University of Virginia Health System

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Behavioral Medicine

The Behavioral Psychology fellow spends 40% of their effort at Behavioral Medicine and 60% at Western State Hospital.

Below is information about the Behavioral Medicine portion of the fellowship:

Fellows are exposed to a broad range of clinical training experiences with medically-ill children and adults and have the opportunity to learn how to function as a member of a multidisciplinary health care team in a hospital setting. Clinical experiences will include conducting psychological assessments (many of which are specifically tailored for particular medical problems), providing treatment typically using a cognitive-behavioral orientation, and providing consultation services for patient care teams in numerous areas of the hospital (Endocrinology, Surgery, Gastroenterology, Neurology, and Pediatrics). The majority of clinical time focuses on outpatient services.

Fellows also work closely with a research team that has a long, successful track record in securing NIH and industry funded grants. Fellows are expected to participate in one or more of several research projects which have been are centralized in a recently renovated 2000 square foot part of the Center for Behavioral Medicine Research adjacent to the Behavioral Medicine Clinic. Fellows will spend ~45% of their time on clinical research in one or more of the four main focus areas: Pediatrics (Type 1 diabetes, bowel disorders, AD/HD), Type 1 Diabetes, and Driving Safety, and eHealth. In many cases, these areas overlap. For example, projects focusing on Pediatric Encopresis and eHealth or Diabetes and eHealth are established. See below for a list of current research projects. Fellows will become significantly involved in the area of their choosing and will have the opportunity to initiate their own research projects. More specific information about clinical, research, and educational opportunities is provided below.

Clinical Focus (45%)

The Behavioral Medicine Center provides services for a wide variety of patient populations and presenting problems. Referral sources include UVA medical clinics, physicians in private practice, UVA Student Health, community psychiatrists, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Medical populations include those presenting with problems that are caused or exacerbated by psychobehavioral processes, including insomnia, diabetes, ADHD, constipation, encopresis, enuresis, irritable bowel disorder, headaches, hypertension, obesity, chronic pain, and TMD. Services are also provided for patients who are having difficulty adjusting to, and coping with, the emotional and behavioral demands of acute, chronic, and life-threatening medical problems. In addition to these presenting problems, services are provided for patients with depression, eating disorders, OCD, phobias, other anxiety disorders, habit control problems (e. g., trichotillomania), and adjustment disorders not related to medical illness.

Patients’ ages range from early childhood to the geriatric years. Presenting problems are typically treated with empirically documented treatment protocols that are individually-tailored to a patient’s personality and needs. A cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment is typically utilized. Fellows will also have the opportunity for training in psychophysiological monitoring and feedback techniques.  While many of these interventions are brief in duration, Fellows usually have the opportunity to do longer-term work with some patients.

In addition to these clinical experiences, fellows will have the opportunity to conduct highly specialized psychosocial and psychobehavioral evaluations.  These include pre-surgical evaluations for severely obese patients who are seeking bariatric surgery for weight reduction.  These also include driving evaluations for patients with dementia and other disorders that affect driving ability, using neuropsychological tests and driving simulator assessment.

Educational & Professional Development (10%)

The Program Director schedules meetings for the postdoctoral fellows across sub-specialty areas during the academic year to discuss administrative issues and professional development.

There are numerous opportunities for educational and professional development, including:

Research Focus (45%)

Fellows participate in research throughout the fellowship. Specific research projects are determined by the professional goals and interests of the Fellow and include:

Fellows will also have the opportunity to develop small, original research projects in one of the current areas of research, or a related area in which the Fellow has a strong interest.  The fellowship trains fellows in the scientist-practitioner model of clinical psychology and the development of empirically validated clinical interventions.

Core Faculty

• Linda Gonder-Frederick, Ph.D. (BM Director of Training & Clinic Director)
• Daniel Cox, Ph.D., A.B.P.P. (Director of the Center for Behavioral Medicine Research)
• Scott Bender, Ph.D.
• Doug DeGood, Ph.D.
• Elaine Bailey, Ph.D.

Current Fellows

• Laura Campbell, Ph.D.
• Jason Haium, Ph.D.
• Sim Singh, Ph.D.

DIRECT INQUIRIES AND MATERIALS TO:

Linda Gonder-Frederick, Ph.D.
Behavioral Medicine Center
Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences
University of Virginia Health System
P. O. Box 800223
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0223
mailto:%20lag3g@virginia.edu

Other Available Fellowships:

• Behavioral Health & Technology
• Behavioral Psychology
• CARE 
• Forensic Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Rehabilitation Neuropsychology