Pediatric Behavioral Health Integration Program Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship

The Pediatric Behavioral Health Integration Program Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship prepares newly graduated psychologists to work in the primary care setting, treating children across the pediatric lifespan (infants, toddlers, children, adolescents and emerging adults) within our communities.

The Pediatric Behavioral Health Integration Program Fellowship focuses on providing direct care, research and training within Montefiore Medical Group’s (MMG) 20 primary care practices. Fellows work as part of an interdisciplinary team alongside pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, health educators and psychology and medical trainees in our integrated behavioral health program in the Bronx and southern Westchester County. Fellows provide clinical services within a primary care clinic three days per week, with two additional days focused on training and research activities.

The fellowship provides training for behavioral health consultations with medical providers, and fellows will work collaboratively on patient care. Skills that will be developed during the training year include conducting warm handoffs using motivational interviewing, short problem-focused assessments and brief evidence-based intervention to address depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), disruptive behaviors, adjustment disorders and trauma. Additionally, fellows will provide developmental and behavioral consultation to families of infants and toddlers through our attachment- and trauma-informed HealthySteps program.

There will be an opportunity for at least one fellow to engage in research and clinical work with our OB/GYN clinic to experience a groundbreaking multidisciplinary approach to preventative behavioral healthcare, with the possibility of obtaining certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C). There will also be opportunities for mentorship of master’s level psychology students, as well as training of medical students and residents. Fellows also participate in our Staff Emotional Support (SES) team to respond to work-related trauma and stress incidents, promoting the wellness of MMG staff and associates. Additional fellow responsibilities include participation in didactics and team meetings and providing clinical services in our primary care clinics three days per week, with two additional days focused on teaching, training and research activities.

BHIP’s behavioral health services are a blend of both in-person and telehealth services. Pediatric BHIP offers a postdoctoral psychology fellowship in integrated primary care open to New York State-license-eligible graduates from American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited clinical, counseling or school psychology doctoral programs. Fellows are responsible for the application and fees to obtain the limited permit to practice as a psychologist, per New York State requirements. The start of the fellowship is contingent on obtaining the limited permit. The fellowship is one year in duration and may include an option for a second year.

The Pediatric BHIP Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship:

• Enhances postdoctoral clinical training in brief assessment/consultation, parent behavior management techniques and evidence-informed psychotherapy for youth with presentations such as depression, anxiety, ADHD/disruptive behaviors, adjustment disorders and trauma
• Trains newly graduated psychologists to adapt existing clinical skills to treat common pediatric (i.e. health psychology) concerns in primary care by conducting warm handoffs, motivational interviewing, short problem-focused assessments and brief interventions
• Promotes the development of a unique skill set in dyadic infant-parent interventions and early childhood behavior and development using the HealthySteps model
• Supports collaborative care within the multidisciplinary pediatric primary care team while enhancing the pediatric workforce’s competencies in behavioral health concerns, aligned with American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines
• Expands teaching, clinical research and dissemination skills in primary care behavioral health integration

All fellowship applicants must have completed an American Psychological Association-accredited clinical, counseling or school psychology doctoral program. Successful candidates will have completed their internship and all degree requirements by the start of the fellowship program.

Candidates should submit all application materials to our coordinators, Sarina Wallace (sarwallace@montefiore.org) and Meenakshi Kothari (mkothari@montefiore.org). Please direct any further questions, including application deadlines, to Dr. Janira Vega (javega@montefiore.org).

Additional requirements are:

• Provide a cover letter summarizing your professional interests (clinical and research), career goals and relevant qualifications.
• Include a curriculum vitae.
• Submit three letters of recommendation (at least two should be from individuals familiar with your clinical work).
• Provide a letter from DCT confirming the status of degree requirements by the start of the fellowship program.