|
VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Advanced Psychiatry & Psychology
History and Purpose
For many years, VA has played a leading role in training health care providers
in the mental health field. During this period, the Office of Academic Affiliations
(OAA) has supported many mental health training programs. Some examples include
Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry residency programs; the post-residency Psychiatric
Research and Substance Abuse Treatment Fellowship Program; and postdoctoral psychology
training programs emphasizing geropsychology, substance abuse treatment, and post-traumatic
stress disorder.
In 1997, VA established Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Centers
of Excellence (MIRECCs) to improve the provision of biopsychosocial health care
services to eligible veterans suffering from mental illness. These centers develop
improved models and systems for mental health services; educate and train health
personnel; and conduct basic, clinical, and applied research. They concentrate particularly
on service-related conditions.
Because MIRECCs focus on selected areas of mental health and provide excellent research,
education and clinical learning environments, they present ideal venues to train
post-residency psychiatry fellows and postdoctoral psychology fellows. In 2000,
OAA established the VA Advanced Fellowship in Advanced Psychiatry and Psychology
at six competitively selected MIRECC sites. OAA started this fellowship to develop
academic and health systems leaders with vision and knowledge in psychiatry and
psychology who are committed to leading these disciplines in the 21st century. In
2002, OAA added two more MIRECC sites. MIRECCs provide unique opportunities for
advanced fellowship training in areas of vital importance to VA, enhance MIRECC
goals, and provide opportunities to leverage MIRECC expertise.
Program Overview
VA's Advanced Fellowship in Advanced Psychiatry and Psychology is a two-year,
post-residency physician and postdoctoral psychology fellowship program. Among the
eight sites, Palo Alto serves as a hub site to coordinate curriculum, recruitment
strategies, evaluation, and publicity. Sites are linked electronically and by two-way
interactive videoconference for learning, information sharing, and the development
of a national laboratory in advanced psychiatry and psychology. Each site collaborates
closely with its academic affiliate.
The first cohort of Fellows began in July 2001, and the second cohort began in July
2002.
Physician fellowship participants serve as trainees on a temporary, full-time employment
basis at one of the sites for the duration of the appointment period. Each physician
appointee receives a per annum stipend related as closely as possible to local affiliate
fellowship stipend levels. The highest postgraduate level attained through previous
ACGME-accredited residency training plus experience in nationally recognized Fellowships
sponsored by NIMH, NIA, or similar agencies determines the stipend levels.
Postdoctoral psychology fellowship participants receive appointments for one year
with a reappointment for a second year. Psychology stipend rates are currently $37,000
per annum. These stipends are reviewed biennially. They are adjusted according to
rates paid by comparable non-VA postdoctoral fellowship programs.
Fellowship Requirements.
Applicants must desire to pursue a career in mental health and serve as
change agents to help lead VA and other public and private health care systems into
the 21st century. They must have the capacity for interactive skills necessary to
create changes in institutions. Finally, they must appreciate and be able to leverage
the benefits of coordinated clinical medicine, research, and administration.
Physician applicants must have completed ACGME-accredited residency training and
be board certified or board eligible in psychiatry with an active, unrestricted
license to practice medicine in the U.S. (Residency training licenses are restricted
licenses, and VA cannot accept them.) In addition, any international medical graduate
must have an unexpired visa and required Educational Commission for Foreign Medical
Graduates (ECFMG) documentation.
Postdoctoral psychology fellowship applicants must have graduated from an American
Psychological Association (APA)-accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling
psychology. They must also have completed an APA accredited internship in clinical
or counseling psychology.
Application
To inquire about the application process and to learn more about the program,
interested physicians and psychologists should write to the site of their choice
and send a cover letter and curriculum vitae to that site.
Paul Ruskin, M.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychiatry (BT/MIRECC)
VISN 5 MIRECC
10 North Greene Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Sarah Morris , Ph.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychology (BT/MIRECC)
VISN 5 MIRECC
10 North Greene Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Bruce Levin , M.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychiatry (OOMH)
Bronx VAMC
130 West Kingsbridge Rd.
Bronx, NY 10468
Mark Kunik, M.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychiatry (152)
VA Medical Center
2002 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
Nancy Jo. Dunn, Ph.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychology (116B)
VA Medical Center
2002 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
Ira Katz, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychiatry
3600 Market Street
7th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Anna Rose Childress, Ph.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychology (116)
VA Medical Center
University & Woodland Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Jerome Yesavage, M.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychiatry (151-Y)
VA Medical Center
3801 Miranda Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Josef Ruzek, Ph.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychology (151-Y)
VA Medical Center
3801 Miranda Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
James Lohr, M.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychiatry (MC116A)
San Diego Healthcare System
3350 La Jolla Village Drive
San Diego, CA 92161
Lisa Zorilla, Ph.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychology (MC116B)
San Diego Healthcare System
3350 La Jolla Village Drive
San Diego, CA 92161
Elaine R. Peskind, M.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychiatry (116MIRECC)
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
1660 S. Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98108
Miles McFall, Ph.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychology (116MHC)
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
1660 S. Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98108
Bruce J. Rounsaville, M.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychiatry (151D)
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516
Kathleen G. Carroll, Ph.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychology (151D)
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516
HUB SITE DIRECTORS
Jerome Yesavage, M.D.
Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychiatry Hub Site (151-Y)
VA Medical Center
3801 Miranda Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Ruth O'Hara, Ph.D.
Co-Director, VA Advanced Fellowship in
Advanced Psychology Hub Site (151-Y)
VA Medical Center
3801 Miranda Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
For additional information about the MIRECCs, please contact their web site
at http://mirecc.stanford.edu.
| 
