Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory

West Virginia University School of Medicine: Clinical Health Psychology Postdoctoral Residency- Bariatrics

The Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at West Virginia University School of Medicine offers and one or two-year fellowship in Clinical Health Psychology, with an emphasis in Bariatrics.  One resident physician is offered each year, with the option of a 2nd year pending agreement between the resident and fellowship director, Stephanie Cox, PhD ABPP.

The primary mentor/ bariatric supervisor is Stephanie Cox, PhD, ABPP. The program has a second Bariatric Psychologist, Laura Aylward, PhD, who may also provide some educational experiences.

Description of the Training Program

The Clinical Health Psychology Postdoctoral Residency - Bariatrics has been designed to provide trainees with expertise and clinically relevant experience within the field of health psychology, with an emphasis on training relevant to obesity and bariatric surgery.  The goal of the postdoctoral residency program is to prepare the trainee for independent practice as a psychologist working within the field of Obesity Medicine/ Bariatrics. The resident will become familiar with treatment options for obesity including nutritional, behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical modalities.  Additionally, the resident will become knowledgeable regarding the common comorbidities of obesity.

To this end, the core rotation of the postdoctoral residency program includes participation in WVU's multidisciplinary bariatric surgery program.  As part of this rotation, the resident receives in-depth training and supervision related to the provision of comprehensive pre-surgical psychological evaluations and treatment to patient's both pre and post-surgically. The fellow will also receive training related to clinical care for patients across the continuum of care (behavioral weight loss, medical weight management, and bariatric surgery program).  Additional rotations within the bariatric surgery program will be assigned throughout the year in order to gain an understanding of the various components of the program, (i.e., rotation in medical weight management, surgical clinic, observation of nutrition courses).  The trainee becomes an integral member the multi-disciplinary team and also participates in leading support group 4 times per year. 

In addition, the resident will receive educational experiences to complement knowledge of obesity and related comorbidities.  The trainee may participate in additional rotations within the West Virginia University Medicine system including rotations with diabetes clinic, pulmonology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, etc. (depending on availability). 

Four days per week are spent in clinical services, with a half-day per week for these external rotations within the WVU system, and a half day for research or EPPP/ Licensure preparation. The trainee will become involved ongoing grant projects and QI initiatives. 

The fellow also serves as a supervisor for psychology interns and practicum students as part of a vertical training model, as part of our APA- Accredited Clinical Psychology Internship program.