> ![](media/image1.png){width="1.125in"
> height="1.6979166666666667in"}**Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship
> Program**
>
> **Memphis VA Medical Center**\
> Psychology Training Program
>
> Psychology Section (116A4)
>
> 1030 Jefferson Avenue
>
> Memphis, Tennessee 38104
>
> *(800) 636-8262**\
> **<http://www.memphis.va.gov/>*

**Applications due: January 15, 2009**

## Accreditation Status

The postdoctoral fellowship at the **Memphis VA Medical Center** is
fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American
Psychological Association.

The next site visit will be during the academic year **2013**.

## Application & Selection Procedures 

**APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURE**

Appointments: Appointments will be made for a twelve-month period. The
official training year will begin on August 18, 2008 and end on August
17, 2009.

Eligibility: Prior to beginning the fellowship, the selected applicants
must graduate from an APA-accredited doctoral program in Clinical or
Counseling Psychology and must have completed an APA-accredited
predoctoral internship. Applicants\' training, experiences, and
interests should reflect a commitment to the fields of health/medical
psychology and neuropsychology and the goals of the program. Applicants
must also be citizens of the United States.

**Application:**

***The application should include:***

1.  Curriculum Vita. Please be sure to include any work and internship
    experiences, education, and publications relevant to either
    neuropsychology or health/medical psychology.

2.  Statement of goals for postdoctoral training and statement of
    professional goals and intended professional practice.

3.  Three letters of recommendation from psychologists. Applicants who
    are currently on internship should include an additional letter from
    their Director of Internship Training verifying their standing in
    the internship program and the expected date of completion.

4.  Copies of graduate transcripts.

***Send materials to:***

> ***Karen Clark, Ph.D., Director of Training***
>
> Psychology Training Program
>
> Psychology Section (116A4)
>
> VA Medical Center
>
> 1030 Jefferson Avenue
>
> Memphis, Tennessee 38104

***Application Deadline:*** January 15, 2009.

**Recruitment Procedures:**

As an APPCN-member program, the Neuropsychology Program participates in
the computer match for neuropsychology postdoctoral residencies,
administered by National Matching Services (NMS). In accordance with
APPCN match policies, no person at this facility will solicit, accept,
or use any ranking-related information from any applicant involved in
the match. For more information on the matching program, see the
websites for APPCN (www.appcn.org) and National Matching Services
(www.natmatch.com). Neuropsychology applicants to the neuropsychology
emphasis area are encouraged to attend the North America Meeting of the
International Neuropsychological Society (INS) in February, where
applicants who have successfully completed our review of written
application materials are interviewed. See the INS website
(www.the-ins.org) for more information on the meeting. If those
applicants are unable to attend the meeting, we will arrange a telephone
or on-site interview, at our discretion, prior to the NMS deadline for
submission of rank-order lists.

Review of applications to the health/medical psychology position begins
January 15, 2009. Following initial review, invitations for on-site
interviews will be extended to selected applicants. Phone interviews are
possible for applicants who are unable to come for an on-site interview.

***Psychology Setting***

The Psychology Section of the Memphis VAMC Mental Health Service is
committed to excellence in service, training, and research. The staff is
heterogeneous in terms of educational and theoretical backgrounds, which
makes possible a wide range of orientations for instruction,
observation, role modeling, and professional development. Professional
psychologists at the Memphis VAMC function as clinicians, delivering
care as independent practitioners; as researchers, exploring clinically
and theoretically relevant areas; and as administrators, heading the
Psychology Section and its various programs throughout the Medical
Center. The Psychology Section staff contributes to the larger community
by donation of personal and professional services to community groups,
participation in university activities, and consultation/private
practice outside the Medical Center. Our psychologists have held, and
currently hold, elected and appointed leadership positions in local,
state, and national professional associations and groups. Most serve as
examiners for the oral examinations of the State Licensing Board.

**PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION**

***Karen A. Clark, Ph.D.***

Director, Psychology Training Program

***Brad L. Roper, Ph.D., ABPP-CN***

Associate Director, Psychology Training Program

Director, Neuropsychology Fellowship Training Program

***Jennifer Jacobson, Psy.D.***

Preceptor, Health/Medical Psychology

The Director of Training is responsible for the coordination, oversight,
and day-to-day operation of the Psychology Training Program. An
administrative Training Committee, chaired by the Director of Training,
periodically reviews all aspects of the training program and when
necessary recommends changes in procedures and policy. A Supervisory
Subcommittee of the Training Committee, chaired by the Director of
Training, is made up of all current supervisors. It meets monthly to
monitor the progress of interns on each rotation. This committee
attempts to assure continuity of training among various rotations and
training settings, and it is responsible for all routine training
activities. Final decisions regarding the Psychology Training Program
are the responsibility of the Chief of the Psychology Section.

## Training Model and Program Philosophy

**PSYCHOLOGY POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM**

***CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY***

***WITH EMPHASIS IN***

***NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND HEALTH/MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGY***

**Training Program Mission**

Traditionally, training in medical/health psychology and neuropsychology
has been rather segregated. A disadvantage of segregated approaches to
such training is that both medical psychologists and neuropsychologists
may not fully appreciate important interactions among non-neurological
medical conditions, diseases of the nervous system, and the emotional,
behavioral, and cognitive consequences of such illnesses, as well as the
consequences of treatment. Often, practitioners in medical/health
psychology and neuropsychology must school themselves on these complex
interactions and their sequelae. Medical/health psychologists benefit
from greater knowledge of the central nervous system and the ways that
focal and diffuse damage can directly and indirectly impact a patient\'s
general health. Likewise, neuropsychologists benefit from familiarity
with the wide range of general medical diseases and conditions and the
systemic approaches to their management. As such, members of the
psychology staff are committed to providing an integrated approach to
training in medical/health psychology and neuropsychology.

The mission of this postdoctoral program is to offer advanced training
in both medical/health psychology and neuropsychology in the context of
interdisciplinary treatment teams and in consultation with a wide range
of health care disciplines. The goal of the program is to produce
practitioners with a) the capability to integrate the knowledge bases
and approaches of health/medical psychology and neuropsychology, b)
advanced competency in either medical/health psychology or
neuropsychology, and c) the capability to function effectively in
interdisciplinary treatment settings.

**Positions**

The Memphis VAMC offers four fellowship positions, two focusing
primarily on health/medical psychology with additional exposure to
neuropsychology, and two focusing primarily on neuropsychology with
additional exposure to medical/health psychology. In accordance with
established guidelines for specialization in clinical neuropsychology, a
second year of training in neuropsychology is provided, but is not
currently APA-accredited.

The philosophy of our postdoctoral fellowship training program mirrors
the mission of the Memphis VAMC in the context of preparation for the
postdoctoral fellowship's role as a source of advanced training in the
fellowship\'s two emphasis areas within advanced clinical psychology
practice, medical psychology and neuropsychology. The model of our
training program is scholar-practitioner, drawing on the ideas of
Hoshmand and Polkinghorne (1992) and Stricker and Trierweiler (1995)
regarding the integration of nomothetic psychological science with the
inherently ideographic nature of practice. The program is also
developmental, initially involving close supervision, with an increasing
level of autonomy as the year progresses. At the beginning of the year,
fellows receive a comprehensive orientation to training opportunities
and expectations in each emphasis area. As fellows develop more
autonomous practice, supervision addresses more specific and advanced
aspects of practice in medical psychology and neuropsychology.

**SUPERVISED CLINICAL EXPERIENCE**

Fellows receive intensive training in their area of interest (i.e.,
either medical/health psychology or neuropsychology). During the
training year, fellows complete at least 50% of their time in their
respective emphasis area. Three four-month rotations are offered during
the training year. At any one time, each fellow is involved in one major
rotation (20-24 hours/week) and one minor rotation (8-12 hours/week).
Fellows in neuropsychology and medical/health psychology take a minimum
of 1) two major rotations and one minor rotation in their respective
emphasis areas during the year and 2) one major rotation in the other
emphasis area. Descriptions of neuropsychology and health/medical
psychology rotations are provided in the next section. If desired,
fellows may devote the remaining time to rotations or training
experiences in more traditional areas of clinical practice. A listing of
these rotations is provided in the next section. During the unaccredited
second year of neuropsychology training, neuropsychology fellows engage
in focused training in clinical neuropsychology, research, and advanced
didactics.

**SUPERVISION AND TEACHING**

The primary goals of supervision and teaching experiences are to further
increase fellows\' expository knowledge base, to give them greater
comfort as psychology\'s ambassadors to various health care settings,
and to assist them in negotiating the transition to independent practice
through fostering leadership experiences. Providing supervision helps
fellows develop their own supervision style and foster confidence in
their ability to train others. In supervising the supervision of
fellows, the goal of psychology staff is to serve as mentors to
developing psychologists who will later serve the profession by training
others, whether in formal training programs or informal settings.

Fellows may have the opportunity to assist in the training of psychology
interns in the Memphis VA Psychology Internship Program, interns in the
University of Tennessee Internship Consortium who are on VA rotations,
and/or psychology practicum students. Fellows may also contribute to the
clinical education of trainees from other healthcare disciplines (e.g.,
medical students and residents, social work students, chaplaincy
residents) within the context of the interdisciplinary team approach
employed in many of the clinical settings listed above. By exposing
these trainees to psychological assessment and intervention techniques,
fellows gain experience in cross-disciplinary training and demonstrate
to future physicians and other healthcare providers the broad
contributions that psychologists routinely make to healthcare.

Fellows gain experience in teaching through their presentations from the
professional and research literature in the Postdoctoral Fellows\'
Seminar, through their formal case presentations in Psychology Case
Conferences, and through their scheduled presentations on topics of
interest in the Neuropsychology and Medical/Health Psychology Seminars.

**References**:

> *Hoshmand, L.T. & Polkinghorne, D.E. (1992). Redefining the
> science-practice relationship and professional training, American
> Psychologist, 47, 55-66.*
>
> *Stricker, G., Trierweiler, S.J. (1995). The local clinical scientist:
> A bridge between science and practice. American Psychologist, 50,
> 995-1002.*

## Program Goals & Objectives

***Fellows are trained and evaluated in the following competency
areas:***

**I. General Professional Competency:**

Associated Competencies:

-   Knowledge and application of ethical principles.

-   Productive use of supervision and consultation.

-   Professional and appropriate interaction with treatment teams,
    peers, and supervisors.

-   Responsible performance of key patient care tasks.

-   Management of personal and professional stressors such that
    professional functioning is maintained.

-   Maintenance of good rapport with patients.

-   Sensitivity to cultural and individual differences.

-   Ability to engage in scholarly inquiry in carrying out rotation
    duties.

**II. Competency in Psychological Assessment:**

Associated Competencies:

-   Knowledge and skills in clinical interviewing and contingency
    planning.

-   Knowledge and skills in test administration.

-   Knowledge and skills in clinical interpretation of interview and
    test data.

-   Ability to communicate assessment findings and recommendations in
    written format.

**III. Competency in Psychotherapeutic Interventions:**

Associated Competencies:

-   Ability to conceptual cases that draws upon theoretical and research
    knowledge.

-   Ability to develop appropriate therapeutic treatment goals in
    collaboration with patients.

-   Ability to present interventions that are well-timed, effective, and
    consistent with empirically supported treatments.

**IV. Competency in Professional Consultation:**

Associated Competency:

-   Ability to engage in direct service/intervention via collaboration
    with healthcare providers in other disciplines.

**V. Competency in Neuropsychology:**

-   Knowledge of functional neuroanatomy and brain-behavior
    relationships.

-   Knowledge of neurologic disorders affecting the central nervous
    system and working knowledge of neurodiagnostic procedures and
    neurological and neurosurgical intervention techniques.

-   Knowledge of the reliability and validity of neuropsychological
    tests and correctly interprets tests in characterizing
    brain-behavior relationships.

-   Knowledge of research design and analysis in neuropsychology.

**VI. Competency in Medical Psychology:**

-   Knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to the rotation\'s area
    of medical or surgical practice.

-   Knowledge of disease states and dysfunctions related to this area of
    medical or surgical practice.

-   Knowledge of diagnostic procedures and techniques commonly used in
    this area of medical or surgical practice.

-   Knowledge of the intervention approaches and techniques used in this
    area of medical or surgical practice.

-   Knowledge of the medications frequently used in this area of medical
    or surgical practice, including mechanisms of action and side effect
    profiles

**VII. Competency in the Provision of Supervision:**

-   Competence working in supervisory roles.

## Program Structure

The Psychology Training Program at the Memphis VAMC offers advanced
clinical psychology postdoctoral training in health/medical psychology
and neuropsychology. Training opportunities include inpatient and
outpatient experiences in a number of areas of health/medical and
neuropsychology, including cardiac and thoracic surgery and
cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, pain management, hematology/oncology,
primary care, Women\'s Clinic, geriatrics, nephrology, palliative
care/hospice, and spinal cord injury.The program is integrative with
respect to the two emphasis areas, providing future medical
psychologists with exposure to neuropsychology and future
neuropsychologists with exposure to medical psychology and behavioral
health. Through both supervised clinical experience and didactic
offerings, fellows gain an appreciation of the interactions among
diseases of the nervous system, non-neurological medical conditions, and
the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive consequences of such illnesses,
as well as the consequences of treatment. The program attends to both
the breadth and depth of training, ensuring sufficient breadth for
advanced clinical psychology practice and adequate depth within the
medical psychology or neuropsychology emphasis areas. The goal of the
fellowship program is to produce practitioners with a) advanced clinical
psychology training within either medical psychology or neuropsychology
and b) advanced understanding of the common interfaces in the practice
of medical psychology and neuropsychology. The fellowship program seeks
to achieve its goals by fostering advanced competencies in the domains
listed below as they are practiced in clinical psychology in healthcare
settings.

Postdoctoral fellows selected to participate in the Memphis VAMC\'s
Psychology Training Program are encouraged to choose and develop
training experiences that are consistent with their academic preparation
and their professional interests and goals. Fellows receive ongoing,
direct feedback from all relevant sources to increase the likelihood
that training choices will be based on valid interests, skills, levels
of competency, and needs. We take supervision very seriously at the
Memphis VAMC, providing a minimum of two hours of individual supervision
per week, supplemented by group supervision on a number of rotations and
additional time with supervisory staff as they provide didactic training
for the postdoctoral fellows. A wide array of didactic offerings is
available to fellows, with fellows attending a minimum of two hours of
didactic presentations per week. Please see the Didactics section below
for a listing of these offerings. As fellows progress in the program and
their professional skills and duties develop and expand, they assume a
greater responsibility in the clinical setting and for those patients
with whom they are involved. However, it should be noted that adequate
supervision, based upon a premise of collegiality, continues throughout
the process. We consider fellows\' opportunity to observe and experience
various staff role models as an essential experience with a focus on
developing more independence and professional autonomy as the year
progresses.

The fellowship year consists of 2,080 hours of supervised clinical
experience and satisfies the postdoctoral supervision requirements of
the Tennessee State Board of Psychology as well as most other state
licensing boards. Upon successful completion of the yearlong fellowship,
all fellows receive a certificate that indicates they have completed a
postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychology.

**THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY EMPHASIS AND THE SECOND YEAR OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
TRAINING**

Initially, fellows in the neuropsychology emphasis area continued for an
additional year of training in off-site settings. However, beginning in
the 2007-2008 training year, upon successful completion of the first
year, fellows in the neuropsychology emphasis area entered a second year
of training at the Memphis VAMC. The second year of training is not a
part of our APA-accredited postdoctoral fellowship program, and it is
not independently accredited. The first and second years, taken
together, satisfy Houston Conference Guidelines for specialization in
clinical neuropsychology (Houston Conference Policy Statement, 1998).
Consistent with Houston Conference Guidelines, during the first year of
training, neuropsychology fellows take part in ongoing \"add-on\"
experiences in research throughout the training year. This allows
fellows to gain experience in research in preparation for their more
intensive involvement in research activities during the second year of
training. During the second year, an ongoing minor rotation in research
is required throughout the year, and fellows are expected to produce at
least one scholarly work product, such as an empirically based
conference presentation or submission of a publication to a
peer-reviewed journal. The second year additionally involves focused
training in clinical neuropsychology, research, and advanced didactics.

**Reference:**

*The Houston Conference on Specialty Education and Training in Clinical
Neuropsychology: Policy Statement. (1998). Archives of Clinical
Neuropsychology, 13, 160-166.*

## Training Experiences 

**TRAINING SETTINGS AND ROTATIONS**

Clinical rotations available in medical/health psychology and
neuropsychology allow fellows to gain or expand skills in specific areas
of medical/health psychology and neuropsychology. Although the training
experiences may vary considerably, in each setting psychologists play a
unique role as behavioral experts, team members, and/or consultants.

Across all medical/health psychology and neuropsychology rotations,
fellows will work with individuals and interdisciplinary teams
representing a wide range of health care disciplines. Fellows gain
skills in settings such as Ambulatory Care, Neurology, Geriatrics,
Spinal Cord Injury, Neuroradiology, Neurosurgery, Oncology/Hematology,
Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Emergency
Room, Nephrology, Pediatrics (off-site only), and Mental Health.
Interdisciplinary medical teams also include nursing personnel, clinical
pharmacists, social workers, dietitians, and chaplains as well as
individuals from focused therapeutic disciplines such as physical
therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Through such
experiences, fellows will develop or enhance their skills in assessment
and intervention with acute and chronically ill medical patients and the
particular emotional, behavioral, and social issues that arise in each
setting. In some rotations, fellows will have the opportunity to
supervise psychology interns and students. The following section
contains a brief description of each of the current applied training
experiences available to postdoctoral fellows. Additionally, a list of
the more traditional training experiences available to fellows is
included.

**HEALTH/MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGY ROTATIONS**

**A. Hematology/Oncology**

***General Description:*** The Psychology Section of the Mental Health
Service provides services to patients being evaluated or treated for
cancer on the various inpatient units of the VA Medical Center, through
the outpatient Hematology-Oncology Clinic and through Radiation Oncology
Service. Patients may be seen at any stage of the disease process: At
the time of the initial diagnosis and workup, at the time of initial and
subsequent treatments, during management of associated conditions and
complications, and through the later stages of the disease process and
terminal care. The Hematology-Oncology inpatient and outpatient programs
and the program in Radiation Oncology draw upon a multidisciplinary team
to provide services as needed to patients. The team includes
professionals from medicine and surgery, nursing, social work, dietary,
clinical pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and
chaplaincy, as well as psychology. This training experience is available
as a minor rotation only.

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Providing individual and family support for a range of problems
    including emotional reactions at the time of initial diagnosis,
    assisting patients and family in formulating questions for their
    medical caregivers, dealing with anxiety generated by treatment
    delays or complications, dealing with body image issues, assisting
    with compliance issues, and coping with terminal illness;

2.  Providing more focused interventions, such as relaxation training;

3.  Performing interview assessments of patients' mental status, as well
    as on-going monitoring of mental status and affective condition;

4.  Providing staff consultations including assisting the treatment team
    in understanding the psychological implications of severe physical
    illness on individuals' behavior, allowing staff to share their
    thoughts and feelings about working with seriously ill patients and
    patients in the process of dying; and

5.  Attending continuing education activities including weekly team
    meetings on the Medicine Service, weekly Tumor Board
    diagnostic/treatment conferences, UT College of Medicine Grand
    Rounds lectures, local teleconferences, and weekly
    reading/discussion with the supervisor on cancer-related topics.

**B. Cardiothoracic Surgery/Cardiac Rehabilitation**

***General Description:*** The Psychology Section provides direct
patient care and consultative services to veterans being treated for
various cardiac and pulmonary conditions in inpatient medical units of
the VA Medical Center, through the Cardiothoracic Surgery outpatient
clinic, and through the Multidiscipline Thoracic Oncology outpatient
clinic. Psychological services are provided as needed to pre-op and
post-op heart and lung surgery patients, patients undergoing evaluation
and treatment following a heart attack or other acute cardiac event, and
patients with chronic cardiac and pulmonary problems. Please note,
training opportunities are dependent on the nature of patient referrals
received during the rotation. This training experience is offered as a
minor rotation or as an add-on.

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Performing interview assessments and ongoing monitoring of mental
    status, affective status, understanding of medical
    condition/regimen, compliance issues, and lifestyle risk factors;

2.  Providing therapeutic and educative interventions to patients,
    caregivers, and families to address a range of issues such as the
    emotional impact of acute/chronic illness, dependence issues,
    terminal illness, self-image changes, family role changes, treatment
    compliance, healthy lifestyle modifications, and facilitation of
    communication with the health care team;

3.  Providing focused interventions such as stress management,
    relaxation training and smoking cessation;

4.  Learning about medical conditions and their relationship to
    psychological factors;

5.  Providing staff consultative services to assist the treatment team
    in patients' treatment and discharge planning as well as to provide
    support to staff as they work with seriously and chronically ill
    patients; and

6.  Participating in training activities such as local teleconferences
    and lectures as available, readings, and observing other team
    members\' clinical work.

**C. Chronic Pain Management Program**

***General Description:*** This program provides consultative services
to a heterogeneous population of medical and psychiatric patients on an
inpatient and outpatient basis. Each patient is assessed for the most
appropriate treatment strategies and follow-up services. The program
provides pain management interventions emphasizing non-medication-based
treatments such as biofeedback and hypnosis. Training in biofeedback
takes place in the Biofeedback/Applied Psychophysiology Clinic. All
training, including hypnosis, relaxation techniques, and stress
management interventions, is taught didactically to augment patient
contact experiences. This minor rotation involves close supervision so
that the intern will have confidence in his/her ability to evaluate,
select, and treat patients presenting with a wide variety of chronic
pain symptoms.

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Participating in the assessment, evaluation, and selection of
    patients for treatment of chronic pain of various etiologies;

2.  Preparing patients for the selected intervention or consultation by
    appropriate medical or psychiatric service as needed;

3.  Providing the necessary psychological treatment interventions that
    are most efficacious in targeted symptom management; and

4.  Performing patient follow-up to determine the effectiveness of
    treatment over time.

**D. Geriatrics/Rehabilitative Medicine**

***General Description:*** The Psychology Section of the Mental Health
Service provides direct and/or consultative services to the Intermediate
Care/Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit (a 15-bed inpatient
geriatric medical unit) and to the Geriatric and Extended Care (GEC)
Team (an interdisciplinary team that provides consultative reviews of
patients placed on intermediate care status throughout the Medical
Center) of the Geriatrics Section, Medicine Service. A range of acute,
rehabilitative, and palliative care services for medically ill elderly
adults are provided through these programs. The model of care is
interdisciplinary, with strong involvement from medicine, psychology,
nursing, clinical pharmacy, dietary, and social work. When appropriate,
patients are also referred for rehabilitative services such as speech
therapy and physical therapy. This training experience is offered to
interns only as a major rotation.

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Participating in interdisciplinary team conferences and weekly
    patient care planning meetings, unit bed rounds, and didactic
    training experiences;

2.  Performing screenings and diagnostic evaluations of psychological
    functioning of medically ill elders on an inpatient basis, including
    cognitive and affective status;

3.  Providing therapeutic interventions and education to patients,
    families, and caregivers;

4.  Developing behavioral and environmental interventions to assist
    patients and caregivers;

5.  Providing staff consultation to the interdisciplinary medical team
    regarding psychological factors involved in the patients' overall
    care and enhancement of team functioning;

6.  Developing differential psychological diagnostic skills in an
    inpatient medical setting, including an understanding of how medical
    illness and/or treatment complicate determination of psychological
    diagnoses;

7.  Learning how to identify and manage the ethical and legal dilemmas
    facing the psychologist practicing in a medical setting;

8.  Developing a knowledge base regarding medical conditions, medication
    usage (including drug interactions and side effects), other
    medical/surgical interventions, and associated terminology; and

9.  Learning to work within an interdisciplinary team structure to
    provide psychological care to elderly medical patients.

**E. Ambulatory Care**

***General Description:*** The Memphis VAMC maintains two Community
Based Outpatient Clinics within a few miles of the main campus
(approximately a 15-minute drive) which provide training opportunities
in primary care medicine. The \"North\" Clinic is located in the
Raleigh-Barlett area and the \"South\" Clinic in the Southaven area of
Memphis. The role of psychologists in the provision of primary medical
care has greatly expanded in recent years. Research and clinical
experience have supported the value of psychological evaluation and
intervention in preventing, reducing, and/or, in some cases eliminating
the negative impact of chronic and acute illness as well as physical
impairment. This rotation offers psychology interns the opportunity to
receive specialized training and experience in the provision of direct
clinical services to outpatients in interdisciplinary primary medical
care settings. It also offers the opportunity for training in the Shared
Medical Appointments model of medical care with a particular focus on
the returning combat veterans who are moving from active duty medical
care to VA medical care. This element includes education regarding
issues pertinent to veterans returning from combat zones including
symptoms of anxiety and depression, alcohol abuse, family adjustment
issues, and PTSD. This training experience is offered as a major
rotation or a minor rotation. Additionally, the smoking cessation
training can be offered as a separate experience throughout the year.

Options at the North Clinic training site include a minor rotation in
Chronic Pain Coping, with experiences in individual and three weekly
group intervention programs. Pain management training may also be
incorporated into the major ambulatory care rotation offered in this
setting

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Performing screenings of psychological functioning and mental
    status;

2.  Developing differential psychological diagnostic skills in a primary
    medical care setting including an understanding of how medical
    illness may complicate the process of making psychological
    diagnoses;

3.  Providing therapeutic interventions in the medical ambulatory care
    setting including supportive counseling regarding issues such as
    grief and loss of independence; brief psychotherapy; more focused
    interventions, such as relaxation training and smoking cessation;
    facilitating communication between patient and medical staff;
    working with families and/or caregivers to facilitate implementation
    of interventions in the home environment; and managing noncompliance
    with the medical treatment regimen;

4.  Providing staff consultation to the interdisciplinary medical team
    regarding psychological factors involved in the patients' overall
    care and enhancement of team functioning;

5.  Providing group and individual pain management interventions;

6.  Acquiring information about the interaction among medical illnesses,
    medications and other medical interventions, and behavioral,
    emotional, and cognitive factors;

7.  Learning about the ethical and legal dilemmas facing the
    psychologist practicing in a medical setting;

8.  Attending team conferences and other training activities;

9.  Providing preventive medicine services to veterans;

10. Learning to function as the "Behaviorist" in the Shared Medical
    Appointments model of medical care; and

11. Working with recently returned combat veterans in the Operation
    Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Programs and gaining
    experience with the impact of extended combat on the psychological
    adjustment and functioning of these individuals.

**F. Spinal Cord Injury Service**

***General Description:*** The SCI Unit is comprised of two inpatient
units with a total of 60 beds, an outpatient medical clinic, and a
comprehensive rehabilitation clinic. The SCI Unit offers rehabilitation
to patients with new spinal cord injuries and offers primary and acute
care for existing SCI patients. The rehabilitation program is accredited
by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
Additionally, a wellness program is available to outpatients who have
completed rehabilitation but would like to pursue additional
health-related goals. The multidisciplinary staff of the SCIS includes
physicians, nurses, skin care specialists, psychologists, respiratory
therapists, nutritionists, and social workers. The rehabilitation staff
is comprised of kinesiotherapists, physical therapists, occupational
therapists, and recreation therapists.

The services provided by psychologists play an important role in the
care of SCI patients. Psychologists are an integral part of the
treatment teams, attending all patient rounds, discharge planning
meetings, and family conferences. Psychologists takes part in the
development and execution of the treatment plan for each patient.
Psychologists are consulted for bedside assessments regarding mood and
anxiety disorders, changes in mental status, cognitive impairment,
capacity issues, and substance abuse. Psychotherapy services are offered
to both inpatients and outpatients. Psychoeducational groups and process
groups are offered on a regular basis. Psychologists are also
responsible for developing staff in-service opportunities regarding a
variety of topics including stress management, managing difficult
patients, and team building. Due to the aging population of the
veterans, psychologists routinely offer services for both staff and
patients on grief and end-of-life issues.

Interns may select from two emphasis areas during their SCI rotation.
One emphasizes training experiences with patients with \"older\" spinal
cord injuries, as well as patients admitted for annual examinations and
those who are ventilator dependent. The other emphasizes experiences
with patients who have sustained the critical spinal cord injury within
the past several weeks. Both emphasis areas include experiences with
general medical admissions (acute and chronic conditions) and outpatient
services and involve group work as well as individual contacts.

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Familiarization with spinal cord injury variables including the
    level of injury and degree of completeness, predicted degree of
    disability, predicted level of independence, and medical
    complications such as impairment in bladder and bowel function, skin
    breakdown, and infections;

2.  Learning about the medical issues related to spinal cord injury and
    catastrophic disability;

3.  Learning about the relationship between medical and
    psychological/psychiatric conditions. Specifically, the intern will
    learn about the psychological manifestations of medical illnesses
    such as delirium sepsis and medication intoxication, and the
    \"medical mimics\" of depression and anxiety;

4.  Participating in all areas of psychological service.
    Responsibilities include answering medical psychology consults,
    conducting capacity evaluations, conducting annual screenings,
    seeing patients for individual and/or group therapy, assisting with
    staff development programs, and attending treatment team meetings.
    The intern will also learn about treatment modalities for chronic
    pain and smoking cessation; and

5.  Working closely with both newly injured and aging SCI patients as
    they progress through the stages of adjustment and life-stage
    development. This may include working with patients undergoing
    rehabilitation from a recent injury or patients adjusting to the
    aging process and associated problems (e.g., health issues, chronic
    illness, end-of-life issues). The intern may have the opportunity to
    confront issues of death and dying with one or more patients.

**G. Biofeedback/Applied Psychophysiology**

***General Description:*** The training approach emphasizes the
effective application of psychophysiology principles. The successful
employment of the techniques requires understanding of relaxation,
response shaping, generalization, characteristics of the autonomic
nervous system, and disease modalities responsive to applied
psychophysiological interventions. Personal creativity and interest in
the development of novel applications will be stressed. The
Biofeedback/Applied Psychophysiology Clinic utilizes J&J I-330-C2
equipment.

Training in this minor rotation is a two-part experience. The first is
didactic and is designed for the intern unfamiliar with the concepts of
autonomic self-regulation. A primary overview of the theory and
application of the techniques through discussion and use of requisite
readings is provided. The second experience is the evaluation,
selection, and treatment of patients demonstrating a wide variety of
presenting symptoms with the intern being given increasing
responsibility for using self-regulatory training. For interns who have
already developed preliminary knowledge of the application of
psychophysiological principles/biofeedback, supervision of individual
cases and treatment planning will be emphasized.

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Participating in the assessment, evaluation, and selection of
    patients for biofeedback/applied psychophysiology;

2.  Preparing selected patients for treatment using thermal, myographic,
    electrodermal and/or EEG recordings;

3.  Assisting in selection and application of all necessary treatment
    modalities that may be required for alleviation of symptoms; and

4.  Documenting the effectiveness of treatment procedures through
    patient follow-up.

**H. Palliative Care Consultation Team (PCCT)**

***General Description:*** The PCCT is an interprofessional team that
provides palliative care services on a consultative basis to patients
who are in the advanced stages of a life-threatening illness and to
their families. The goal of the palliative care team is to provide the
best quality of life through the relief of suffering, pain and symptom
management, psychosocial support, and respect for autonomy and the
appropriate role of family and legal surrogates. The core team includes
a physician, chaplain, social worker, nurse practitioner, and
psychologist. Sensitivity to personal, cultural and religious values,
beliefs, and practices is emphasized.

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Completing comprehensive palliative care evaluations/interviews;

2.  Performing cognitive and mood screenings, mental status exams, and
    competency evaluations;

3.  Providing therapeutic interventions and education to patients,
    families, and caregivers, including provision of supportive
    counseling, brief grief counseling, and bereavement contacts;

4.  Developing a knowledge base regarding medical conditions, medication
    usage (including drug interactions and side effects), other
    medical/surgical interventions, and associated terminology;

5.  Gaining familiarity with psychological, social, cultural, and
    spiritual issues related to end-of-life care;

6.  Assisting patients and families in the transition to hospice status;

7.  Providing staff consultation to the interprofessional medical team
    regarding psychological factors involved in the patients' overall
    care and enhancement of team functioning;

8.  Learning to identify and manage the ethical and legal dilemmas
    facing the

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1.  psychologist and other clinicians practicing in a medical setting;

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9.  Assisting with ongoing development of program structure and
    function;

10. Evaluating/tracking aspects of PCCT program functioning;

11. Assisting with development of materials/strategies for enhancing
    education of non-team staff regarding end-of-life care;

12. Learning to work within an interprofessional team structure to
    provide care for palliative care patients and their families; and

13. Participating in interprofessional team conferences and weekly
    patient care planning meetings and didactic training experiences.

**I. Women's Clinic**

***General Description:*** The Women's Health Clinic provides primary
care services to all female veterans treated at the VA Medical Center.
Our female veterans present with a range of often-complex psychological
and physical health concerns. Psychology's role in this clinic,
therefore, is truly an integrative one as the psychologist works
collaboratively with the primary care providers to enhance treatment of
the full spectrum of medical and psychological problems presented by
clinic patients. Body image issues, chronic pain syndromes, childhood
and/or military sexual trauma, depression, anxiety disorders, compliance
issues, and eating disorders are presenting problems common to this
population. Much like the Ambulatory Care rotation, interns are afforded
experience in providing a range of direct clinical services in a primary
medical care setting. Interns will gain a greater appreciation for the
impact of interacting physical and psychosocial factors on women's
health. This training experience is offered as a major or minor
rotation.

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Performing psychological, cognitive, and/or behavioral medicine
    screenings;

2.  Performing in-depth assessments as needed;

3.  Consulting with clinic staff regarding differential diagnosis,
    treatment planning, and compliance issues;

4.  Providing therapeutic interventions to individuals, couples,
    families, and/or groups, often aimed at coping with medical illness;

5.  Developing and/or participating in educational groups regarding
    women's health issues;

6.  Working with clinic staff to develop programs aimed at enhancing
    women's overall health; and

7.  Attending clinic conferences, meetings, and other training
    opportunities.

**Off-Site Medical Psychology Rotation:**

***Note:*** This rotation is available through a reciprocal agreement
with the APA-accredited University of Tennessee Professional Psychology
Internship Consortium.

**J. Medical Consult/Liaison, Regional Medical Center at Memphis (The
MED)**

*(Supervisor: Robert Kores, Ph.D.)*

***General Description:*** The MED is a medical-surgical hospital that
includes a class-one trauma center, a regional burn unit, and an OB/GYN
service. Patients referred to the C/L service are those experiencing
cognitive, emotional, or behavioral difficulties in conjunction with, or
as a result of, their medical illnesses or surgical conditions. Interns
learn the principles of consultation, assessment, and supportive patient
care. Major disorders encountered include delirium, dementia, mania and
depression, schizophrenia, somatoform disorders, and alcohol and other
substance abuse. Interns gain knowledge of psychopharmacology, including
medication usage, drug interactions, and side effects.

**NEUROPSYCHOLOGY ROTATIONS**

**A. Clinical Rotation:** Neuropsychology Program, Memphis VAMC

General Description: The Neuropsychology Program provides psychological
services related to clinical problems specifically pertaining to
brain-behavior relationships. The Neuropsychology Program provides
consultation to other sections of the Mental Health Service (e.g.,
Inpatient Psychiatry, Chemical Dependency, Mental Health Clinic, PTSD
Care Team), Inpatient Medicine, Ambulatory Care, Neurology,
Neurosurgery, Spinal Cord Injury Service, Vocational Rehabilitation, the
Women's Clinic, and other clinics and units of the Medical Center.
Within Spinal Cord Injury Service, Neuropsychology performs routine
screening on patients admitted to our CARF-accredited rehabilitation
beds. Clinical presentations of patients referred to Neuropsychology are
quite varied and include dementias (e.g., Alzheimer\'s disease, vascular
dementia, Parkinson\'s-plus syndromes, Lewy-body dementia,
frontotemporal dementia); focal cortical syndromes from cerebrovascular
accident, tumor, or other causes; traumatic brain injury; epilepsy;
cerebral infections, and psychiatric disorders such as major depression,
bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, other anxiety
disorders, somatoform disorders, and various psychotic disorders. Many
of the patients seen also have chronic health problems such as cardiac
or pulmonary conditions that impact cognitive abilities.

Fellows gain experience in the administration and interpretation of
neuropsychological evaluations and consultation with referring health
care professionals from multiple units and clinics. Fellows also perform
brief neurocognitive evaluations of more severely impaired patients. An
important factor in obtaining competence in neuropsychological
assessment is exposure to the behavioral presentations of a wide range
of neurological, psychiatric, and other medical conditions. Fellows
learn both basic and advanced aspects of diagnosing disorders of higher
brain functions, analysis of the interactions among cognitive
impairments and psychiatric and physical illnesses, and the practical
implications of patients' impairments on their functional abilities.
Changes in mood or personality are often present in neurological
diseases. Therefore, personality assessment plays an important role in
the services provided by neuropsychology. Using a variety of objective
personality assessment techniques (most typically the MMPI-2),
neuropsychology assists in the differential diagnosis of psychogenic and
neurogenic disorders, assesses the effects of brain damage on premorbid
personality, and assesses the emotional stress resulting from
debilitating neurological disease. Likewise, the measurement of effort
is important in establishing the validity of neurocognitive measures. As
such, careful behavioral observations as well as the administration of
formal symptom validity measures are an important part of many
neurocognitive assessments. Emphasis is placed on the integration of all
data sources (i.e., testing, patient interview and qualitative
behavioral observations, the report of family members, and extant
records including other neurodiagnostic studies) in order to reach
diagnostic impressions and practical implications.

Through involvement in Neuroradiology Rounds and other rounds, fellows
routinely consult and interact with medical staff and residents in
neurology, neuroradiology and neurosurgery. Fellows provide detailed
feedback to referral sources and, whenever possible, to patients and
family members, sometimes in an outpatient meeting and sometimes in the
midst of a family meeting with inpatient treatment teams. When
indicated, fellows may provide short-term cognitive rehabilitation to
assist patients with optimal recovery from stroke or brain injury.
Fellows may take either a major or minor rotation.

***Training Opportunities:***

1.  Administering and interpreting a variety of neuropsychological tests
    in order to learn an eclectic approach to assessment, based upon a
    flexible battery approach;

2.  Gaining exposure to various sources of neuropsychological normative
    data;

3.  Participating in feedback of results to patients and their families;

4.  Consulting with other programs and services regarding patient
    presentations;

5.  Becoming familiar with both clinical and behavioral neurology via
    didactics and assessment of acute and chronic focal neurological
    presentations;

6.  Writing neuropsychological reports, including specific
    recommendations for patient care, rehabilitation, and discharge
    planning;

7.  Attending Neurology Grand Rounds and Neurology Bed Rounds;

8.  Gaining exposure to neurodiagnostic images such as CT and MRI scans;

9.  Participating in a weekly Neuropsychology Seminar;

10. Attending a group Neuropsychology Case Conference and Rounds.

**B. Research Rotation: Neuropsychology Program, Memphis VAMC**

***General Description:*** Several opportunities exist for research
through the Neuropsychology Program with Brad L. Roper, Ph.D., ABPP-CN,
and Ellen M. Crouse, Ph.D. In consultation with Alexander P. Auchus, MD
and Juebin Huang, MD, Ph.D. of the Laboratory of Neuroimaging at the
Memphis VAMC, Neuropsychology offers research opportunities in relating
structural volumetric MRI (e.g., grey matter and white matter volumes in
various regions of interest) to neuropsychological functioning in
Alzheimer\'s disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Studies in the
Laboratory of Neuroimaging are also underway in detecting white matter
abnormalities using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in dementia and
relating regional DTI abnormalities with neuropsychological functions.
Fellows may also gain experience in contributing to clinical trials for
the treatment of Alzheimer\'s dementia. Research opportunities are also
available via St. Jude Children\'s Research Hospital under the
supervision of either Heather Conklin, Ph.D., or Kevin Krull, Ph.D.,
ABPP-CN. Finally, research opportunities are available at the Memphis
VAMC in psychometric issues in dementia assessment, the ecological
validity of neuropsychological measures, and assessment of effort,
motivation, and personality.

Fellows in the neuropsychology emphasis are required to take an ongoing
add-on in research throughout the first year. Fellows may also take a
minor rotation in research in lieu of an add-on rotation during any of
the three rotations during the first year. During the second year of
neuropsychology training, an ongoing minor rotation in research is
required throughout the year.

**Off-Site Neuropsychology Rotations:**

***Note:*** These rotations are available through a reciprocal agreement
with the APA-accredited University of Tennessee Professional Psychology
Internship Consortium.

**C. Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute**

***General Description:*** This rotation involves outpatient
neuropsychological assessment and consultation with adult, child, and
adolescent patients. Neuropsychologist Keith Atkins, Ph.D., ABPP
primarily sees adults and neuropsychologist Susan McChesney, Ph.D., ABPP
primarily sees children and adolescents. Patients present with a range
of neurological, developmental, and psychiatric disorders. Fellows
perform comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations and provide
consultation to referring practitioners. Fellows may also perform
specialized pre- and post-surgical neuropsychological evaluations of
patients with medically intractable epilepsy. They may take part in
independent neuropsychological evaluations for forensic or disability
purposes, chronic pain evaluations, and fitness-for-duty evaluations of
commercial airline pilots. They may also observe administration of Wada
examinations and take part in interdisciplinary review of epilepsy
cases.

**OTHER ROTATIONS**

After fellows have met their requirements for health/medical psychology
and neuropsychology rotations, they may choose from additional rotations
in either emphasis area or from the rotations listed below:

A.  Chemical Dependency Center

B.  Psychology Assessment Clinic

C.  General Inpatient Psychiatry

D.  Program Development

E.  Mental Health Clinic

F.  Family Therapy Program

G.  Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Clinical Team and Residential
    Program

***Off-Site:*** Additional rotations are available to fellows through a
reciprocal agreement with the APA-accredited University of Tennessee
Professional Psychology Internship Consortium. These include clinical
rotations in the areas of forensics, community emergency services,
outpatient psychotherapy with adults and children, focused assessment in
the areas of child abuse and developmental disabilities, and sexual
offenders\' intervention. A complete listing of these opportunities can
be found in the UT Consortium Brochure.

**DIDACTICS**

Graduate school and internship programs are often able to offer only
limited opportunities for students or interns to receive coursework or
seminars related to their future areas of specialization. As such,
didactic offerings are important venues for fellows to obtain
specialized instruction in medical/health psychology, neuropsychology,
and the disciplines that frequently interface with the two areas. Core
didactics are required of all VA fellows and provide comprehensive
grounding in medical/health psychology and neuropsychology to compliment
their clinical training experiences. Elective didactics offer fellows
the opportunity for further instruction on additional topics of
interest.

**Core Didactics:**

1)  Cultural Diversity Seminar (Coordinator: Karen Clark, Ph.D., Fridays
    for 8 weeks, 8:30-10:0 a.m.). Explores the cultural diversity of
    pertinent patient populations and attempts to raise the awareness of
    the impact of culture on the client/therapist relationship,
    diagnoses, and interventions.

2)  Postdoctoral Fellows\' Seminar (Presenters: Postdoctoral fellows,
    Psychology Section staff, and guest speakers, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays
    of each month, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.). Reviews professional issues within
    medical/health psychology and neuropsychology. Also includes case
    discussions and topic areas of interest to the fellows.

3)  Medical/Health Psychology Seminar (Coordinator: Jennifer Jacobson,
    Psy.D., Wednesdays, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.). Covers special topics in
    medical/health psychology with emphasis on the interaction between
    physical illness and treatment and mental and emotional functioning.

4)  Neuropsychology Seminar (Instructors: Brad L. Roper, Ph.D., ABPP-CN
    and Ellen M. Crouse, Ph.D., Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00 p.m.). Covers the
    foundations of neuropsychology, including neuroanatomy,
    neuropathology, and behavioral neurology.

5)  Neuroradiology Rounds (Instructor: James Wood, MD., Thursdays,
    8:30-9:30 a.m.). Presentation of neurological and neurosurgical
    patients seen for neuroimaging studies. Note: Attendance required
    only during VA Neuropsychology rotations.

6)  Psychology Case Conference (Presenters: TBA annually and interns and
    fellows, third Wednesday of each month, 2:00-3:15 p.m.) Formal
    presentation of patients currently receiving psychological treatment
    or interventions. After a review of the case by the presenter, a
    member of the psychology staff interviews the patient.

**Elective Didactics:**

1)  Neurology Grand Rounds, University of Tennessee, Memphis
    (Presenters: TBA annually; Fridays, 8:00-9:30 a.m., September
    through May). Presentations of cases and recent advances in clinical
    neurology and brain research.

2)  Tumor Board (Presenters: Medical residents in Hematology/Oncology,
    Pulmonary, or Surgical specialties; Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 p.m.).
    Presentation and discussion of newly diagnosed cancer patients for
    purposes of treatment disposition (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy,
    radiation, or combination therapies).

3)  Medicine Grand Rounds, University of Tennessee, Memphis (Presenters:
    TBA annually; Wednesdays, 8:00-9:00 a.m.). Presentation of advances
    in medical research and clinical treatment approaches for specified
    medical conditions/populations.

4)  Neuropathology Rounds (a.k.a. \"Brain Cutting\"), Methodist
    University Hospital, Memphis (Instructor: F. Curtis Dohan, M.D.;
    Thursdays TBA, 2:30-4:00 p.m.). Presentation and dissection of
    pathological brain specimens.

5)  Psychological Assessment Seminar (Instructor: Jennifer L. Jacobson,
    Psy.D.; Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m.) This seminar will enhance
    fellows' ability to integrate a broad range of data in order to make
    an often difficult differential diagnosis with cogent treatment
    recommendations. Understanding the impact of medical illness and
    pharmacotherapy on psychological and cognitive functioning will be
    emphasized, as well as MMPI-2 interpretation. It is held weekly
    through December.

6)  Psychiatry Grand Rounds, University of Tennessee, Memphis
    (Presenters: TBA annually; Fridays, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.).
    Presentation of clinical and theoretical issues in psychiatric
    disorders.

7)  Family Therapy Seminar (Instructors: Betty Shadish, LCSW and Anne
    Ayres, Ph.D.; (Wednesdays, 8:00-10:00 a.m.). This seminar focuses on
    enhancing skills in treating family problems systemically. A
    combination of didactic instruction and experiential learning
    approaches is used. Participants are encouraged to share videotapes
    of their clinical work. It is held weekly throughout the year.

8)  Psychotherapy Seminar (Instructors: Anne Ayres, Ph.D. and Nancy
    Keesee, Ph.D.; Wednesdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m.). Combination of didactic
    and experiential learning approaches directed toward enhancing
    psychotherapy skills.

## Requirements for Completion

1.  The fellowship requires successful completion of a full year of
    training, consisting of a minimum of 2,080 employment hours to be
    completed in no less than one calendar year (including earned sick
    and annual leave and federal holidays).

2.  A minimum of five sixths (i.e., 1733 hours) of the training hours
    must take place in rotations offered at the VA Medical Center. The
    remaining hours may be spent in a combination of non-VA training
    experiences (i.e., UT Consortium agencies or dissertation hours), as
    approved.

3.  During the training year, fellows complete at least 50% of their
    time in their respective emphasis area. Three four-month rotations
    are offered during the training year. At any one time, each fellow
    is involved in one major rotation (20-24 hours/week) and one minor
    rotation (8-12 hours/week). Fellows in neuropsychology and
    medical/health psychology take a minimum of 1) two major rotations
    and one minor rotation in their respective emphasis areas during the
    year and 2) one major rotation in the other emphasis area.

4.  In addition to these general requirements:

5.  Fellows must successfully participate in the Medical Psychology
    Seminar, Neuropsychology Seminar, Postdoctoral Fellows\' Seminar,
    Cultural Diversity Seminar, and the Medical Psychology Seminar.
    Additional seminar attendance may be required for specified
    rotations and training experiences.

6.  Fellows are required to make a case presentation to the Psychology
    Section staff during the second or third rotation.

## Facility and Training Resources

A number of resources are available to postdoctoral fellows at the
Memphis VAMC. Fellows are provided individual offices equipped with
networked personal computers. The PCs provide easy access to patients\'
computerized medical records, e-mail, and the internet, in addition to
facilitating report and note writing. Library facilities available to
fellows include the Medical Center\'s professional library and the
library of the University of Tennessee\'s Health Science Center, as well
as a number of online resources. Assistance with literature retrieval is
provided through the Medical Center\'s professional library and UT
library.

## Administrative Policies and Procedures

VA-funded psychology fellows are paid a full-time stipend of \$41,070,
and payments are every two weeks for a full year. (Training stipends are
taxable as of April 4, 1982. See IRS Ruling 82-57). The official
training year for VA fellows will be from August 18, 2008 and end on
August 17, 2009. Fellows are also granted time off for federal holidays
and five days of authorized absence (i.e., time allowed for attending or
presenting at conferences). In evaluating fellows\' performance and
progress, applicable statutes and policies concerning due process and
fair treatment are followed. Our privacy policy is clear: we will
collect no personal information about you when you visit our website.

## Training Staff

**TRAINING AND SUPPORT STAFF**

**VA PSYCHOLOGISTS AND OTHER TRAINING STAFF:**

***Brian V. Abbott, Ph.D.*** (Mental Health Clinic, Admissions Team)

***Mirella Auchus, Ph.D.*** (Program Development)

***Marla E. Ayers, Ph.D.*** (Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery,
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Nephrology, Liver Clinic)

***Anne Ayres, Ph.D.*** (Mental Health Clinic)

***Karen A. Clark, Ph.D.*** (Director of Training, Psychology Training
Program; Director, Palliative Care/Hospice Clinical Consultation Team)

***Ellen M. Crouse, Ph.D.*** (Neuropsychology Program)

***Nathaniel Griffin, Ph.D.*** (Director, Chronic Pain Management
Program and Biofeedback/Applied Psychophysiology Clinic; Spinal Cord
Injury Service)

***Samuel A. Holcombe, Psy.D.*** (Inpatient Psychiatry)

***Norman I. Itkowitz, Psy.D***. (Ambulatory Care Medicine)

***Jennifer Jacobson, Psy.D.*** (Mental Health Clinic, Psychological
Assessment Clinic, Women\'s Clinic;

Preceptor, Health/Medical Psychology Emphasis)

***Nancy J. Keesee, Ph.D.*** (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical
Team, PTSD Residential Program)

***Thomas Kirchberg, Ph.D.,*** ABPP (Crisis Intervention Team; Chief,
Psychology Section)

***Paul Mushala, Ph.D.*** (Emergency Department)

***Randolph G. Potts, Ph.D.*** (Hematology/Oncology, Health/Medical
Psychology)

***Brad L. Roper, Ph.D., ABPP-CN*** (Director, Neuropsychology Program;
Director, Neuropsychology Fellowship Program; Associate Director of
Training, Psychology Training Program)

Tiffany C. Sanford-Martens, Ph.D. (Spinal Cord Injury Service)

***Betty Duke Shadish, L.C.S.W.*** (Director, Family Therapy Program)

***Karin E. Thompson, Ph.D.*** (PTSD Clinical Team)

***Bridget M. Truman, Ph.D.*** (Spinal Cord Injury Service)

***John Weaver, Ph.D.,*** (Chemical Dependency Center)

***Jeffrey A. West, Ph.D.*** (Ambulatory Care Medicine, Chronic Pain
Management)

***John Whirley, Ph.D.*** (Ambulatory Care Medicine, Operation Iraqi
Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom)

**SUPPORT STAFF**

***Lynne K. Hennessey, M.S.*** Psychological Examiner

***Rose Kirkwood.*** Program Support Assistant

***Travis Jones.*** Program Support Assistant

***Valerie Tunstall-Ernest.*** Program Support Assistant

**OFF-SITE STAFF**

***Keith Atkins, Ph.D., ABPP-CN*** (Adult Neuropsychology,
Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute)

***Heather Conklin, Ph.D.*** (Neuropsychology Research, St. Jude
Children\'s Medical Center)

***Robert Kores, Ph.D., ABPP*** (Medical Consult/Liaison, Regional
Medical Center at Memphis)

***Kevin Krull, Ph.D., ABPP-CN*** (Neuropsychology Research, St. Jude
Children\'s Medical Center)

***Susan R. McChesney, Ph.D., ABPP-CN*** (Child Neuropsychology,
Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute)

***Note:*** Additional supervisors are available to fellows for
supervision of off-site rotations through a reciprocal agreement with
the APA-accredited University of Tennessee Professional Psychology
Internship Consortium. A complete listing of these rotations can be
found in the UT Consortium Brochure.

## Trainees

**RECENT INTERNSHIP and FELLOWSHIP CLASSES**

**Current Class**

**Predoctoral Interns**

Brittany Allen, Clinical Psychology, St. Louis University

Jennifer Daly, Counseling Psychology, Colorado State University

Danette Garces-Webb, Clinical Psychology, University of Memphis

Alan McGuire, Clinical Psychology, Indiana University---Purdue
University Indianapolis

**Postdoctoral Fellows**

Josh Caron, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Carin Eubanks, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Southern
Mississippi

Ze\'ev Frankel, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Memphis

Caroline Upchurch, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Utah

Lee Kearns, Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, George Fox University

**Completed in 2007**

**Predoctoral Interns**

Kelley Beck, Clinical Psychology, University of North Texas

Ze\'ev Frankel, Clinical Psychology, University of Memphis

Karen Hubbard, Clinical Psychology, University of Alabama

**Postdoctoral Fellows**

Josh Caron, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Teresa Cook, Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Baylor University

Sheryl Ebert, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Alabama at
Birmingham

Amy Hershberger, Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Texas Tech University

Lee Kearns, Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, George Fox University

**Completed in 2006**

**Predoctoral Interns**

Sheryl Ebert, Clinical Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

John Salsman, Clinical Psychology, University of Kentucky

Michael Sharland, Clinical Psychology, St. Louis University

**Postdoctoral Fellows**

Bruce Jasper, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Brigham Young University

Christina Mesmer, Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, SUNY at Buffalo

**Completed in 2005**

**Predoctoral Interns**

Janice Pazar, Counseling Psychology, University of Memphis

Richard Saunders, Clinical Psychology, University of Kansas

Wendy Van Voorst, Clinical Psychology, Central Michigan University

**Postdoctoral Fellows**

Christopher Bassin, Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Florida Institute of
Technology

Sarah Richie, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Mississippi

**Completed in 2004**

**Predoctoral Interns**

Brian Abbott, Clinical Psychology, Texas A&M University

Asra Khan, Clinical Psychology, Illinois School of Professional
Psychology

Karin McCoy, Clinical Psychology, University of Florida

Sarah Richie, Clinical Psychology, University of Mississippi

**Postdoctoral Fellows**

Autumn Keefer-Ward, Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Indiana State
University

Courtney Dirksen, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Boston University

**Completed in 2003**

**Predoctoral Interns**

Billy J. Boyd, Clinical Psychology, Oklahoma State University

Dona E. Crager, Clinical Psychology, University of Kentucky

Karen L. Grantz, Clinical Psychology, Spalding University

**Postdoctoral Fellows**

Jennifer L. Jacobson, Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Spalding University

Michelle Zak, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Kentucky

**Completed in 2002**

**Predoctoral Interns**

Jennifer L. Jacobson, Clinical Psychology, Spalding University

Wendy A. McGowan, Clinical Psychology, Pacific Graduate School of
Psychology

Laura E. Robinson, Clinical Psychology, University of Nebraska

**Postdoctoral Fellows**

MaryLee Jennings-Pikey, Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Wheaton College
Graduate School

Kimberly Marshman, Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Florida State
University

## Local Information

**ABOUT MEMPHIS**

Memphis is a relatively large city located high on the river bluffs
overlooking the legendary Mississippi River. The city was established in
1819 and named Memphis after the Egyptian City of the same name located
on the Nile River. The name Memphis means \"place of good abode.\"

-   An unhurried city of 670,000 people, located in the Midsouth where
    warm weather predominates.

-   A city of affordable housing in a variety of interesting
    neighborhoods, convenient to shopping areas, restaurants, and
    entertainment.

-   A music city known for rock, country, blues, jazz, bluegrass, local
    opera and symphony, and performing artists such as W. C. Handy,
    Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie
    Rich, Muddy Waters, Charley McClain, Kay Starr, Isaac Hayes, Cybill
    Shephard, George Hamilton, Marguerite Piazza, and Rick Dees - to
    name a few. The Smithsonian\'s Memphis Rock \'n Soul Museum is a
    wonderful introduction to the music of this city and region, along
    with the newer Museum of American Soul Music at Soulsville USA.

-   A sports city, home of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA basketball team and
    the FedEx Forum, University of Memphis Tiger basketball team,
    Memphis River Kings professional hockey, Memphis Redbirds (AAA)
    baseball at the beautiful Autozone Park, the Liberty Bowl, the U. S.
    Men\'s Indoor National Tennis Championships, and the Stanford - St.
    Jude Golf Classic. Fishing, boating, golfing, and tennis are popular
    Memphis sporting activities. There are a number of lakes in the
    surrounding area, and public and private golf courses and tennis
    centers are numerous.

-   A higher education city with Christian Brothers University,
    LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis College of Arts, University of
    Memphis, Rhodes College, Southwest Tennessee Community College, and
    University of Tennessee Health Science Center (\"The Medical
    School\").

-   A health care city with 17 major medical facilities including
    regional centers for organ transplants and cancer research, regional
    rehabilitation centers, a regional prenatal care center, St. Jude
    Children's Research Hospital, and the Health Science Center of the
    University of Tennessee (Memphis) which houses the Colleges of
    Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences.

-   A city of seasonal carnivals, fairs and music fests such as the
    Memphis in May International Festival with the Sunset Symphony and
    World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Fourth of July
    Fireworks over the River, Great River Carnival, Cooper-Young
    Festival, Beale Street Music Festival, Pink Palace Crafts Fair,
    Mid-South Fair, Elvis International Tribute Week, National Blues
    Award Show, Duck's Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival, New Year\'s
    Eve on Beale Street, and numerous concerts, ballet, and theater
    performances throughout the year.

-   A city with hundreds of restaurants serving exquisite international
    cuisine as well as local delicacies, especially barbecue and
    catfish. . . (in addition to the usual fast-food fare).

-   A city that offers a stroll down Beale Street; a scenic carriage
    ride along Riverside Drive; a paddleboat down the Mississippi River;
    a day in the sun at Tom Lee Park; a memorable tour of Elvis
    Presley\'s Graceland; a trolley ride through downtown Memphis; and
    visits to the famous Peabody Hotel, Mud Island Park, South Main
    Historic District, FedEx Forum, Memphis Zoo, Brooks Museum of Art,
    and Dixon Garden and Galleries.

-   And a city that is the home of the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical
    Center Psychology Internship Training Program.