Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory

Program Overview

The Providence Medical Group - Oregon Postdoctoral Residency in Clinical Psychology with placement in Behavioral Health Integration is a part of Providence St. Joseph Healthcare Services (PSJH). PSJH is a not-for-profit Catholic network of hospitals, care centers, health plans, physicians, clinics, home health care, and affiliated services guided by a Mission of caring that the Sisters of Providence began in the West nearly 160 years ago. The postdoctoral residency program was started in 2015 with two residents placed in Providence Medical Group (PMG) primary care clinics functioning as Behavioral Health Providers. With ongoing Providence support the residency has grown to accommodate up to 5 residents in the program. 

The primary aim of the residency program is to prepare psychologists to function effectively in integrated primary care settings as Behavioral Health Providers. Recognizing that this is an emerging and rapidly developing area of practice the program also provides psychologists with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to function in integrated care leadership roles. Integrated care leadership roles include program development/implementation, expansion of integrated care into health care settings beyond primary care, and development of healthcare policy related to the integration of behavioral health in general medical care settings.

Accreditation Status

The program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association's Commission on Accreditation

Providence Medical Group

As part of the larger Providence St. Joseph Healthcare Services (PSJH) system, Providence Medical Group - Oregon (PMG) adheres to the PSJH mission, which states: As expression of God's healing love, witnessed through the healing ministry of Jesus, we are steadfast in serving all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. Additionally, the core values of PSJH are Compassion, Dignity, Justice, Excellence, and Integrity also apply to PMG. The aims of the PMG postdoctoral residency program fit well within the holistic notion of healing communicated by the PSJH mission statement. The emphasis on care for the poor and vulnerable compliments the program emphasis on training residents to serve a diverse range of clients regardless of their life circumstance. Part of the rationale for the funding of the residency positions is making behavioral integration services available from providers who are not accountable to revenue generation metrics and are able to serve patients regardless of ability to pay. PMG operates over 70 primary care clinics throughout the State of Oregon. The primary care clinics have adopted the Patient Centered Medical Home model - a component of which is the integration of behavioral health services. As an early adopter of behavioral health integration, PMG began the process of incorporating psychologists in primary care over 10 years ago. The postdoctoral program is administered through the department of psychology within Providence Medical Group. The department of psychology is headed by the Regional Director of Behavioral Health Integration and Specialty Clinics, Vanessa Casillas PsyD who is responsible for the provision of behavioral integration services in the PMG clinics throughout Oregon.  Elisa Rudd, PsyD is the Training Director for PMG and is responsible for the overall administration, provision of supervision/training, selection, placement, and curriculum for psychology doctoral practicum, intern, and postdoctoral trainees. Residents are placed in PMG primary care and specialty clinics in the greater Portland metropolitan area and small communities outside of the metro area. The administrative, staffing, and operational structure of the PMG primary care clinics are all similar. The patient populations are representative of the general population of the communities where they are located and represent a wide demographic and diagnostic range. Consistent with the Providence mission, PMG primary care clinics place an emphasis on caring for the poor and vulnerable in their communities. PMG primary care clinics serve patients with Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance as well as patients without healthcare insurance coverage. The services provided by residents afford them the opportunity to develop specialized primary care oriented assessment, intervention, and consultation skills. Residents are valued members of the multidisciplinary primary care team. The diverse primary care patient populations served by the PMG primary care clinics provide a rich service delivery experience for the residents. The clinics are well staffed with interdisciplinary teams of health care providers and support staff. The diverse staff provide the resident with opportunities for case consultation, staff education, and program development. Residents also will supervise practicum level students, receive mentorship from seasoned providers, complete a year-long clinical rotation in specialty areas in addition to their primary placement, and participate in many career development opportunities.  Providence's patient care facilities utilize the EPIC electronic health record system.