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VISN 5 MIRECC - VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment

 


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Program Information

NOTE: We are not taking fellows for the 2023 year.

The VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment at the VISN 5 MIRECC has two 2-year fellowship positions: one position for an MD Fellow from psychiatry, neurology, radiology, internal medicine, or other areas of medicine and one position for an Allied Health Fellow from clinical psychology, counseling psychology, social work, nursing, or pharmacy.

Our program trains fellows to become successful researchers whose work increases access to effective mental health services for all Veterans who need them. People living with mental health conditions face stigma, discrimination, poverty, homelessness, lack of access to health care, and health disparities – as well as the challenges of their health problems -- that present enormous barriers to recovery. Many do not have a voice in their care. We are clinician researchers who are committed to addressing this through innovative applied research and resource development. Our active research program addresses some of the most important mental health services research priorities within VA: evaluating peer-delivered mental health services to support their wide-scale implementation and dissemination; determining effective strategies for engaging Veterans in mental health services and ensuring that those services are personally meaningful; developing interventions that move beyond the medical model of treating symptoms with medication by promoting holistic and self-directed recovery and by addressing the intersections of gender, age, being a Veteran and other social identities with mental health and healthcare; expanding Whole Health knowledge and resources within VA so that this model is fully realized within mental health treatment programs; actively involving Veterans who may benefit from specialized mental health services; and working towards reducing suicide through better identification of and engagement with those at highest risk.


Pie Chart Titled: Percentage of Time Spent with 65% Research, 25% Clinical and 10% Other

Fellows develop independent programs of research that address these and other high priority areas to improve the lives of Veterans. Fellows also devote time to supervised delivery of mental health services, both to identify important clinical questions and to experience first-hand the challenges and successes related to translating scientific findings into their practice. Our didactic offerings, complemented by those of the national program, offer focused learning in biostatistical methods, health informatics, and grant writing alongside opportunities to develop and apply knowledge to support the equity and empowerment of people living with mental health conditions. Overall, fellows spend approximately 65% of their time in research-related research and clinical activities, 25% of their time in clinical service and training activities, and 10% of their time in didactic and administrative activities. We are committed to supporting diversity within our Fellowship and welcome applications from candidates representing different geographic areas, ages, gender identities, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, disabilities, disciplines, and life experiences.

We are one of 25 sites in the national VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. Our Fellowship Program follows the broad organizational structure of the national program, which aims to provide clinical research activities in concert with clinical experiences over a two-year time frame. MIRECC Fellowship sites around the nation are linked electronically and by two-way interactive videoconference for learning, information sharing, and the development of a national laboratory in advanced psychiatry and psychology. Our program is affiliated with the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry; this provides an outstanding collaborative and interdisciplinary setting for fellows. Our program has been in existence and offering postdoctoral training since 2003. Our fellows have established careers as experts in serious mental illness research and clinical care in VA, academic, and hospital settings.

The VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5) serves Veterans from the entire state of Maryland, and portions of Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, as well as the District of Columbia. Fellows’ offices and research activities are housed in the Baltimore VA Medical Center, located in downtown Baltimore and adjoining the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Medical Center.

Detailed information about the VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment at the VISN 5 MIRECC can be found on the national MIRECC website and at the VISN 5 MIRECC website. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Melanie Bennett at Melanie.Bennett@va.gov for more information and to discuss details of the opportunities available for fellows.

VISN 5 MIRECC Fellowship Brochure 2021

Download Postdoctoral Residency Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data

VISN 5 MIRECC Fellowship Brief Description

Candidate Requirements

A successful candidate will have actively participated in research with resultant presentations and publications and will have graduate training in applied research in mental health and recovery. The fellowship adheres strongly to a scientist-practitioner model of training. The candidate will demonstrate a commitment to the scientist-practitioner model as evidenced by history of research in serious mental illness, as well as training in empirically supported treatments for those with these conditions. Successful candidates will also demonstrate a commitment to serving Veterans and an interest in VA.

MD applicants must have completed ACGME-accredited training, be board eligible or board certified, and have an active, unrestricted U.S. license to practice. International medical graduates must also have a current visa and an ECFMG certificate that is valid indefinitely. Applicants on a J-1 visa must also have current ECFMG sponsorship. Eligible psychologists and allied health professionals must be U.S. citizens. Psychologist applicants must have graduated from an American Psychological Association (APA) or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology (or be on track to complete their graduate program prior to beginning the fellowship) and must have completed an APA- or CPA-accredited internship. For the eligibility requirements for other Allied Health disciplines, please contact Sherry A. Beaudreau, Ph.D., ABPP at Sherry.Beaudreau@va.gov or Nathan Hantke, Ph.D.at hantke@ohsu.edu.

Applicants for the post-doctoral psychologist fellowship position must have graduated from an American Psychological Association (APA) or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology (or be on track to complete their graduate program prior to beginning the fellowship) and must have completed an APA- or CPA-accredited internship.

Application Procedures

NOTE: We are not taking fellows for the 2023 year.

In general applications are accepted now through December of the application year. The Fellowship Steering Committee will review all completed applications and will extend invitations for on-site or telephone interviews during late December  and early January. Offers will be extended by the Director in February. Potential applicants are encouraged to email Dr. Melanie Bennett, Director of Fellowship Training (Melanie.Bennett@va.gov), to arrange a call to learn more about the program.

All applicants should submit the following documents:

  1. A letter of interest that outlines career goals, expectations, and goodness of fit with the mission of the VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment at the VISN 5 MIRECC
  2. A current curriculum vitae
  3. Official graduate transcripts
  4. Three signed letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an internship supervisor

These documents can be emailed directly to Dr. Bennett or, for psychologist applicants, can be submitted through the APPA CAS portal (http://appic.org/AAPI-APPA/APPA-Postdoc-Application-Information).

 

All questions and inquiries should be sent via email to:

Melanie Bennett, Ph.D.
Director of Fellowship Training
VISN 5 MIRECC
209 West Fayette Street (VA Annex Building, 7th Floor)
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-637-1859
Melanie.Bennett@va.gov