Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory

Elements of quality clinically focused postdoctoral training

Ascension Genesys Hospital provides a one-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in the specialty of Clinical Health Psychology with training in Integrated Primary Care and Medical Education. Since 1987, our fellowship program has prepared psychologists to work in integrated healthcare settings with advanced practice competency in Clinical Health Psychology. In addition, the program prepares graduates to provide effective teaching with a broad range of healthcare providers. 

Our fellowship is consistently rated highly by our graduates as providing a high-quality experience with specialized training and excellent supervision.  Our graduates are employed in hospitals or as directors of behavioral science in medical education departments around the country.

More details can be found at our website:

http://genesysmeded.com/graduate-medical-education/fellowships/clinical-health-psychology-fellowship

Curriculum

There are three major rotations completed during the fellowship:

• Family Medicine (FM)
• Internal Medicine (IM)/OB-GYN
• Hospital Consultation-Liaison

There is also the ability to do a minor rotation (fellows may choose 1) which are 12-month, 1 day/week experiences:

• Bariatric Psychology
• Women’s Health 
• Substance Abuse
• GI Psychology

Family Medicine Rotation-- East Flint Campus

Fellow will function as a health psychologist within a FM training practice.

• Primarily IPC in nature. We respond to behavioral medicine consultations from our 40+ PCP colleagues. 
• Presenting concerns include: Generalized anxiety and panic disorder ~ Major depression ~ Medication adherence ~ Emotional adjustment & coping with medical conditions
• Fellows are also involved in designing and implementing the behavioral sciences curriculum for the family medicine residency program and shadowing medical visits. 
• Fellows participate in several behavioral clinics, including the Integrated Primary Care Clinic, the ADHD Assessment Clinic, and the Lifestyle Change Clinic.
• Fellow also maintains 5 hours per week of short-term psychotherapy appointments. 

• Fellow is an integrated member of the IM and OB/GYN treatment teams. 
• Rotation focuses on refining medical education skills in a setting requiring a higher level of autonomy, while also clinically consulting to the primary care ambulatory practices.
• Fellows shadow IM and OB/GYN residents to provide feedback about clinical content related to psychology, improving doctor-patient relationships, advanced counseling skills, and time efficiency. 
• Fellows will complete videorecording of internal medicine residents co-jointly with physician faculty to improve residents’ skills 
• Fellows typically carry a caseload of approximately 20-25 patients, with approximately 10 clinical contact hours per week. Presenting concerns include:  Adjustment to medical illness ~ Health related behavior ~ Depression ~ Anxiety and panic ~ Chronic pain ~ Substance abuse ~ Trauma 

Hospital C-L Rotation -- Ascension Genesys Hospital

• Fellow on the consultation-liaison rotation manages the psychology consult service and provides inpatient psychological services. 
• Fellow responds to consult requests, assessing mental health problems among admitted patients and providing treatment recommendations to the medical team 
• Work closely with the FM and IM teams regarding patient care.
• Commonly encountered referral questions include:  Assessment ~ treatment of anxiety and depression ~ Pain assessment and management ~ Capacity for medical decision-making ~ Substance abuse ~ Risk assessment 
• Exposure to the inpatient buprenorphine treatment team

Didactic Schedule

The program offers extensive didactic experiences. We provide structured didactic training activities, including: 

• Professionalism
• Working as a Clinical Health Psychologist
• Primary Care & Clinical Skills
• Consultation and Liaison Psychology
• Diversity
• Coping with Chronic and Terminal Illness
• Assessment
• Case Consultation Seminar
• Psychopharmacology curriculum

Commitment to Diversity

The program has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in recruitment, curriculum, and clinical services. We seek to create an inclusive, welcoming, and diverse learning and professional environment for all postdoctoral fellows, staff, and faculty and are committed to the recruitment and retention of members of underrepresented groups. We offer mentoring to international fellows. Ascension is an equal-opportunity employer.