Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory Entry

Tampa VAMC, Clinical Neuropsychology

James A. Haley Veterans Hospital
Tampa, Florida

Elements of quality clinically focused postdoctoral training

This training experience is a planned and programmed sequence of training that aims to ensure preparation for advanced practice rather than one that is focused on providing supervised hours for licensure. Yes

This training experience ensures that training takes precedence over service delivery regarding the nature, content, volume, and quality of the postdoc’s activities. Yes

This training experience ensures that postdocs receive at least two hours of individual supervision per week for the duration oof the experience. Yes

This training experience is administered by a doctoral-level licensed psychologist who directs and organizes the training experience and its resources, is responsible for the selection of postdocs, and monitors and evaluates the goals and activities of the experience. Yes

This training experience has two or more doctoral-level licensed psychologists who have sufficient time to provide quality supervision and training.   Yes

This training experience includes regularly scheduled structured educational activities that help postdocs its defined goals. These activities may include didactics, seminars, case conferences, and/or research activities. Yes

This training experience has written Due Process and Grievance procedures. Yes

This training experience has the stable and necessary financial (e.g., stipend) and physical resources (e.g., computers, physical space) needed for effective training. Yes

The aim of the program is to promote advanced competencies in our residents such that graduates are eligible for employment in public sector medical center settings serving specialized patient populations with neurological conditions. Residents completing the program should have solid foundational preparation to initiate ABPP certification in Clinical Neuropsychology. We review applicants to our program using the following criteria: clinical experience, research experience, letters of recommendation, motivation/professional development, writing ability, commitment to and/or experience/interest in diversity, and interview/match with our program. Ideally, we are looking for individuals committed to the scientist-practitioner model and who are committed to pursuing board certification in clinical neuropsychology.

There are four major components to the training program: clinical rotations, didactic seminars, ongoing research activities, and provision of supervision. During the two-years of training, residents complete four 6-month clinical rotations, with two required rotations: 1) Inpatient Clinical Neuropsychology--Acquired Brain Injury rotation and 2) Memory Disorder Clinic/General Outpatient Neuropsychology rotation.

Regular attendance and participation/teaching at relevant seminars is also required, including the Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Seminar, intern Fundamentals of Neuropsychology Seminar (required for first year residents), Diversity Seminar, and Professional Development Seminar. Residents also teach aspects of the psychology intern Fundamentals of Neuropsychology Seminar. Residents are expected to participate in at least one research project. Residents must submit a scientific presentation to some annual professional meeting such as APA, INS, NAN, AACN, etc. or journal submission to a peer reviewed publication. Residents also provide supervision to psychology interns or practicum students when possible.

https://www.va.gov/tampa-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-internship-residency-programs/

Additional Information

Agency Type: VA Medical Center
APPIC Membership: Yes
APA Accredited: Yes
Recognized Specialty: Clinical Neuropsychology
Emphasis or focus area: Neuropsychology
Research Time: Less than 25%
Training Director: Jessica Vassallo, PhD, ABPP
Contact Email: jessica.vassallo@va.gov
Contact Phone: 813-631-7100 x164149
Duration in Months: 24
Hours Per Week: 40
# of Licensed Supervisors: 13
Number of Positions: 2
Applications recieved last year: 44
Accepts Int'l Students
Stipend: $53,334
Will follow APPIC Selection Standards
Created Date: Tuesday, October 18 2016
Fringe Benefits: Stipend is $53,334 for the first year and $56,216 for the second year. Residents earn 13 days annual leave per year and up to 13 days sick leave per year, and are entitled to all federal holidays. Residents are also allowed up to 5 days per year of authorized absence for professional development activities. Residents are eligible for federal employee health benefits.
Research opportunities: Participation in research is required. Neuropsychology staff have active research projects in areas that include cognitive processes disturbed in mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury; emerging consciousness; brain injury rehabilitation; and aging and dementias, among others.
Additional Comments: We will participate in the APPCN Match. For more information on the program, please contact the Assistant Training Director, Dr. Joel Kamper (Joel.Kamper@va.gov or 813-631-7100). Our website is undergoing update and pending posting of our current brochures. Please reach out to Dr. Kamper or Dr. Vassallo (Jessica.Vassallo@va.gov) for a copy of the brochure if the website download is not current.
Application Instructions: QUALIFICATIONS 1. United States citizenship. 2. Obtained a doctoral degree from an APA or CPA accredited graduate program in Clinical, Counseling, or Combined Psychology or PCSAS accredited Clinical Science program. Persons with a doctorate in another area of psychology who meet the APA or CPA criteria for respecialization training in Clinical, Counseling, or Combined Counseling-School Psychology are also eligible. 3. Completed an APA -accredited psychology internship or a VA-sponsored internship. 4. For males -- have registered with the Selective Service System before age 26. 5. Residents are subject to fingerprinting and background checks. 6. Residents must meet physical and health requirements as part of the onboarding process. This information is treated as confidential and can be verified via source documentation or a statement from a healthcare professional attesting that the resident meets the health requirements for VA training. Residents are also subject to random drug screening (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.va.gov%2FOAA%2Fonboarding%2FVHA_HPTsDrug-FreeWorkplaceOAA_HRA.pdf&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cc5f28f636b43476d5c6808d952a174cb%7Ce95f1b23abaf45ee821db7ab251ab3bf%7C0%7C0%7C637631676412745848%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=NElz2LHw1hgxthLj7Xx4OPhuPz%2FV%2BUqLbJOB5jgpK%2Fg%3D&reserved=0). Health Professions Trainees (HPTs) are appointed as temporary employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. As such, HPTs are subject to laws, policies, and guidelines posted for VA staff members. There are infrequent times in which this guidance can change during a training year which may create new requirements or responsibilities for HPTs. If employment requirements change during the course of a training year, HPTs will be notified of the change and impact as soon as possible and options provided. The VA Training Director for your profession will provide you with the information you need to understand the requirement and reasons for the requirement in timely manner. Please review https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/docs/Trainee-Eligibility.pdf for a full description of eligibility criteria. Application Packet 1. A Vita; 2. A letter of interest outlining training goals for the postdoctoral residency year and detailing future professional goals; 3. A letter from the Internship Training Director describing the clinical experiences and overall performance of the applicant during the internship year. (Successful completion of an APA, CPA accredited internship – or VA sponsored internship -- prior to the post-doc is required, and this letter should state if successful completion is expected.); 4. Some demonstration that the doctoral degree has been obtained from an APA accredited doctoral program or that the applicant will graduate prior to the beginning of the residency year (if all doctoral requirements are completed prior to the beginning of the post-doc, and the applicant will be awarded the doctoral degree within 4 months of the beginning of the post-doc, and the Graduate Training Director documents this in writing, then the applicant will be considered to have met this requirement); 5. Three or more other letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an internship supervisor; and 6. A brief (one paragraph minimum) statement detailing your experiences with and/or commitment to diversity. Applications packets and letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically via the APPIC site: https://appicpostdoc.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

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