VISN 5 MIRECC Post-Doctoral and Post-Residency Fellowships

Research >> Fellowship

Post-Doctoral and Post-Residency Fellowships

VA Special Fellowship Program in
Advanced Psychiatry and Psychology

The VISN 5 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) offers a post-doctoral fellowship in Clinical Psychology and a post-residency fellowship in Psychiatry. The goal of these 2-year fellowships is to train psychologists and physicians to become leading clinical researchers in the area of serious mental illness. The fellowship program provides opportunities for excellent training in psychosocial treatment development, family and community intervention, health services research, neurocognition and psychopharmacology in an outstanding collaborative and interdisciplinary setting. In addition, MIRECC fellows have access to a range of educational activities and advanced clinical service delivery in a wide range of settings. The program combines individual mentored research and clinical training in the fellow's area of interest with general educational experiences focused on biostatistical methods, health informatics, grant writing and career development, and the latest scientific findings and advances. There are fellows at ten different MIRECC sites around the U.S., and the 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. The distribution of the fellow's effort is approximately 75% research and 25% clinical.

The VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5) serves veterans from the entire state of Maryland, and portions of Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, as well as the District of Columbia. Fellows’ offices and research activities are housed in the Baltimore VA Medical Center, located in downtown Baltimore and adjoining the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Medical Center.

Applicants for the psychology fellowship must have graduated from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology (or be on track to complete their graduate program prior to beginning the fellowship), must have completed an APA-accredited internship, and must be U.S. citizens. Successful applicants typically have substantial research and clinical experience in the area of adult serious mental illness and plan to pursue a career focused on research. Individuals who are interested in applying for the fellowship should contact Dr. Sarah Morris at sarah.morris2@va.gov or (410) 605-7000, ext. 4732. The current stipend rate is $42,888 for first year fellows.

Applicants for the post-residency fellowship must have completed Accrediting Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accredited residency training, must be either board certified or actively pursuing board certification, and specifically interested in pursuing a clinical research career focused on psychiatric disorders and associated conditions. Applicants must also have an active, unrestricted U.S. license to practice. International medical graduates must also have a current visa and an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate that is valid indefinitely. Applicants on a J-1 visa must also have current ECFMG sponsorship. Individuals who are interested in applying for the fellowship should contact Dr. Paul Ruskin at paul.ruskin@va.gov. Stipends will be based on years of previously completed residency training accredited by the ACGME and index rates approved at the respective VA facility and affiliated university.

More information about the VA Special Fellowship Program in Advanced Psychiatry and Psychology can be found on the national MIRECC website at http://www.mirecc.va.gov/mirecc-fellowship.asp.