellowship should submit a copy of their vitae, three letters of recommendation, graduate transcripts, and a cover letter by January 15. Applications will be reviewed until position is filled. Interviews and a site visit can be scheduled if the applicant is able to arrange travel to Little Rock. The training year starts September 1. Application material should be forwarded to:
Wendy L. Ward, Ph.D.
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Jayne Bellando, Ph.D.
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Psychology Training Co-Directors
Section of Pediatric Psychology
Department of Pediatrics
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
College of Medicine
1 Children's Way, Slot 512-21
Little Rock, AR 72202
Telephone: (501) 364-1021
Application Due Process (45 kB)
Fellow Clinic Orientation Schedule (2011) (44 kB)
Fellow Clinic Schedule (2011) (37 kB)
Grievance Policy (17.67 kB)
Position Announcement (75.5 kB)
PostDoc Information Flyer (2011) (1.83 MB)
