The Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral fellowship program at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is designed to prepare individuals who will be uniquely suited to work at the interface of pediatrics, clinical psychology, and behavioral medicine. The training program offers broad-based technical, clinical, and management skills. The program provides postdoctoral training experiences necessary to meet clinical hours and supervision requirements for licensure in Pennsylvania. The postdoctoral fellow will gain extensive experience in pediatric and clinical psychology through inpatient and outpatient services.
Pediatric psychology postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to work with a variety of presenting concerns and establish ongoing treatment relationships. Fellows will rotate through various multidisciplinary clinics. Our program supports the understanding of the behavioral health issues that present with children and adolescents with acute and chronic illnesses in a large tertiary care pediatric hospital. Opportunities exist for individual and group interventions, including the Comfort Ability Program.
Duration and Scope
- Two postdoctoral fellowship positions in Pediatric Psychology are offered for 2025-2026.
- Training begins in August/September 2025.
- The fellowship is for one year and is full-time.
- Benefits provided include paid holidays, paid time off, and health insurance.
- Candidates must have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree before beginning the program and must be a graduate of an APA-accredited doctoral program.
- APA-accredited or APPIC member internship program training is preferred.
Fellowship Program Overview
The fellowship includes rotations through medical subspecialty clinics throughout the hospital. The exact rotations available to fellows will be updated on this website and on the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) website in June 2024.
Fellows will work with patients in both outpatient and inpatient settings. The three areas of focus are:
- Assessment/Intervention.
- Pain Management.
- Behavioral Care in Chronic Disease.
Previous fellows have completed rotations through:
- Behavioral Sleep Medicine and Pulmonology.
- Neurology/Movement Disorders.
- Rehabilitation.
- Neurology/Headache.
- Neurology/Movement Disorders.
- Hematology/Oncology.
- Endocrinology.
- Pulmonology.
- Autism Evaluations.
Supervision is provided by staff within the Behavioral Science Division. Fellows are provided with at least two hours of individual supervision per week and direct observation and consultation during regularly scheduled rotations. Additional consultation is readily available based on the needs of the fellow. Group supervision experiences also are provided to further enhance clinical skills and professional development. Individualized goals will be established and reviewed with the primary supervisor quarterly.
Didactic experiences include half-day weekly training/presentations alongside Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellows. Specific training in ethics, supervision models, and consultation models also will be provided. Fellows will attend a professional development seminar. Fellows will routinely attend case conferences and grand rounds offered through collaborating departments.
Research Opportunities
Our program is primarily a clinical training program; however, the faculty has access to existing databases and participates in ongoing research and program development. Depending on fellow interests and skills, research opportunities may exist. Alternatively, fellows are encouraged to develop individual projects or case presentations.
How to Apply
Applications should include:
- A letter of interest describing training experiences, desired postdoctoral training objectives, and professional goals
- A current curriculum vitae
- Three letters of reference, with at least two from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and clinical training
- An official copy of graduate transcripts
- A letter from the candidate’s dissertation chair or training director indicating that the candidate is on track to complete their dissertation prior to the fellowship start date.
Applications will be reviewed upon receipt with the final deadline for all application materials on Friday, December 6, 2024. Virtual interviews for selected applicants will take place in January 2025.
Application materials should be sent to:
Kaycee Weir, PhD
Director of Training, Behavioral Science Division
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
BH_trainingcommittee@chp.edu
412-692-7547
All application materials should be submitted electronically to the above email address, in a Word or pdf file.
If the applicant is unable to send a transcript electronically, please send them to:
Attn: Kaycee Weir, PhD
UPMC CHP-Behavioral Science Division
Lawrenceville Medical Building, 3rd Floor
4117 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
More Information
Learn more about UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Any questions regarding the fellowship or application process can be directed to our training committee by email at BH_trainingcommittee@chp.edu or by phone at 412-692-7547.