Pediatric Psychology Internship Program
Seminars
Assessment/Therapy | Pediatric Psychology Didactic | Pediatric Psychology Journal Club/Brown Bag Series | Psychosocial Rounds | Director’s Meeting
Required seminars address basic and advanced assessment, intervention, and consultation issues in pediatric psychology, professional and ethical issues, issues of diversity and multicultural issues, research, and special topics. In addition, interns are invited to attend neuropsychology seminars and lectures.
Seminars are typically one hour long, meet weekly, and are led primarily by Division faculty, along with guest speakers. Interns are also encouraged to participate in a wide variety of hospital-wide training opportunities (e.g., clinical forum, lunch and learn, rehabilitation lectures and speakers, computer classes).
Assessment/Therapy Seminar
The Assessment/Therapy involves case presentations on both assessment and therapy
cases with invited feedback/discussion from students and faculty. In this seminar,
cases are presented on a rotating basis among faculty and students, with internship
faculty presenting cases first to provide a model for the presentation format.
Each intern presents multiple cases during the year. Cases are chosen with the
guidance of the intern’s primary supervisor, who in turn serves as lead
discussant during the presentation. The first presentation is primarily a clinical
presentation, with the intern presenting relevant data and providing a case
formulation. Discussions include recommendations for treatment, alternative
conceptualizations, and additional feedback to promote quality care provision
and professional development of the intern. The second, and subsequent presentations,
are more focused and topical, and interns present a case, along with literature
relevant to that case (i.e. diagnostic, treatment, research).
Pediatric Psychology Didactic Seminar
The Pediatric Psychology Didactic Seminar provides interns with basic and advanced education regarding the primary professional and clinical issues facing pediatric psychologists. This seminar is a formal didactic presentation in lecture format. The lectures are organized in such a manner that the interns progress from more basic issues relevant to clinical work with children, adolescents and families (e.g., conducting interviews, pediatric psychology consultation, behavioral assessment, testing, DSM-IV diagnoses) to lectures focusing on more advanced topics and special populations (e.g., gastrointestinal and feeding disorder, pediatric oncology, HIV, traumatic brain injury).
The seminar also focuses on issues related to ethics and professional development, including evidence based interventions, issues of diversity and multicultural factors, working with other disciplines, working with difficult families, and termination. Interns will be provided with supportive reading material and/or directed to outside educational materials.
Pediatric Psychology Journal Club/Brown Bag Series
Every other week, the interns will participate in a brown bag lunch discussion led by the pediatric psychology post-doctoral fellow and pediatric psychology faculty. The Journal Club focuses on current literature relevant to the field of pediatric psychology. Literature to be discussed will be provided at least one week in advance to ensure adequate time to review the materials. Interns will be encouraged to present an article and lead discussions. However, the intent of this series is to provide a relatively low-key collegial atmosphere that will promote professional competence and development.
Psychosocial Rounds
Psychosocial Rounds are conducted every other week on the inpatient unit with an alternating focus on specific clinical issues and patient care concerns. Interns are expected to attend Psychosocial Rounds. Attendance is open, and all hospital staff are encouraged to attend. While the majority of these discussions are developed and led by pediatric psychology faculty, specific seminars are also presented by individuals of various disciplines (e.g., physical therapy, speech and language therapy, social work, nursing). Interns will present and lead a minimum of one seminar during the year.
Director’s Meeting
Interns meet with the Director of Internship Training as a group to discuss issues related to the internship experience. Discussions focus on intern progress, intern problems or concerns, and shared experiences, as well as professional issues, such as preparation for future training or jobs. The meeting also serves as an opportunity for the interns to meet in an informal manner with no set didactic agenda. Meetings take place on a biweekly basis.