Psychology and psychiatry clinical training

Psychology training programs

Training Director: Wayne Siegel, Ph.D., ABPP (Wayne.Siegel@va.gov)

Assistant Training Director: Amanda Ferrier-Auerbach, Ph.D., ABPP (Amanda.Ferrier-Auerbach@va.gov)

Postdoctoral residency

• Three positions are year-long full-time in clinical psychology with emphases in primary care/health psychology, serious mental illness (SMI) and trauma. The SMI emphasis is part of an interprofessional training program. These positions are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
• Two positions are full-time two-year specialty residencies in clinical neuropsychology. These positions are accredited by the American Psychological Association.
• One position is a full-time, two-year position in rehabilitation psychology. This position is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
• For more information on all postdoctoral training, download:

Predoctoral internship

• Six standard track positions in clinical psychology.
• Two neuropsychology track 2 positions meeting APA Division 40 Guidelines.
• All intern positions are accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation (APA CoA).
• For more information on all predoctoral training, download:

Practicum training

• We train about 8 students per year from local psychology doctoral programs.
• Students average 10-15 hours per week on site.
• For more information on all practicum training, download:

VA Quality Scholars postdoctoral program (VAQS)

• One position is a full-time, two-years
• Training generally consists of 25% time in continuous improvement progress, 50% time in other research activities, and 25% clinical.
• For more information on the VA Quality Scholars program, download:

Staff and faculty information

Psychiatry training program

Residency

• VA Residency Director: Melvina Bissonette, MD (Melvina.Bissonette@va.gov)
• VA Residency Assistant Site Director: Katie Steen, MD (Katie.Steen@va.gov) 
• Core program located at the University of Minnesota
• First and second year required rotations at VA

Psychiatry fellowships (PGY-5)

• Core programs located at the University of Minnesota
• Primary training site is Minneapolis VA Medical Center
• ACGME accredited

Geriatric psychiatry

• Fellowship Program Director: David Atkinson, MD (david.atkinson@va.gov) 
• Duration: one year
• Number of spots: 2 positions
• For more information, visit the University of Minnesota Geropsychiatry Fellowship program website

Medical student psychiatry clerkship

• VA Training Director: John Lichtsinn, MD  (John.Lichtsinn@va.gov)
• Core program located at the University of Minnesota
• For more information, visit the University of Minnesota Year Three & Four - Psychiatry Clerkship program website
• The Minneapolis VA Medical Center is one of five primary training sites that medical students can choose from for their psychiatry rotations