Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Core Training Curriculum

Program Goals and Objectives:
The training plan and curriculum are developed within each specialty area in agreement with specialty guidelines from American Psychological Association, American Board Professional Psychology, and nationally recognized bodies in professional psychology (Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, and the Society of Behavioral Medicine.)

The content of training includes theory and research, assessment, intervention, and consultation from a cognitive-behavioral perspective. Generic "core" training goals include professional development, management and collaboration concerning common and rare ethical dilemmas, and clinical research methods. Multiple training formats include supervised clinical experiences with diverse patient populations, weekly topical seminars, clinical case conferences/group supervision sessions, individual supervision sessions, grand rounds, participation in collaborative research projects, and teaching/supervising experiences. Fellows receive more specialized training and function in a more independent capacity than interns. The training focus includes preparation for supervision and teaching, project development and leadership skills, and consolidation and application of skills gained during internship.

Clinical instruction occurs through individual and group supervision, seminars, conferences, and day-to-day collaboration with senior staff members. Fellows are trained in both individual and group treatment formats. Supervision is provided on-site at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and the affiliates. Each Fellow has a minimum of two hours of individual supervision by a licensed faculty psychologist. Other specialists such as psychiatrists, neurologists, and surgeons may provide substantial mentoring as well. The supervisor has professional responsibility for all services provided to patients. All supervision is aimed at simultaneously helping the Fellow develop high levels of specialty skills and knowledge while providing patients with excellent clinical service.

Didactics include weekly grand rounds presentations. Teaching experience is available through lectures to psychiatry residents.

Core Training Experiences

Required Seminars
Departmental Grand Rounds: Held weekly throughout the academic year and centered around a formal presentation by a visiting speaker or faculty member.

Professional Development seminar: The syllabus is designed by the Fellows at the beginning of the year and outside speakers or internal faculty present on designated areas of interest. This monthly seminar focuses on clinical research, techniques to facilitate application for grant funding, preparation and practice for a job search, and other topics of interest to the Fellows.

Electives (Seminars Available)
Fellows may elect to participate in any of the seminars in the Psychiarty residency program including: Basic Psychopathology; Phenomenology; Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders; Neuropsychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Neurology; Sexual Dysfunction; Organic Mental Disorders.

Research seminar: Faculty, Fellows, and visiting speakers present research methods, outcomes, and propose new studies monthly. Faculty is available to assist with research design and practical issues that Fellows may encounter in applied research settings.

Training Resources

Each Fellow typically has her or his own office as well as access to shared spaces such as testing rooms and work rooms that include computers. The computer services at Dartmouth are excellent and allow the Fellows to connect, from any desktop computer, to programs (e.g., statistical packages) on the mainframe, e-mail, and the Internet. There is also a broad array of assessment instruments available in the department and the Fellows have access to both Dartmouth Medical School and College libraries. In addition to the faculty, each Fellow is assigned a support person who will be responsible for scheduling, billing, dictation, etc. Finally, affiliation with Dartmouth College provides the Fellows with access to the athletic facilities, year round concerts, theater, lectures and galleries.

Application Procedure

Education and training qualifications: Fellows must have completed their doctoral degree and internship training from appropriate clinical programs. Typically, postdoctoral Fellows are appointed to full time positions for one year, renewable for a second year. A total of 2000 hours of training are provided in each year.

  1. Statement of experience, goals, and interests: Please submit a brief statement of your clinical and research background and interests, your clinical and research goals for post-doctoral training, and your primary theoretical orientation.
  2. A complete and updated curriculum vitae outlining your educational, research, and clinical experience and qualifications.
  3. Official graduate transcripts.
  4. Three letters of recommendation (at least one from your current supervisor or internship director).

Applications are currently being accepted for a start date, between July 1 to September 1. Review of applications continue until the positions are filled.

Applications should be mailed to:

Department of Psychiatry
Postdoctoral Training Program
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756-0001

Salary and Benefits: Fellowship has a standard salary which increases each year. Individual health care insurance is provided through the Medical School. Vacation and conference time is also provided. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and minority candidates.