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Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry
Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Program 2009-2011
- PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Marc W. Haut, PhD, ABPP-cn
Director of Training
Application Deadline: January 25, 2009
The Program
The Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at the West Virginia University School of Medicine offers training at the post-doctoral level in Clinical Neuropsychology. A Ph.D. or
Psy. D. in clinical psychology from an APA-approved program with an APA-approved internship is required. Clinical and research activities are available with both adult (primarily) and child populations. There are two resident positions with one opening each year.
The post-doctoral training follows the scientist/practitioner model and the Houston conference guidelines for post-doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology. The Program is a member of the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN). The residency is two years in length.
Although the majority of the training during the residency focuses on clinical activities, the Resident is also expected to engage in research activities. Teaching activities under supervision are also required. The Resident is expected to take part in didactic experiences offered in the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, the Department of Neurology and in other departments of the School of Medicine at the Health Sciences Center of West Virginia University. The intent of the training program is to produce individuals who are able to function autonomously as clinical neuropsychologists in the provision of patient care, in conducting professional research, and in training future clinical neuropsychologists.
Due to the variety of professional goals of the different postdoctoral residents, the mix of clinical, research, and teaching activities may be somewhat different across individuals. However, all post-doctoral Residents are required to engage in all areas of activity. The post-doctoral Resident will participate in a major rotation with each of the core faculty members. Interactions with other faculty members may be possible during that time; however, the majority of the experience during each rotation will be with one individual. The amount of time spent with each core faculty and the specific experiences under the supervision of each faculty is determined on the basis of a plan of study developed by the post-doctoral Resident and the faculty.
The Setting
West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center is a tertiary care teaching medical center. The Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry offers residency training in Adult Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry, Internal Medicine/Psychiatry, Family Medicine/Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, and Child Psychiatry. In addition, the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry offers an APA-approved internship in clinical psychology. Specialization training in the internship includes clinical neuropsychology and adult psychology..
The Clinical Experience
Clinical experience covers a broad range of medical, neurological, neurosurgical, and psychiatric disease in both inpatient and outpatient settings including head injury, epilepsy, degenerative dementias, brain tumors, movement disorders, ADHD, substance abuse, toxic exposure, thought disorders, depression, pervasive developmental disorders, and learning disabilities. The primary experience is outpatient. Residents cover two outpatient evaluations per week throughout the two year training program.
Outpatient Services:
Outpatient referrals are received from physicians in the University system (Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Trauma Surgery, Pediatrics) as well as from physicians in other parts of the state, and surrounding states. Pre- and post-operative deep brain stimulator evaluations for patients with Parkinson's Disease both pre- and post-surgical epilepsy evaluations, as well as, Wada evaluations are all standard responsibilities of the resident. Other referral sources include psychologists, lawyers, school personnel, and the West Virginia Departments of Rehabilitation Services and Health and Human Resources. Outpatient multi-disciplinary specialty clinics include a Brain Tumor Clinic, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Clinic, Movement Disorders Clinic and a Memory Disorders Clinic for elderly patients with suspected dementias of a variety of etiologies. Psychological treatment of brain impaired individuals and their family members is also offered. Residents spend one day a week in the first year in the Brain Tumor Clinic.
Inpatient Evaluations:
The Neuropsychology Service receives consult requests from the Inpatient Services at Chestnut Ridge Hospital as well as from Ruby Memorial Hospital. Chestnut Ridge Center is a 75-bed psychiatric facility with units devoted to General Adult, Psychiatric Intensive Care, Addiction Recovery, and Adolescent services, including two residential units. The patient population ranges from age 12 to the elderly. Reasons for referral include differential diagnosis, the determination of a baseline prior to treatment, documentation of a change following treatment, post-discharge placement disposition, and treatment planning. Throughout the year, the post-doctoral resident will also have primary involvement in an inpatient orientation and communication skills group which is run daily for patients on the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit.
Ruby Memorial Hospital is a tertiary care teaching hospital. Referrals from Ruby Memorial come from the Trauma Service, Neurosurgery Service, Neurology Service, Medicine Service, or Pediatrics. The most frequent referral reason for patients from Ruby Memorial Hospital is to assist with differential diagnosis and discharge planning. In the second year, Residents assist in providing coverage for inpatient consultation at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
The Didactic Experience:
The Neuropsychology Resident is expected to attend the weekly Neuropsychology Case Conference, which meets for two hours each week. During the conference a member of the neuropsychology group reviews a case and relevant research article in detail. Other cases may be presented and discussed in somewhat less detail than the primary case. The Neuropsychology Resident is required to attend the Department of Neurology Grand Rounds, which involves presentation of a patient and medical work up followed by a literature review given by house staff and attending physicians. The residents are also required to attend the weekly professional development meeting that covers a variety of topics, with the Director of Training, The resident also attends the weekly Epilepsy Surgery Conference, where surgical candidates are discussed in detail. The Neuropsychology Resident can attend the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry weekly Grand Rounds which are research and clinical topics presented by faculty, interns, residents and visiting guest speakers. Residents are encouraged to attend when topics are relevant. The Neuropsychology Resident will also attend specified Neuropathology rounds and observe neurosurgical procedures. Neuroanatomy is addressed on an individual basis with readings to supplement observing brain cuttings. Participation in the Functioning Imaging Journal Club is required. The Resident has the opportunity to observe and learn neurological examination techniques through Neurology Rounds. The opportunity to learn basic principles of neuroimaging also occurs in the Brain Tumor Clinic, which includes a weekly Brain Tumor Board meeting. Individual training with one of the Attending Neuroradiologists is arranged on an individual basis.
The Resident is encouraged to participate in an active way in the didactic experiences offered in the department. The Resident presents at the Neuropsychology Case Conference and at the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry and the Department of Neurology Grand Rounds in their second year. The residents are evaluated on their teaching and a specific plan is developed as needed to assist them in developing their independence as teachers/ supervisors. There are additional multiple opportunities for the Resident to give didactic lectures. Prospective audiences for these lectures include medical students, psychiatric residents, psychology graduate and undergraduate students, and social work interns. The resident has the opportunity to learn and apply supervision skills in the Neuropsychology Case Conference, working with neuropsychology interns in the Department’s APA approved internship and working with undergraduate practicum students. Learning supervision skills is a formal part of the residency.
The Research Experience:
During the residency, the Resident is expected to become involved in ongoing research projects at the School of Medicine. The Resident is expected to develop at least one research project on his/her own initiative under the supervision of a faculty member, typically in the second year, and assist with an ongoing project the first year. The Health Sciences Center has a PET scanner with an onsite cyclotron and a 3.0T MRI for structural and functional neuroimaging studies.
Active research projects include Diffusion Tensor Imaging and fMRI of during working memory to study the effects of cognitive reserve in aging, outcome following DBS for Parkinson's disease, the effects of cognitive retraining on the structural brain correlates of schizophrenia , and epidemiological studies of stroke. Other ongoing areas of study include using MRI and DTI to study the cognitive, behavioral, and psychososocial effects of childhood cancers and cystic fibrosis. The faculty are active grant writers and residents have the opportunity to learn grant writing skills.
Evaluation:
Supervisors complete a standard evaluation form at the end of each clinical rotation, but feedback is ongoing. In addition, residents complete an oral clinical competency examination on entering the program to assist in the development of the plan of study. This examination s based on the fact finding portion of the oral examination for ABPP in clinical neuropsychology. The plan of study is modified as needed based upon performance during specific experiences. The competency examination is repeated at the end of the first year and then at regular intervals as needed until the resident demonstrates a level of independent practice. Evaluations are also completed for the residents teaching nd research experience. Residents complete evaluations of their clinical and research supervisors at the end of each rotation/experience.
Salary and Benefits :
The current salary is $31,000 for the first year and $32,000 for the second year. Health insurance is available for family or single at a reasonable rate. The Resident receives a minimum of $750 a year for conference expenses. Vacation, sick leave, and professional leave are standard.
• Complete applications include:
• Letter of interest with description of professional goals
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of reference
• Two sample neuropsychological reports
• Graduate transcripts
• Send all correspondence to:
Marc W. Haut, Ph.D., ABPP-cn
Training Director
West Virginia University School of Medicine
Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center
PO Box 9137
Morgantown, West Virginia 26506
Telephone: 304-293-5323
E-mail: mhaut@hsc.wvu.edu
Applicants are encouraged to apply well before INS, as interviews are conducted at that time on the interview day at INS. Interested applicants are encouraged to be available on the interview day at INS as that is the only day interviews can be guaranteed. The deadline for complete applications is January 25, 2009. The program complies with APPCN polices and procedures for recruitment and notification. West Virginia University and University Health Associates are equal opportunity employers.
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