> ![](media/image1.png){width="1.125in"
> height="1.6979166666666667in"}**Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship
> Program**
>
> **Miami VA Medical Center**\
> Psychology Service (116B)
>
> 1201 NW 16th Street
>
> Miami, FL 33125
>
> *(305) 575-3215*

***\
**[http://www.miami.va.gov/](http://www.visn8.med.va.gov/miami/)*

**Applications due: January 26, 2009**

## Accreditation Status

The postdoctoral fellowship at the **Miami VA Medical Center** is not
yet accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American
Psychological Association.

An application is in process, and a site visit is expected by 2008.

## Application & Selection Procedures 

**APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS**

All applicants must have completed all graduation requirements from an
APA-accredited doctoral program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology and
an APA-accredited predoctoral internship in Psychology by September
1^st^ of the fellowship year. As a desire to work with a veteran
population is required, practicum or internship at a VHA facility is
encouraged, but not mandatory. Given the emphasis in either Health
Psychology or Gero/Neuro Psychology, clinical experiences in one of
these areas is highly recommended. As research, administration, and
supervision are integral parts of the Miami VAHS fellowship program,
some experience\--or a willingness to develop skills in these areas\--is
also recommended.

**RECRUITMENT**

***To apply, the candidate should submit the following materials:***

-   a letter of interest stating post-doctoral training goals and
    long-term career goals

-   a current curriculum vita

-   a clinical work sample (comprehensive assessment or
    neuropsychological report)

-   three letters of references from psychologists familiar with
    candidate's work

-   letter (fax or E-mail is acceptable) from the candidate's internship
    Training Director that an APA- accredited internship will be
    completed by September 1, 2009

-   a letter (fax or E-mail is acceptable) from candidate's graduate
    program Training Director that the Ph.D./Psy.D. has been awarded or
    that the dissertation defense has been scheduled to occur before
    September 1, 2009.

-   Transcripts are not required at this time, but will be required if
    selected for this position.

***Applications and inquiries should be directed to:***

> ***Tim Lawler, Ph.D., MPH***
>
> Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (116B)
>
> 1201 NW 16th Street
>
> Miami, FL 33125
>
> Phone: (305) 575-3215
>
> FAX: (305) 575-7010
>
> E-mail: Tim.Lawler@va.gov

Application packets must be complete and received by January 26, 2009.
Earlier submissions are preferred. A selection committee composed of
postdoctoral rotation supervisors will review and rank order all
completed applications. The top candidates will be offered interviews
(either in person or by telephone). Following interviews, the selection
committee will again rank order applicants and offers will be extended
to the top two applicants (one in Health; one in Gero/Neuro). Offers
will be extended on February 26, 2009. If offers are not accepted, we
will continue to extend offers down the rank ordered list until the two
positions are filled.

## Psychology Setting 

**PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE**

There are 24 full-time doctoral level staff representing a wide range of
theoretical orientations and specializations. Psychologists are
privileged as part of the Medical Staff and have excellent relations
with the other clinical services. The staff is respected and valued for
contributions and leadership on JCAHO, performance improvement, and
hospital-wide, VISN 8, and national committees and teams. Psychology and
Psychiatry have integrated into the Mental Health and Behavioral
Services under an Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health; however,
we remain separate and individual professional services each under the
direct supervision of a Service Chief and each maintaining a discrete
professional identity, peer review system, training program, continuing
education, and credentialing and privileging.

Psychology Service has been able to recruit and retain staff. The
majority of our staff psychologists have faculty appointments at the
University Of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Psychology
Departments at the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University.
All staff are licensed in the state of Florida and remain active in
continuing education requirements obtaining a minimum of 20 hours of CEU
per year.

In addition to being seen as a center of excellence for the healthcare
of veterans, the 2002 David M. Worthen Award for Academic Excellence was
awarded to Colleen West, PhD and Panagiota Caralis, MD, JD for their key
roles in creating and nurturing innovations in clinical practice,
education and research in biopsychosocial ethics, hospice, and
end-of-life care.

The Medical Center has an extensive research program concentrating on
mental health, HIV, prostate cancer, infectious diseases, neurological
disorders, renal disease and in diseases affecting bones and joints.
Residency training programs are provided to 150+ residents in most of
the medical and surgical subspecialties as well as Pathology, Pharmacy,
Social Work, Audiology/Speech Pathology, Nuclear Medicine, Nutrition &
Food Service, Physical & Occupational Therapy, Psychiatry and Radiology.
As a result, an active teaching role has been developed to accomplish
the hospital's mission of patient care, medical education and research,
and a complete range of medical, surgical and psychiatric subspecialty
services are provided. Additionally, the University of Miami Miller
School of Medicine was awarded a \$2 million grant from the DW Reynolds
Foundation to train medical students and residents about the care of
frail older adults in treating major geriatric syndromes competently.
This program will involve the University's institutional clinical
partners -- Miami VAHS, Jackson Memorial Medical Center, and Miami
Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged.

The Miami VAHS also trains seven full-time, predoctoral psychology
interns and approximately 25 part-time psychology practicum students.

## Training Model and Program Philosophy

Training for post-doctoral fellows will occur in three main areas:
rotations, seminars, and research. Competencies in these three areas
will be evaluated at the middle and end of each 6-month rotation using a
competency-based evaluation form. At the beginning of the fellowship,
each fellow will meet with the Director of Training and the
post-doctoral staff to discuss and determine training opportunities and
rotation selections. Both the fellow and his/her supervisors will
jointly develop a training contract for the fellowship year outlining
goals and objectives.     

## Program Goals & Objectives

The goal of the Miami VAHS Psychology Post-Doctoral Training Program is
to prepare fellows to function effectively and autonomously in priority
areas of health care for veterans. To that end, clinical opportunities
and didactic experiences are designed to facilitate the development of
competencies, professionalism, and advanced knowledge and skills that
are necessary for the delivery of quality patient care in complex
psychological arenas. Post-doctoral fellows are encouraged to develop
their professional roles as clinicians, mentors, supervisors,
consultants, team members and researchers. On-going supervision and
didactic experiences are a yearlong process in conjunction with the
concentration emphasis in Geropsychology/Neuropsychology or Health
Psychology. Within each area of emphasis, fellows will be expected to
achieve competency in a) psychological diagnosis and assessment, b)
psychotherapeutic intervention, c) professional conduct, ethics and
legal matters, d) individual and cultural diversity, e) professional
consultation, f) scholarly inquiry, and g) supervision and teaching.

Specific competencies are listed by rotation in theTraining Experiences
section.

The Miami VAHS utilizes a competency based scientist-practitioner model.
Our philosophy is that competencies can and will be demonstrated through
a variety of formats. The Residency Committee has identified six minimum
competencies that must be demonstrated by all residents:

**A. Assessment/Diagnosis Competency**

> ***1. Psychological Evaluation:*** Residents will be able to collect
> relevant data from the patient\'s chart and files, obtain information
> by conducting an appropriate clinical interview, and administer
> testing instruments as needed.
>
> ***2. Psychological Reports:*** Residents are expected to be able to
> write an
>
> integrated and relevant report that clearly summarizes the assessment
> results, presents the patient\'s strengths and weaknesses, and makes
> appropriate recommendations and responses to the consultation
> question.
>
> ***3. Diagnosis:*** Residents are expected to be able to make
> appropriate diagnostic recommendations based upon DSM-IV criteria
> using history, assessment, and clinical interview data.

**B. Intervention Competency**

> ***1. Conceptualization***: Residents will be able to understand and
> describe patients\' problems in a theoretical framework that helps to
> provide guidelines and strategies for appropriate interventions with
> the patient.
>
> ***2. Individual Psychotherapy***: Residents will be able to
> demonstrate appropriate and effective skills in individual
> psychotherapy, including the ability to establish rapport with
> patients, engage in active listening skills, and brief psychotherapy.
> Residents will be familiar with a variety of psychological approaches
> and interventions and will be able to demonstrate appropriate
> utilization of them.
>
> ***3. Group Psychotherapy:*** Residents will be able to demonstrate
> appropriate and effective skills in group psychotherapy. Residents
> will be able to demonstrate psychoeducational skills as well as more
> traditional therapeutic skills in support groups or process groups.

**C. Consultation/Communication Competency**

> ***1. Clinical Pertinence:*** The resident will be able to determine
> the relevance and clinical pertinence of a referral or consultation
> from another professional, focusing on if the referral question is
> clear and answerable. The resident will be able to provide appropriate
> and relevant feedback about the referral question to the referral
> source.
>
> ***2. Clinical Data:*** The resident will be able to gather relevant
> and important data for determining the clinically pertinent question
> and an appropriate response by talking to the patient and his or her
> treatment team, examining the patient\'s charts and records, and
> consulting with appropriate staff and supervisors.
>
> **3. Communication Skills:** The resident will be able to
> conceptualize and communicate all professional services including
> consultations, assessments, and interventions in a clear and
> understandable way to other professionals, patients, and their
> significant others. This communication will be in both verbal and
> written form. Residents will be able to establish constructive and
> open relationships with all parties concerned, and will ensure that
> communication will continue where needed or appropriate (i.e.,
> follow-up).
>
> ***4. Treatment Team:*** Residents will be able to function as valued
> and useful members of the multidisciplinary treatment team with which
> they work. They will respect the strengths and resources of other
> professionals, and will use these resources as appropriate. Residents
> will be able to educate the treatment team about the skills and
> resources that they bring to the team as psychologists. Residents will
> be able to establish open communication and rapport with the treatment
> team, and function as a team member and colleague.
>
> ***5. Timeliness:*** Residents will provide all professional services
> within the time limits established by Psychology Section and the Miami
> VA Healthcare System. Residents will be aware of all guidelines and
> requirements about timeliness, and will recognize their importance for
> effective and professional service care delivery to patients.
>
> ***6. Documentation***: Residents will document in writing all
> professional services and interactions as appropriate and required.
> Residents will be aware of all requirements and guidelines about
> documentation established by Psychology Section and the Miami VA
> Healthcare System. Residents will work closely with their supervisors
> to document in a professional, informative, and responsible manner.
> Residents will recognize the legal, ethical, and professional
> importance of documentation.

**D. Professional/Ethical Competency**

> ***1. APA Guidelines:*** Residents will be familiar with the most
> current version of the Ethical Principles established by the American
> Psychological Association.
>
> ***2. Florida DPR Guidelines:*** Residents will be familiar with
> relevant guidelines and legal issues established by the Florida
> Department of Professional Regulation, including legal obligations to
> inform state agencies when they suspect abuse of children, elderly, or
> disabled.
>
> ***3. VA Healthcare System Guidelines:*** Residents will be familiar
> with relevant guidelines and rules established by the Department of
> Veterans Affairs and the Miami VA Healthcare System, including
> Patients Rights and Responsibilities.
>
> ***4. Practical Implications:*** Residents will be able to apply
> ethical and legal principles in their daily clinical practice and
> professional interactions. They are aware of the need to consult with
> supervisors when ethical and legal questions arise. They should be
> sensitive to the impact these considerations have on their functioning
> as a psychologist and as a professional in the VA health care system.
> They are familiar with professional liability issues and risk
> management techniques.
>
> ***5. Professional Responsibilities:*** Over the course of the
> residency year, residents should develop a primary professional
> identity as a psychologist, and should demonstrate this by taking on
> and carrying out professional responsibilities. Residents are also
> aware of the problems created by taking on too many responsibilities,
> and learn to manage workload demands competently.
>
> ***6. Professional Appearance:*** Residents are aware of the
> importance of appearance in their professional identity. They are
> familiar with guidelines established by Psychology Section and the
> Miami VAHS about appearance and dress codes. They are aware of the
> transference issues that may be created by particular styles of dress,
> appearance, or other items worn or exhibited.
>
> ***7. Professional Role:*** Residents act appropriately within the
> role of a professional, both as a psychologist and as an employee of
> the Department of Veterans Affairs. They are aware of and observe
> appropriate boundaries and conduct. They recognize that their
> behaviors will reflect not only upon themselves but upon other
> psychologists and VA employees as well.
>
> ***8. Professional Judgement:*** Residents should demonstrate sound
> professional judgement. In particular, residents should recognize and
> respond to potential for self-harm and dangerousness to others, severe
> and acute psychopathology, and the ability to make decisions about
> appropriate services and roles provided as professionals.

**E. Cultural Diversity Competency:**

***1. General Multi-Cultural and Age-Specific Issues:*** Residents
recognize the

> importance of being aware of individual differences, particularly
> those associated with gender, culture, race, age, sexual orientation,
> religion and similar factors. Residents are able to identify such
> issues when assessing and working with patients and their families,
> and take these issues into account when providing consultation, making
> psychodiagnostic conclusions and recommendations for treatment.
>
> ***2. Assessment/Intervention Issues:*** Residents are aware of
> limitations of psychological testing results when appropriate norms
> are not available on the relevant sub-groups. Residents recognize the
> importance of these issues when providing psychological interventions
> and education and make sure to address such issues when appropriate
> and take them into account when targeting problems and interventions
> with patients and their families. Residents raise and discuss these
> issues during supervision and obtain background information when they
> encounter issues with which they are not familiar.

**F. Research/Scholarly Inquiry Competency:**

> ***1. Empirical Methodology:*** Residents are familiar with empirical
> methodology such as experimental and quasi-experimental designs,
> clinical trials, statistical analysis, data collection, and methods
> for creating and implementing a valid research project that tests a
> hypothesis. Residents should also be familiar with issues in quality
> and performance improvement.
>
> ***2. Professional Reports:*** Residents will be able to write a
> clear, comprehensive yet concise report which summarizes their
> research designs and hypotheses, the sample of subjects utilized,
> measures and interventions utilized to gather data and information,
> results and statistical analyses conducted, and conclusions and
> recommendations based upon the project. Residents will also make a
> professional presentation to their peers and supervisors based upon
> the completed project.

## Program Structure

While Psychology Fellows complete a Clinical Psychology Residency, the
Miami VAHS offers these fellowships in two distinct emphasis areas:
Health Psychology and Gero/Neuro Psychology.

**TRAINING EXPERIENCES**

**ROTATIONS**

Fellows will be expected to complete two six-month rotations from those
described below with rotations required in their area of emphasis.
Rotations provide the clinical core of post-doctoral training and will
constitute a major portion of competency evaluation. The majority of
fellows' activities will be on rotations working with patients,
families, staff, and being a key participant in interdisciplinary team
meetings. Fellows will also be working with predoctoral interns and
practicum students and will be involved with the hierarchical
supervision of these students and training of interns along with their
clinical responsibilities on most of their rotations.

**DIDACTIC SEMINARS/ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIB ILITIES**

There are a wide variety of required seminars for
Geropsychology/Neuropsychology and Health Psychology fellows throughout
the year. Fellows with the emphasis area of
Geropsychology/Neuropsychology are expected to teach seminars on
neuropsychological aspects of assessment and treatment of the elderly
and fellows with the emphasis area of Health Psychology are expected to
teach seminars related to disease management. Both fellows are expected
to manage predoctoral case conferences throughout the year, and provide
feedback on assessment and psychotherapy cases to the interns (in
conjunction with staff psychologists.) Post-doctoral fellows may choose
to attend optional seminars that include ongoing post-doctoral seminars
not in their emphasis area, predoctoral seminars and medical school
seminars/rounds that are held throughout the year.

Additionally, the fellows will be responsible for organizing a weekly
journal club alternating topics between the two areas of specialization
(Geropsychology/ Neuropsychology and Health Psychology). Practicum
students, interns, and members of psychology staff attend the journal
club. It may also be attended by interdisciplinary team members in
specific disciplines related to the areas of specialization.

**RESEARCH**

Research has been an integral component of the mission of the Miami VAHS
and is reflected in the training of Psychology post-doctoral fellows.
The overarching goal of the research portfolio at the Miami VAHS is to
produce more effective treatment modalities for the care of our veteran
population. Currently, there are more than 90 research primary
investigators involved in approximately 200 research projects concerned
with a broad range of health problems, most of which are prevalent in
our veteran patients. During orientation at the beginning of the year,
fellows will be given information related to on-going research programs
in their related emphasis areas which include: (1) a seven-year
multi-site cooperative study on diabetes, (2) effect of drug dose,
absorption, and metabolism for the treatment of elderly patients
suffering from seizures, (3) treatment of pain and improvement of
quality of life for spinal cord injured patients, (4) a variety of GRECC
aging studies, (5) development and degeneration of brain cells including
response to disease and trauma, (6) neuronal injury and disease, (7)
effect of HIV on neuronal cells, (8) functions of the nervous system
involving neuronal cells bequeathed by organ donors, (9) management of
HIV and AIDS, (10) hepatitis C, (11) organ transplantation, (12)
metacognition, (13) memory functioning, (14) emotional factors affecting
neuropsychological test performance, (15) treatment of pain using drugs
vs. alternative medicine, (16) genetic influences of immunological
responses to Gulf War Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, (17)
functional recovery of amputees, (18) the impact of multidisciplinary
treatment of obesity, and (19) telehealth interventions in the treatment
of obesity.

Fellows will be involved in a research project from the beginning of the
year under the direction of a mentor with similar interest and
background as the project. The expectation is that the fellow, working
with the mentor, will complete a project (often archival in nature),
write and submit it for presentation at a national meeting (VHA or
professional society conference) or submit for publication to a
peer-reviewed journal. Fellows will also present their research findings
at the end of the fellowship year to psychologists and other interested
staff at the Medical Center for continuing education credit.

## Training Experiences 

**Areas of Emphasis and Description of Clinical Program Settings**

Emphasis areas of training for post-doctoral psychology fellows are
Geropsychology/Neuropsychology and Health Psychology. Miami VA staff
psychologists assume major leadership, clinical, training, teaching, and
research roles within these two areas. Clinical programs and research
opportunities related to training in these two emphasis areas are
delineated below.

***Neuropsychology Clinic***

The major training focus in the Neuropsychology Clinic is the provision
of diagnostic assessment services to patients with known or suspected
brain dysfunction. The Clinic, which was founded over 30 years ago,
provides consultation services to all areas of the Medical Center. Over
250 consults are received yearly from departments throughout the Medical
Center, with questions commonly pertaining to diagnosis, competency,
measuring changes over time, and assisting in planning a program of
rehabilitation. An integral role is the provision of assessment services
and feedback to patients and their families. In addition, clinical cases
are presented to assist in the training and supervision of
neuropsychology interns and practicum students. Exposure to the full
spectrum of neurological disease conditions, with a patient population
that is diverse with respect to age, education, and cultural background
is available. The most common diagnostic groups represented include
dementia of various etiologies, traumatic brain injury, stroke, chronic
alcoholism, Parkinsonism, schizophrenia, PTSD, bipolar disorder,
depression, and multiple sclerosis.

The Miami VA Neuropsychology Clinic enjoys a collegial relationship with
the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and participates in
neurology, neuroanatomy, and neuropathology conferences and grand rounds
on a routine basis. This participation enhances the training in the
Neuropsychology Clinic by providing exposure to patients of all ages,
disease entities, and with diverse assessment/diagnoses.

***Geriatric Neuropsychology- NHCU/GPCC***

In FY06, the Miami VA Medical Center Nursing Home Care Unit (NHCU) had
90 beds housed in a separate (though physically connected) building
adjacent to the medical center. Residents present with varied medical
and/or psychiatric diagnoses including severe/chronic medical
conditions, degenerative neurological disorders, traumatic brain
injuries, spinal cord injuries, dementing illnesses, schizophrenia, and
bipolar disorder. Ages of the residents run the gamut from early 30s to
late 90s. The focus of the NHCU is primarily long-term care (average
length of stay is 125 days; average daily census is 90 patients) with
rehabilitation provided to those residents deemed able to benefit from
this intervention. One full-time psychologist is assigned exclusively to
the NHCU providing a full range of psychological services for the
residents and staff. All care is coordinated by and provided under the
auspices of an interdisciplinary treatment team of which the staff
psychologist is an active and vital member. Weekly interdisciplinary
treatment team meetings are held during which resident progress is
reviewed and treatment plans updated as required. The psychologist in
the NHCU routinely conducts neuropsychological evaluations on patients
with strokes, various dementias and traumatic brain injuries to aid in
diagnosis and, as importantly, treatment decisions, decision-making
capacity, and family considerations. These batteries are tailored to the
abilities of the patients and address the diagnostic question(s).

Additionally, opportunities for training in the assessment of the
elderly adult are availability in Geriatric Primary Care Clinic (GPCC).
Offering a full range of services, the interdisciplinary team includes
an attending Geriatrician (responsible for 10 fellows who rotate through
the clinic), ARNP, RN, Pharmacist, Psychiatrist and Psychologist.
Serving over 1,800 healthy to extremely frail veterans over the age of
70 in this clinic, the opportunity for the detection, evaluation and
treatment of early dementias abounds. Partial and full
neuropsychological batteries are conducted in GPCC to aid the
interdisciplinary team in decisions regarding treatment and diagnosis.
Interactions with families, as in the NHCU, are a critical aspect of
care of this elderly population.

***Disease Management***

Chronic conditions such as Hepatitis C virus, diabetes, obesity,
congestive heart failure, and HIV pose significant challenges to the
quality of life and overall well being of veteran-patients with these
diagnoses. Psychologists working in disease management accept consults
and respond to intervention requests from Primary Care, Infectious
Diseases, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Organ Transplant Coordinator,
Cardiology, Pulmonary, Women's Health, and other medical clinics.

There is a high prevalence of Hepatitis C virus infection among the
veteran population. In 2000, the Miami VA Hepatology Service was
designated one of two VA Centers of Excellence in Research and Education
for Hepatitis C. The clinic provides treatment to HCV+ veterans at all
phases of disease management including screening, initiation of
combination treatment, continued testing and tracking, and liver
transplantation candidacy assessments. The VA Office of Employee
Education in conjunction with the Centers of Excellence in Research and
Education for Hepatitis C holds annual HCV symposia, and psychology
staff assigned to Hepatology Service have attended this program.

The Special Immunology program for treatment of veterans with HIV/AIDS
was developed in 1985. In 1987 it became one of four national VA
Clinical AIDS centers. The program has received national recognition as
a "best practice" program. Psychology has maintained an active role in
service to the inpatient and outpatient programs as part of the
multidisciplinary staff comprised of fellows, residents, nurse
practitioners, nurse educators, social workers, nutritionists, physician
assistants and dentists.

Approximately 70% of veteran patients are overweight or obese and many
have co-morbid disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic pain,
and sleep disturbances. The majority of MOVE patients also have comorbid
psychiatric diagnoses. The MOVE (Managing Overweight/Obesity in Veterans
Everywhere) Program clinical team includes members from Psychology,
Nutrition, Physical Therapy, Endocrinology and Patient Education.
Approximately 900 veterans were seen last year in MOVE at the medical
center, the Oakland Park Outpatient Clinic and via telehealth to Key
West and Key Largo clinics. Psychology team teaches 10-week group
sessions, conducts follow-up drop in sessions, and follows veterans
referred to the Endocrinology Clinic after completion of the 10-week
MOVE program. Psychologists are active with this program at the local,
regional, and national levels and attend annual symposia and have
on-going research programs related to weight management.

***Primary Care/Consultation Liaison***

Primary Care is the coordinated interdisciplinary provision of health
care that consists of health promotion, disease prevention,
comprehensive management of acute and chronic medical conditions, mental
health concerns, and patient education. Since the institution of the
managed care model at this facility, Psychology has provided vital,
multi-faceted mental health services in response to physician requests
to intervene on a wide range of typically non-chronic mental health, and
health-risk conditions.

***Palliative Care/Hospice***

Palliative care is provided across inpatient and outpatient settings,
including Geriatrics and Extended Care (Intermediate Care/Hospice,
Nursing Home, Home-Based Primary Care) as well as Acute Medicine and
Intensive Care. Consultation in specialized settings includes:

-   The Courtelis Center for Bio-psychosocial Oncology at the University
    of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Sylvester Cancer Center, which
    offers opportunities to learn and practice complementary therapies
    in the care of patients with terminal and chronically disabling
    illnesses.

-   The Hospice-Veterans Partnership of Florida, a statewide initiative
    to provide leadership, technical assistance and program development
    recommendations to : (a)strengthen relationships between Florida's
    hospice programs and VA facilities, and (b) improve veterans' access
    to hospice and palliative care across all sites and levels of care.

***Pain Clinic***

The Miami VAMC Pain Clinic has operated as a specialty care clinic since
1995 and is currently staffed with two anesthesiologists and two
physiatrists who have completed fellowships in Pain Medicine, two full
time RNs, one full time ARNP and part time positions from Pharmacy and
Psychology. These disciplines provide members of the Pain Clinic's Core
Team. Additional extended team members are provided from Physical
Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Exercise Physiology, Recreation Therapy,
Social Work and Psychiatry. Anesthesiology residents, Pharmacy
residents, Psychology interns and practicum students and students from
the other disciplines are regularly included in assessments, treatment
planning meetings and weekly follow up meetings.

The Pain Clinic receives over 20 consultation requests per week with
approximately 80% coming for outpatients (veterans, DoD, CHAMPVA and
employees). Each outpatient is assessed by disciplines in the Core Team
and individualized treatment plans are devised. Generally, Psychology
other core team providers conduct their interviews on the same day so
that patients clearly understand the relationship between physical and
emotional symptoms and treatment.

In addition to assessments, Psychology is responsible for individual
counseling, psychological assessment and referrals to Psychiatry if
indicated. Psychology facilitates a weekly Psychology Pain Management
group (social support, non-pharmacological pain management techniques
and pain education) and it is anticipated that in FY08 this will include
telehealth hook ups to two outpatient clinics that are more than an
hour's drive from the Medical Center.

**Post-Doctoral Rotations**

***There are five possible post-doctoral clinical rotations as outlined
below.***

1.  Neuropsychology Rotation (Gero/Neuro track) - The Post-Doctoral
    Clinical Neuropsychology Rotation provides advanced training in
    neuropsychological assessment and a solid foundation in
    brain-behavior relationships, the latter including neuropathology
    and functional neuroanatomy. This is accomplished through a wide
    range of clinical experiences, many of which involve
    interdisciplinary collaboration. These experiences include training
    in direct patient care, provision of supervision to interns and
    practicum students, involvement in structured didactic activities,
    and research opportunities. Skill enhancement will occur in numerous
    areas, including clinical interviewing, behavioral observation, test
    administration, scoring, interpretation, and clinical report
    writing. An over-riding emphasis is on facilitating a better working
    knowledge of brain-behavior relationships. A comprehensive test
    battery is typically used, which includes the Halstead-Reitan
    Battery, WAIS-III, WMS-III (Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction
    subtests), MMPI-2, the Rey Complex Figure, and a number of
    additional measures of executive and language functions. A shorter
    and more flexible test battery is frequently used to evaluate
    patients who have more severe cognitive deficits and are unable to
    provide valid or meaningful results using the more comprehensive
    battery. Additionally, training in functional neuroanatomy and
    neuropathology will be provided through (1) A weekly case conference
    that includes a review of the examinee's medical history and its
    relevance for central nervous system functioning, (2) Neuropathology
    rounds that entail brain cutting, which is a routine part of the
    autopsy conducted by several faculty members in the Neuropathology
    Division of the Pathology Department at the University of Miami
    Miller School of Medicine, (3) Neurology ward rounds, that are
    conducted by the attending staff neurologist, which provide clinical
    training to neurology residents in the context of direct patient
    care, (4) Neuropathology grand rounds that are held weekly and
    consist of one-hour presentations of one or two clinical cases, (5)
    Neurology grand rounds that are held weekly and consist of a
    one-hour presentation of one or two clinical cases, and (6)
    Neurology Case Conference which is a weekly one-hour presentation of
    an inpatient who, in most cases, presents with a motor and/or
    sensory abnormality. The assessment philosophy embraced in the
    Neuropsychology Clinic emphasizes the importance of quality service,
    psychometric integrity, detailed observation, collection of
    essential interview data, and the appropriate use of qualitative
    information.

***Upon completion of the rotation, the fellow will be competent to:***

-   conduct a neuropsychological interview

-   administer and score the Halstead-Russell Neuropsychological Test
    Battery

-   select a comprehensive test battery for patients with more
    compromised cognitive functioning

-   attain a basic understanding of interpretive principles as they
    apply to neuropsychological test performance

-   identify neuroanatomic structures at an advanced level

-   attain an understanding of neuropathological conditions at an
    advanced level

2.  Geriatric Neuropsychology Rotation (Gero/Neuro track) - The skills
    required of psychologists as professionals in nursing home settings
    and outpatient clinics have expanded considerably beyond the once
    traditional duties of consultant providing general assessment,
    psychotherapy, and behavioral interventions. Additional duties now
    include neuropsychological screening evaluations, pain management,
    preventive health interventions, end-of-life/hospice/palliative care
    interventions, education of nursing home residents/families/staff,
    participation as a full-time member of the interdisciplinary
    treatment team working in collaboration with myriad other
    disciplines, group psychotherapy, and
    psychotherapy/bereavement/supportive interventions with family
    members. That these services be provided to a diverse array of
    nursing home residents and primary care outpatients (in age as well
    as in medical/psychiatric diagnoses including severe/chronic medical
    conditions, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and
    dementing illnesses) and their families presents yet another
    challenge. The Miami VA Medical Center employs one full-time staff
    psychologist assigned exclusively to the NHCU and one half-time
    psychologist in GPCC to provide the services outlined above.
    Post-doctoral fellows participating in the program have the option
    of rotating through the NHCU and through the GPCC working directly
    with the staff psychologist at a more advanced and independent level
    than predoctoral interns, essentially assuming the role of "junior
    staff member." Examples of this include supervision of predoctoral
    interns who rotate through the NHCU and GPCC, participation in
    selected didactic/training opportunities offered through the GRECC,
    and provision of didactic experiences for fourth year medical
    students rotating through the NHCU and for geriatric fellows in
    GPCC.

***By the end of the rotation the fellow will achieve:***

-   in-depth experiences functioning as the psychologist assigned to
    provide services to a selected unit in the NHCU/GPCC (under
    supervision) including fulfilling the role as a member of the
    interdisciplinary treatment team and team building functions.

-   in-depth experience working with our varied NHCU/GPCC population
    including significant exposure to the myriad problems (both medical
    and psychological/ psychiatric) found among our patients.

-   in-depth experience in the provision of psychotherapy, supportive
    therapy, family therapy, and behavioral interventions with NHCU
    residents and GPCC outpatients.

-   in-depth experience in the entire process of receipt of consults
    from professional staff, determination regarding the proper
    disposition of the consult, provision of service, documentation of
    the results and written feedback to other professional staff.

-   in-depth experience in the area of neuropsychological screening
    assessments and psychological assessment (where applicable)
    including selection of instruments to be administered,
    administration, scoring, interpretation, report writing, and
    feedback to both NHCU/GPCC patients and the interdisciplinary
    treatment team.

-   in-depth experience in the role of consultant to all other members
    of the interdisciplinary treatment team.

-   in-depth experience to become familiar with dysphagia that will
    include didactics, observing videofluoroscopic evaluations,
    discussion of food consistencies and nutritional concerns, and
    feeding issues.

-   in-depth experience to become familiar with wounds and wound care
    that will include didactics and wound care rounds as scheduled with
    the nurse practitioner.

3.  Health Psychology/Consultation & Liaison Rotation (Health track) -
    Psychology receives consult requests from the various specialty
    medical and mental health clinics, including Primary Care, Special
    Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Organ
    Transplant, Cardiology, Pulmonary and Women's Health. Psychology
    schedules and conducts comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments,
    including testing when indicated utilizing the Millon Behavioral
    Medicine Diagnostic, MMPI-2, and Personality Assessment Inventory,
    among other measures. Further, treatment planning is developed with
    a host of intervention options provided by psychology staff. In
    certain cases, referral to other hospital-wide specialty clinics
    such as substance abuse services and the outpatient Post-Traumatic
    Stress Disorder team is initiated. Additionally, speedy referral to
    Mental Health Outreach for psychiatric evaluation for psychotropic
    medication is regularly practiced. Within Consultation & Liaison
    Psychology works collaboratively with Psychiatry attendings and
    house staff.

> Consultation & Liaison psychology routinely responds to requests for
> organ transplant
>
> screening evaluations. The screening evaluations involve structured
> interviews, assessment utilizing the Folstein MMSE, MMPI-2, and
> neuropsychological assessment when appropriate. Psychology Fellows
> under the supervision of licensed staff will have the opportunity to
> perform these evaluations.

***By the end of the rotation the fellow:***

-   will demonstrate the ability to conduct an accurate biopsychosocial
    diagnostic interview with a behavioral medicine focus that addresses
    the referral question. The fellow's evaluation will be driven by
    DSM-IV criteria as well as other relevant medical, psychiatric,
    behavioral, collateral and assessment data about the patient. The
    fellow will demonstrate these skills with utilization of supervision
    to clarify points of question regarding clinical conceptualization
    and diagnosis.

-   will demonstrate the ability to correctly administer, score and
    interpret commonly used self-report objective measures and integrate
    this information into the comprehensive evaluation.

-   will demonstrate an ability to complete and file a high quality
    consult response (comprehensive evaluation) within deadlines
    mandated by policy, using minimal supervision and guidance.

-   will demonstrate the ability to develop and write comprehensive
    treatment plans, using published models which include identification
    and prioritization of patients' problem(s), goals and objectives of
    treatment, manner of monitoring progress in treatment, modality of
    intervention, and length of treatment.

-   will demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate the results
    of the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment plan and components, via
    written and verbal modalities, to the referral source and other
    members of the multidisciplinary team, the patient and family
    members when indicated, using limited supervisory direction.

-   will demonstrate application of knowledge and understanding of and
    sensitivity to issues related to cultural diversity and individual
    differences

4.  Disease Management Rotation (Health track) - Psychology staff
    working in Disease Management offer treatment in the form of
    specialty therapy groups, brief solution-focused individual therapy,
    and psychoeducation and support. Fellows will facilitate the
    following groups by providing education, evaluation, support, and
    psychotherapy : The Stress Management Skills group, The HIV/AIDS
    group, Diabetes Psychoeducation and Diabetes Management groups,
    Hepatitis C Virus group, The MOVE Program (weight management group.)

> Individual Lifestyle Management Services are provided by psychology
> that work in tandem with psychiatry services, physical medicine &
> rehabilitation (exercise physiologist), patient education, social
> work, recreation therapy, and nutrition and food. Veterans referred
> for this service are diagnosed with a wide range of medical conditions
> and they typically cope with special needs that necessitate customized
> treatment planning.
>
> Psychology service enjoys a collaborative relationship with University
> of Miami Behavioral Medicine Program. Research involvement with this
> program can be developed.

***By the end of the rotation the fellow:***

-   will demonstrate an ability to conduct individual (short-term) and
    group psychotherapy in accordance with published models shown to be
    effective in treatment of specific medical conditions. Supervisory
    observation will be employed via co-facilitation of groups or
    audio/visual taping of sessions.

-   will demonstrate an ability to provide psycho-education addressing
    various topics in disease management and health psychology with
    guidance from supervisor.

-   will demonstrate ability to provide effective individual
    psychotherapy using the short-term model to several patients per
    week and facilitate at least two groups offered through the rotation
    per week.

-   will demonstrate application of knowledge and understanding of and
    sensitivity to issues related to cultural diversity and individual
    differences.

5.  Pain/Palliative Care Rotation Rotation (Health track and Gero/Neuro
    track) Experiences will include both outpatient (pain) and inpatient
    (palliative care) involvement, though patients come from either
    setting. Psychological assessment through interviews and utilization
    of a modified version of the National Pain Data Base and the
    Multidimensional Pain Inventory is emphasized in the Pain Clinic.
    Fellows will participate in assessments; facilitate weekly group
    therapy/education/support groups; participate in interdisciplinary
    staff meetings; attend bi-weekly multidisciplinary pain grand rounds
    (with University of Miami Miller School of Medicine staff and
    fellows); and regularly consult with members of the
    interdisciplinary Pain Clinic extended team. Fellows will also be
    available to patients during pain procedures both in the Pain Clinic
    and the OR. If interested, fellows may also be able to provide
    biofeedback to pain patients. As pain management is often a major
    component of palliative care, the Fellow on this rotation will also
    be expected to fully participate on the Palliative Care team,
    frequently acting as the liaison between Palliative Care and the
    Pain Clinic. Fellows will provide supervision to psychology
    students/interns in both pain and palliative care settings.

> As a member of the Palliative Care Consultation Team, the fellow
> participates in interdisciplinary treatment planning, evaluation and
> program development. Experiences include providing a full range of
> psychological services (i.e., assessment, intervention and
> consultation) emphasizing the integration and application of complex,
> clinical data for patients with advanced illness and their families;
> working with the Ethics Advisory Committee to provide consultation in
> end-of-life decision making, including withholding and withdrawing
> medical treatment; participation with the Palliative Care Task Force
> in developing and presenting curricula for interdisciplinary education
> in end-of-life care. (The latter includes opportunities for training
> University of Miami Miller School of Medicine students, residents and
> faculty in topics such as the compassionate communication of "bad
> news," advance care planning, symptom management and caring for
> patients when cure is not possible.)

***By the end of the rotation, the fellow will have:***

-   greater understanding of the complex interactions of physical,
    emotional and behavioral aspects of chronic pain and suffering,
    including those associated with advanced illness.

-   enhanced understanding of the philosophy and precepts of palliative
    care.

-   developed appropriate skills to gather necessary medical and
    psychological data for pain diagnoses and treatment decisions.

-   the ability to utilize appropriate treatment modalities with
    patients with a variety of chronic pain and medical diagnoses. This
    will include a familiarity with pharmacological and interventional
    procedures for the management of psychological and non-psychological
    symptoms.

-   increased skills in communicating with patients, families and health
    care staff and in negotiating conflict concerning end-of-life
    issues.

-   improved ability to explore and address cultural and spiritual
    aspects of end-of-life care.

-   developed skills in providing ethics consultation in end-of-life
    decision-making.

-   increased skills in interdisciplinary collaboration and education in
    palliative care and pain management.

***Program Evaluation:***

At each rotation's end, there will be written evaluation of the fellows'
progress as well as verbal feedback given to the fellows by each
supervisor and the Director of Training. Each quarter (mid-rotation and
at the end of rotation), verbal feedback will be provided. The
behaviorally based competency evaluation will be reviewed by the
post-doctoral subcommittee and any deficit areas will be addressed with
the fellow.

Additionally, rotation learning objectives will be reviewed mid- and end
of rotation to determine appropriateness and status. At the end of each
six-month rotation, fellows will complete an evaluation of supervisors
and rotations, and at the end of the fellowship year, they will complete
evaluations of the fellowship, research opportunities and seminars. This
feedback will be used to modify, improve, and/or enhance the quality of
fellowship training.

## Requirements for Completion

In order to successfully complete the 2080-hour fellowship program,
residents will receive written and oral evaluations from rotation
supervisors at mid-year and at the end of the year. The competencies
assess are as follows:

**COMPETENCIES**

***Assessment/Diagnosis:*** An ongoing, interactive, and inclusive
process that serves to describe, conceptualize, characterize, and
predict relevant aspects of a patient to include, but not limited to,
use of standardized measures of cognitive, intellectual, clinical
symptomatology, and personality; synthesizing the data gathered through
the assessment process to arrive at an appropriate diagnostic
classification.

**Intervention**: Involves activities that promote, restore, sustain, or
enhance positive functioning and a sense of well being in clients
through preventive, developmental, or remedial services.

***Consultation/Communication:*** Effective communication with
interdisciplinary team members, patients, and organizations in order to
convey findings and provide recommendations relevant to the needs of the
referral source, treatment teams, patients, family members, and other
professionals.

***Professional/Ethical Behavior:*** Acquisition of knowledge and
execution of problem-solving strategies and professional behavior in
addressing issues and conflicts related to moral values, ethics, law,
and conduct.

***Cultural Diversity:*** Acquisition of knowledge and understanding of
and sensitivity to issues related to cultural diversity and individual
differences.

***Research/Scholarly Inquiry:*** Systematic mode of inquiry involving
problem identification, acquisition, organization, and interpretation of
information pertaining to psychological

phenomenon, and application of the information and principles in
practice.

**COMPETENCY RATINGS DESCRIPTIONS**

NA Not applicable for this training experience/Not assessed during
training experience

A Advanced/Skills comparable to autonomous practice at the licensure
level.

> Rating expected at completion of postdoctoral training. Competency
> attained at full psychology staff privilege level, however as an
> unlicensed trainee, supervision is required while in training status.

HI High Intermediate/Occasional supervision needed.

> A frequent rating at completion of internship. Competency attained in
> all but non-routine cases; supervisor provides overall management of
> trainee\'s activities; depth of supervision varies as clinical needs
> warrant.

I Intermediate/Should remain a focus of supervision. Common rating
throughout internship and practica. Routine supervision of each
activity.

E Entry level/Continued intensive supervision is needed. Most common
rating for practica. Routine, but intensive, supervision is needed.

R Needs remedial work

Requires remedial work if trainee is in internship or post-doc.

***Goal for post-doctoral evaluations done prior to 12 months***

All competency areas will be rated at a level of competence of HI or A.
Only areas where the post-doc has no prior experience will be rated I.
No competency areas will be rated as R or E.

***Goal for post-doctoral evaluations done at 12 months***

At least 80% of competency areas will be rated at level of competence of
A. No competency areas will be rated as I, R or E. Note: exceptions
would be specialty area rotations that would take a more intensive
course of study to achieve this level of competency and the major
supervisor, training director and resident agree that a level of HI is
appropriate for that particular rotation.

Illegal, Unethical, or Unprofessional Behavior. If a supervisor or
fellow resident believes that an resident has engaged in significant or
repeated instances of illegal, unethical, or unprofessional behavior,
then he or she is required to report these concerns to the Training
Director. The Training Director will investigate the situation and
report findings to the Residency Training Committee and Chief of
Psychology. The Residency Training Committee can place the fellow on
probation by majority vote, and for very serious problems, immediately
terminate the fellow from the residency program by a majority vote.
Fellows are responsible for and will be held up to all of the
appropriate ethical guidelines and professional laws established by the
Department of Veterans Affairs, the local Psychology Service, the
American Psychological Association, and the Florida Department of
Professional Regulation.

## Facility and Training Resources

Each post-doctoral fellow will be assigned his/her own office distinct
from predoctoral intern offices with telephone and networked computers.
Internet and MICROMEDEX access are also available at each computer
station. Secretarial support is limited for all psychology staff, but
access to needed equipment, materials, and medical center resources is
available to staff and trainees service wide. Additionally,
post-doctoral fellows will have lab coats and laundry service, pagers,
and free Doctors' Lot parking at the facility.

Full library resources are available. The medical center maintains a
professional library with over 2500 volumes and 390 current journal
subscriptions, 22 of which are journals related to Psychology. Direct
access to MEDLINE, PSYCHLIT, MDConsult, PsychARTICLES, WEBMD, MICROMEDEX
as well as other databases is available. Services include interlibrary
loans, literature searching, database education, and meeting rooms.
Additionally, access to the University of Miami Miller School of
Medicine\'s Library with 214,544 volumes and 1788 journal subscriptions
is available to all Psychology Staff, post-doctoral fellows, and
interns. Access to the University of Miami main campus library is also
available to our staff and fellows. The VAHS Medical Media Service
provides support for printing/copying, access to video teleconferencing
resources, telemedicine and a variety of audiovisual equipment for
educational purposes.

## Administrative Policies and Procedures

***Conflict Resolution and Grievances / Due Process.*** If a resident
has conflicts or difficulties with a supervisor, the resident\'s first
recourse is to speak to the Miami VAHS Training Director. The Training
Director will make every effort to explore the resident\'s concerns and
attempt to mediate any problems between the resident and supervisor. If
the resident has conflicts or difficulties with the Training Director,
or believes that the Training Director has not adequately addressed the
resident\'s concerns, the resident may then speak to another supervisor,
and ask to have the issue addressed by the entire Residency Committee.
The resident may also present issues directly to the Residency Committee
at one of its meetings. The Residency Committee will then explore the
situation and may gather additional information, request written
responses, or interview all parties involved. The Residency Committee
may make suggestions and recommendations for resolution of the problem.

If the resident is not satisfied with the results of bringing the issue
before the Residency Committee, the resident may then file an "official
grievance". The resident will write up a summary of the problem, actions
that have been taken, and the reasons why the resident continues to be
dissatisfied with the situation. The resident will submit this
"grievance report" to the Miami VAHS Residency Committee. All parties
involved are then invited to make written responses to the grievance
including the supervisor, Training Director, and Residency Committee.
The grievance, along with all of the written responses, will then be
forwarded to the Chief of Psychology Section who will make a final
decision about the resolution of the grievance.

Residents always have the right to consult with the American
Psychological Association Education Directorate and Office of
Accreditation, as well as the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and
Fellowship Centers.

***Our privacy policy is clear:** we will collect no personal
information about you when you visit our Website.*

This program does not require self-disclosure.

## Training Staff

**Psychology Residency Training Staff**

***Jason R. Dahn, Ph.D.*** (Michigan State University, Clinical, 1999).
Staff Psychologist. Assigned to Acute Inpatient Psychiatry and to
Behavioral Medicine. Expertise in individual and group psychotherapy,
psychological assessment, treatment of chronic psychiatric patients, and
psycho-educational interventions with emphasis on behavioral medicine.
Therapeutic approach integrates psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral
therapy with emphasis on therapeutic relationship. Research interests
broadly include issues common to psychiatry and behavioral medicine
(e.g., weight management, sleep problems, sexual dysfunction, medication
adherence, etc.).

***Carlton S. Gass, Ph.D., ABAP*** (U. Louisville, Clinical, 1984.
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Neurology Department, U. of Miami, 1985).
Diplomate, American Board of Assessment Psychology. Coordinator,
Neuropsychology Laboratory. Responsible the neuropsychological
assessment of patients with known or suspected brain impairment.
Clinical expertise in neuropsychology, psychological assessment, MMPI-2
interpretation, and applied research. Clinical research interests
include the MMPI-2, personality and emotional aspects of brain injury,
human memory, and cognitive aspects of psychopathology. Adjunct faculty,
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Departments of Neurology
and Psychiatry; Department of Psychology, University of Miami and Nova
Southeastern University. Consulting editor for Archives of Clinical
Neuropsychology and, previously, Psychological Assessment.

***Peter Goldsmith, Ph.D.*** (Nova U., Clinical, 1989). Geropsychologist
in Nursing Home Care Unit. Duties include neuropsychological evaluation
(including decision making capacity) and therapy with Nursing Home Care
Unit residents and their families as well as consultation, training, and
education. Expertise and interest in geropsychology, neuropsychology,
medical psychology, forensic psychology, palliative/hospice care,
support for families of terminally ill patients, Advance Directives,
psychological aspects of dysphagia, and wound care. Case
conceptualization and therapeutic approach are eclectic. Voluntary
Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of
Medicine.

***Paul Hartman, Ph.D.*** (U of Miami, Biological Psychology, 1986;
California School of Professional Psychology-Fresno, Clinical Psychology
Respecialization, 1995) Assigned to Geriatric Psychology and Behavioral
Medicine. Expertise in individual, family, and group therapy;
psychological assessment; and neuropsychological screening. Approach to
therapy is cognitive-behavioral, with emphasis on the therapist-patient
relationship. Relaxation, imagery, or hypnosis techniques are often
utilized.

***Neil J. Kenney, Psy.D.*** (Nova Southeastern University, Clinical,
2005). Assigned to Home Based Primary Care. Duties include psychological
assessments, neuropsychological screenings, individual and group
psychotherapy. Professional interests include health psychology,
geropsychology, neuropsychology, patient/caregiver coping with
degenerative illness, conceptual models of alcohol/substance abuse,
individual and group psychotherapy. Therapeutic approaches vary
dependent on the referral issue and/or client characteristics though
often integrate aspects of Cognitive Behavioral, Client-Centered, and
Insight-Oriented/Existential Therapy. Adjunct faculty, Nova Southeastern
University, Florida International University, Touro College South, and
Everglades University.

***Timothy Lawler, Ph.D., MPH*** (Loyola U. of Chicago, Counseling,
1989). Director of Training. Assigned to Behavioral Medicine: Pain
Clinic and weight management programs. Therapeutic approach is
cognitive-behavioral. Research interests include medical cost offset
through psychological services & patient education, telehealth, provider
practices in pain management, and pain and weight management treatment
efficacy. Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Miami Miller
School of Medicine, Department of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Sciences; Adjunct faculty, Barry University, Clinical
Psychology Department.

***Regina Pavone, Ph.D.*** (U of Miami, Counseling, 1996). Mental Health
Consultation and Liaison specializing in disease management. Clinical
responsibilities include consultation to Primary Care clinics, specialty
clinics and medical surgical units: Women Veterans Health Programs, the
Sexual Trauma Team, Special Immunology and Hepatology Services. Case
conceptualizations are developed from biopsychosocial and
object-relations models. Therapeutic approach varies according to
patient characteristics and referral issue. However, a cognitive and
behavioral approach under girds most interventions with medical
psychology referrals. Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Miami,
Department of Psychology and Voluntary Instructor, University of Miami's
Miller School of Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

***Raegan Radenheimer, Psy.D.*** (Xavier University, Clinical, 2006).
Assigned to Geropsychology / Palliative Care. Responsibilities include
conducting evaluations addressing differential diagnosis, mood
assessments, functional status examinations, and treatment planning.
Additional responsibilities include providing a full range of
therapeutic interventions supportive, palliative care to veterans
focusing on psychological issues related to aging and chronic/terminal
illness, outpatient individual psychotherapy to veterans and family
members dealing with aging, grief, and terminal illness, and group
psychotherapy. Consultation and psychoeducation is also a very important
duty. Professional interest includes palliative care, successful aging,
motivational interviewing, caregiver stress, capacity evaluations, and
neurocognitive assessment.

## Trainees

The Miami program has accepted eight psychology fellows in the past four
years. Of those eight, seven have come to us from VHA internship
programs. They are equally divided in terms of degree, with four from
Ph.D. programs and four from Psy.D. programs. One of the eight came to
us from a Counseling Psychology program, and the others from clinical
programs. Five of the eight have Miami roots, having completed their
doctoal studies at the University of Miami, Nova Southeastern
University, or Carlos Albizu University. The others have graduated from
the University of Georgia, the University of Indiana, and SUNY Buffalo.

Of the six residents who have completed their fellowships here, three
are currently employed at VA Medical Centers in Florida and
Pennsylvania. The three others are in group or individual private
practice, consulting, and teaching at local colleges and universities.

## Local Information

Miami and its surrounding areas offer an incredibly cultually diverse
living experience in a tropical environment. While often considered an
ideal venue for outdoor activities, the area also offers rich cultural
events including the nation\'s largest book fair, a new cultural arts
center (for opera, ballet, symphony orchestras and plays), and a myriad
of cultural festivals reflecting the diversity of the local population.
A dozen colleges and universities, medical and other professional
schools, and the nation\'s largest community college add to the area\'s
\"liveability.\"

***Additional information can be found on the following website:***

> http://www.Miamiandbeaches.com