The Behavioral Science Division (BSD) at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is pleased to offer a variety of practicum training experiences during the 2026-2027 academic year.
The BSD at UPMC Children’s works in conjunction with medical subspecialties to provide integrated care designed to provide screening and preventative services, as well as support positive psychiatric and health outcomes. Many of our attending psychologists are embedded within a medical subspecialty. Practicum trainees will work under the supervision of an attending psychologist to provide screening, evaluation, consultation, targeted interventions and education to patients, their families, educators, and other medical providers. Practicum trainees will have the opportunity to provide services to patients in inpatient and/or outpatient settings, depending on the rotation.
Practicum experiences in the BSD are available to graduate students who are currently enrolled in a Clinical, Counseling, or School Psychology PhD or PsyD program. Eligible students must be entering their 3 year or beyond in their doctoral training program. Students may apply to 1-2 specific clinic rotations of interest.
Please see below for information regarding specific practicum rotations that are expected to be offered during the 2026-2027 academic year. Typically, students participate in just one rotation during the year, which allows for a rich and thorough training experience in that particular clinic.
Practicum Rotations for the 2026-2027 academic year may be at the following UPMC Children’s locations:
Applications should be submitted no later than Sunday, March 1, 2026, and should include:
- Cover letter indicating rotation(s) of interest
- CV (Curriculum Vita)
Interviews are expected to take place between March - April 2026 for all rotations.
Please email application materials and/or any questions to Justin Kopec, PhD, Director of Practicum Training at kopecjb@upmc.edu.
Other information and contacts:
UPMC Children’s BSD Practicum Rotations
Behavioral Sleep Medicine
Location: UPMC Children’s Main Hospital
Duration: Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
Preferred days: Tuesdays, Fridays
Hours/week: 8 hours
Practicum students will work with a psychologist with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. Sleep issues may stem from medical conditions, developmental, mood, or behavioral factors. Students will learn to identify the social, environmental, developmental, cognitive, and behavioral influences that can negatively impact sleep. They will be involved in conducting comprehensive initial evaluations that primarily focus on sleep while also assessing various domains of functioning. As part of a multidisciplinary team, students will develop a conceptual framework for understanding sleep problems and generating appropriate treatment options. They will also acquire experience in behavioral interventions aimed at improving sleep among diverse populations. Common presenting concerns include bedtime resistance, frequent or prolonged nighttime awakenings, over-dependence on parental assistance for falling asleep, insomnia, narcolepsy, inconsistent sleep schedules, recurrent nightmares, sleepwalking/sleep terrors, and adherence to medical treatments such as CPAP therapy.
Hematology
Location: UPMC Children’s Main Hospital
Duration: Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
Preferred days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Hours/week: 8 - 16 hours
Practicum students will learn about the clinical framework and evidence-based practice with pediatric hematology. The hematology rotation has a heavy emphasis on screening/preventative care, trauma informed care, culturally informed/ sensitive care, and family-centered care/consultation. Care is provided both on an inpatient and outpatient basis, using a brief intervention/solution focused model of care. The hematology psychosocial team is highly integrated within the medical system and there is opportunity for frequent interdisciplinary involvement and care coordination. The rotation may include exposure to pediatric sickle cell disease, coagulation disorders, blood and marrow transplant, and benign hematology.
Palliative Care/Trauma
Location: UPMC Children’s Main Hospital
Duration: Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
Preferred days: Mondays, Wednesdays
Hours/week: 8 - 16 hours
Practicum students will learn about the clinical framework and evidence-based practice with Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) and Pediatric Medical Trauma (PMT) populations. Trainees should have clinical experience working with children and adolescents in the pediatric setting prior to participating in this rotation. Through the rotation, trainees will learn about psychological implications of serious childhood medical conditions and injuries through a developmental and traumainformed lens. Trainees will gain exposure to common psychiatric and medical presentations that PPC and PMT populations experience and will develop knowledge and clinical skills in evidence-based assessment and behavioral interventions utilized in the medical setting. Trainees will build on their existing strengths and obtain guidance in a developmental progression of skill acquisition with a goal to independently provide psychological evaluation/consultation, consultation with interdisciplinary teams throughout the hospital system and evidence-based family-centered care, primarily in the inpatient setting.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Location: UPMC Children’s Pine Center
Duration: Spring 2027 - Summer 2027
Preferred days: Wednesdays, Fridays
Hours/week: 8 - 16 hours
Practicum students will work with a PCIT-certified psychologist and will have the opportunity to learn this evidence-based behavioral intervention designed for children 2-7 years of age. PCIT aims to enhance the relationship between parents and their child, reduce or eliminate disruptive behaviors and increase positive behaviors, improve emotion regulation skills, increase compliance and listening skills, and teach parents safe and effective parenting and discipline strategies. PCIT uses cutting-edge, bug-in-the-ear technology to deliver live coaching to parents.
Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Location: UPMC Children’s Main Hospital
Duration: Fall 2026 - Spring 2027
Preferred days: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
Hours/week: 8 - 20 hours
This rotation is for psychology trainees to learn about the evidence-based practice of pediatric psychology in the inpatient consultation/liaison role working with the Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) team. Trainees will gain exposure to common psychiatric and medical presentations on the PHM service and will develop knowledge and application of interventions utilized in the medical setting. Common presentations include pain and functional symptoms, oral aversions, disordered eating, and complex medical diagnoses. Trainees will acquire knowledge and skills required to care for patients admitted to the hospital by completing patient evaluations, providing psychoeducation to families, implementing evidence-based skills with patients, providing community resources to families, and sharing recommendations with families and medical teams.
