University of Virginia Campus
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Behavioral Medicine at University of Virginia
July 25, 2007
Two half-clinical and half-research fellowship positions are available in Behavioral Medicine at the University of Virginia Health System for the 2007-2009 fellowship period. Individuals interested in developing a career in clinical research specializing in health psychology issues are encouraged to apply. Individuals with a particular interest and/or experience in diabetes, pediatrics, driving safety, ADHD, obesity, and/or eHealth are preferred.
Fellows are exposed to a broad range of clinical training experiences with medically-ill children and adults and have the opportunity to learn how to function as a member of a multidisciplinary health care team in a hospital setting. Clinical experiences will include conducting psychological assessments (many of which are specifically tailored for particular medical problems), providing treatment typically using a cognitive-behavioral orientation, and providing consultation services for patient care teams in numerous areas of the hospital (Endocrinology, Surgery, Gastroenterology, Neurology, and Pediatrics). The majority of clinical time focuses on outpatient services.
Fellows will also work closely with a research team that has a long, successful track record in securing NIH and industry funded grants. Fellows are expected to participate in one or more of several funded projects which have been centralized in a recently renovated 2000 square foot Center for Behavioral Medicine Research adjacent to the Behavioral Medicine Clinic. Fellows will spend ~45% of their time on clinical research in one or more of the four main focus areas: Pediatrics (diabetes, bowel disorders, AD/HD), Type 1 Diabetes, Driving Safety, and eHealth. In many cases, these areas overlap. For example, projects focusing on Pediatric Encopresis and eHealth or Diabetes and eHealth are established. See below for a list of current research projects. Fellows will become significantly involved in the area of their choosing and will have the opportunity to initiate their own research projects. More specific information about clinical, research, and educational opportunities is provided below.
Clinical Focus (45%)
Behavioral Medicine
The Behavioral Medicine Center provides services for a wide variety of patient populations and presenting problems. Referral sources include UVA medical clinics, physicians in private practice, and UVA Student Health. Medical populations include those presenting with problems that are caused or exacerbated by psychobehavioral processes, including insomnia, diabetes, constipation, encopresis, enuresis, irritable bowel disorder, sexual dysfunction, obesity, hypertension, headaches, cardiovascular disease, TMD, and tic disorders. Services are also provided for patients who are having difficulty adjusting to, and coping with, the emotional and behavioral demands of acute, chronic, and life-threatening medical problems. In addition to these presenting problems, services are provided for patients with eating disorders, OCD, phobias, other anxiety disorders, habit control problems (e. g., trichotillomania), depression, and adjustment disorders not related to medical illness.
Patients' ages range from early childhood to the geriatric years. Presenting problems are typically treated with empirically documented treatment protocols that are individually-tailored to a patient's personality and needs. A cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment is typically utilized. While many of these interventions are brief in duration, Fellows may have the opportunity to do longer-term work with some patients. In addition to specific cognitive-behavioral interventions, Fellows will learn to use a variety of computer-based biofeedback technologies and various relaxation techniques, as well as state-of-the-art computer-based assessment tools (e.g., web-based program for encopretic children, virtual-reality driving simulation, and handheld computers used in assessment of diabetic patients).
Educational & Professional Development (10%)
The Center for Behavioral Medicine will hold a weekly/monthly seminar on research issues (i.e., methodology, design, analysis, etc). In addition, the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences holds a monthly seminar for all Postdoctoral Fellows in Psychology from all departments of the UVA medical school. These seminars provide Fellows with ongoing didactic training as well as an opportunity to discuss training issues and experiences. Topics typically included in the didactic training include professional issues, psychopharmacology, women's issues, specific therapeutic interventions, and dealing with managed health care, as well as topics of interest chosen by the Fellows.
There are numerous other opportunities for educational and professional development, including:
* Grand Rounds in Psychiatric Medicine
* Clinical Case Conferences
* Sleep Lab Seminar/Case Conference
* Neuropsychology' Seminar and Journal Club
* Introduction to Clinical Investigation, a six-month course offered for fellows and new faculty through the UVA medical school.
Research Focus (45%)
Fellows will participate in research throughout the fellowship. Specific research projects are determined by the professional goals and interests of the Fellow and include:
* Effects of Type 1 Diabetes on Children
* Effects of Hypoglycemia on Driving in Type 1 Diabetes
* Internet Intervention for Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
* Internet intervention for the Treatment of Pediatric Encopresis
* Development and pilot test of an Internet intervention for insomnia
* Effects of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and its medication management on Driving Safety.
* Assessment of basic perceptual, motor and cognitive skills relevant to driving with a virtual-reality driving simulator.
* Medical and Psychosocial Outcomes of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Fellows will also have the opportunity to develop small, original research projects in one of the current areas of research, or a related area in which the Fellow has a strong interest.
Fellows are exposed to a broad range of clinical training experiences with medically-ill children and adults and have the opportunity to learn how to function as a member of a multidisciplinary health care team in a hospital setting. Clinical experiences will include conducting psychological assessments (many of which are specifically tailored for particular medical problems), providing treatment typically using a cognitive-behavioral orientation, and providing consultation services for patient care teams in numerous areas of the hospital (Endocrinology, Surgery, Gastroenterology, Neurology, and Pediatrics). The majority of clinical time focuses on outpatient services.
Fellows will also work closely with a research team that has a long, successful track record in securing NIH and industry funded grants. Fellows are expected to participate in one or more of several funded projects which have been centralized in a recently renovated 2000 square foot Center for Behavioral Medicine Research adjacent to the Behavioral Medicine Clinic. Fellows will spend ~45% of their time on clinical research in one or more of the four main focus areas: Pediatrics (diabetes, bowel disorders, AD/HD), Type 1 Diabetes, Driving Safety, and eHealth. In many cases, these areas overlap. For example, projects focusing on Pediatric Encopresis and eHealth or Diabetes and eHealth are established. See below for a list of current research projects. Fellows will become significantly involved in the area of their choosing and will have the opportunity to initiate their own research projects. More specific information about clinical, research, and educational opportunities is provided below.
Clinical Focus (45%)
Behavioral Medicine
The Behavioral Medicine Center provides services for a wide variety of patient populations and presenting problems. Referral sources include UVA medical clinics, physicians in private practice, and UVA Student Health. Medical populations include those presenting with problems that are caused or exacerbated by psychobehavioral processes, including insomnia, diabetes, constipation, encopresis, enuresis, irritable bowel disorder, sexual dysfunction, obesity, hypertension, headaches, cardiovascular disease, TMD, and tic disorders. Services are also provided for patients who are having difficulty adjusting to, and coping with, the emotional and behavioral demands of acute, chronic, and life-threatening medical problems. In addition to these presenting problems, services are provided for patients with eating disorders, OCD, phobias, other anxiety disorders, habit control problems (e. g., trichotillomania), depression, and adjustment disorders not related to medical illness.
Patients' ages range from early childhood to the geriatric years. Presenting problems are typically treated with empirically documented treatment protocols that are individually-tailored to a patient's personality and needs. A cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment is typically utilized. While many of these interventions are brief in duration, Fellows may have the opportunity to do longer-term work with some patients. In addition to specific cognitive-behavioral interventions, Fellows will learn to use a variety of computer-based biofeedback technologies and various relaxation techniques, as well as state-of-the-art computer-based assessment tools (e.g., web-based program for encopretic children, virtual-reality driving simulation, and handheld computers used in assessment of diabetic patients).
Educational & Professional Development (10%)
The Center for Behavioral Medicine will hold a weekly/monthly seminar on research issues (i.e., methodology, design, analysis, etc). In addition, the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences holds a monthly seminar for all Postdoctoral Fellows in Psychology from all departments of the UVA medical school. These seminars provide Fellows with ongoing didactic training as well as an opportunity to discuss training issues and experiences. Topics typically included in the didactic training include professional issues, psychopharmacology, women's issues, specific therapeutic interventions, and dealing with managed health care, as well as topics of interest chosen by the Fellows.
There are numerous other opportunities for educational and professional development, including:
* Grand Rounds in Psychiatric Medicine
* Clinical Case Conferences
* Sleep Lab Seminar/Case Conference
* Neuropsychology' Seminar and Journal Club
* Introduction to Clinical Investigation, a six-month course offered for fellows and new faculty through the UVA medical school.
Research Focus (45%)
Fellows will participate in research throughout the fellowship. Specific research projects are determined by the professional goals and interests of the Fellow and include:
* Effects of Type 1 Diabetes on Children
* Effects of Hypoglycemia on Driving in Type 1 Diabetes
* Internet Intervention for Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
* Internet intervention for the Treatment of Pediatric Encopresis
* Development and pilot test of an Internet intervention for insomnia
* Effects of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and its medication management on Driving Safety.
* Assessment of basic perceptual, motor and cognitive skills relevant to driving with a virtual-reality driving simulator.
* Medical and Psychosocial Outcomes of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Fellows will also have the opportunity to develop small, original research projects in one of the current areas of research, or a related area in which the Fellow has a strong interest.