VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

MIRECC Centers

Useful Links

MIRECC, NCPTSD, SMITREC and COEs Fellowships

Updated: 26 April 2013

Overview
Announcement
& Special
Requirements &
Applications
MIRECC
Contacts
COE
Contacts

Fellowship Overview

The VA Office of Academic Affiliations is offering the VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment at 25 VA sites through MIRECC, SMITREC (Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center), NCPTSD (National Center for PTSD), and COEs (Centers of Excellence). Specific Sites are listed on the tabs MIRECC contacts and COE contacts. VISN links take you to the homepage of the VISN. Other links in the lists let you jump to director information for that site.

These sites participate in the program. Each year, one MD Fellow from psychiatry, neurology, radiology, internal medicine, or other areas of medicine and one Allied Health Fellow from clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or pharmacy are accepted at each site. The VISN 21 MIRECC serves as the national coordinating center for the program, directed by Ruth O’Hara, Ph.D.

The primary goal of the fellowship program is to train psychiatrists and psychologists to become leading clinical researchers in high priority areas of mental health. Over the course of the two-year program, fellows are trained in academic and health systems research, advanced clinical care service delivery, and program administration in an interdisciplinary setting. The fellowship combines individual mentored research and clinical training with state-of-the-art educational experiences.

A special emphasis of the fellowship program is to train fellows to conduct translational research that brings basic science to clinical practice. For example, fellows learn how genetic factors are linked to clinical outcomes and how innovative research methodologies yield more clinically relevant information.

One highly successful aspect of training has been the video conference seminar series. Twice a month a leading expert in the field presents to fellows at all sites through the video conferencing system. The didactic emphasize two main areas. One includes presentations on all aspects of career development from grant and manuscript preparation to the role of mentorship. The second emphasis is on the most recent advances in conducting specific components of clinical research in mental health, from genetics to designing the best interventions.

There is also a strong emphasis on state-of-the-art methodological approaches to mental health research and practice. Seminar topics last year included VA career development, funding and resources, behavioral genetics, health informatics, and designing clinical trials of behavioral therapies. Past seminars have featured presentations on funding mechanisms and career development awards by Theresa Gleason, Ph.D., from VA R&D, Jovier Evans, Ph.D., from the NIMH, and Molly Wagster, M.D., from the NIA.

Ongoing multi-site workshops on manuscript and grant preparation are also provided to the Fellows in addition to ongoing weekly biostatistical consultation through the coordinating center.

For more information about the fellowship program, contact us by email at: Bevin.DeMuth@va.gov

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Fellowship Program Announcement

The Office of Academic Affiliations, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), announces its two-year, post residency, specialized training program in Advanced Mental Illness Research and Treatment at 25 VA sites through MIRECC, SMITREC, NCPTSD, and COE located across the country. This is an interdisciplinary program that aims to train MDs, psychologists and other allied health professionals to become outstanding clinical researchers in high priority areas of mental health research and practice.

The program combines individualized, mentored research and clinical training with a state-of-the-art curriculum that emphasizes research methods; statistics; epidemiology; mental health systems; quality improvement methods; education and service delivery. Each site is affiliated with a MIRECC, SMITREC, NCPTSD, or COE, and an affiliate academic institution. Fellowship sites are linked electronically for didactic, academic, and research efforts.

Fellows devote 75% time to research and educational activities and 25% to clinical training. In collaboration with their mentors, Fellows will develop and implement a research project, publish and present findings, participate in grant writing, and utilize the latest technology for educational activities and clinical service delivery.

Special Announcement - Applications must be received by November 15, 2012

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Palo Alto WRIISC Special Fellowship Program (PhD or MD track) with Research Interests in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (VAPA-WRIISC-SFP)

Download the announcement

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Requirements

MDs: 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.; Stipends will be based on years of previously completed residency training accredited by the Accrediting Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and index rates approved at the respective VA facility and affiliated university.
Allied Health Professionals: Eligible psychologists must be U.S. citizens. They must have graduated from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology. Completion of an APA accredited internship in clinical or counseling psychology also is required.; Stipend rates are currently $42,239 to $50,006 per annum for the first year of the program with a stipend increase in the second year. These stipends are reviewed biannually and are adjusted according to rates paid by comparable non-VA postdoctoral fellowship programs.; For the eligibility requirements for other Allied Health disciplines, please contact Bevin.DeMuth@va.gov; Return to Top

Applications

Interested MDs, psychologists, and allied health professionals who meet the eligibility requirements should send a cover letter and curriculum vita to the MIRECC, SMITREC, NCPTSD, or COE Fellowship site/s of their choice.

The VA Office of Academic Affiliations has more information at http://www4.va.gov/oaa/specialfellows/default.asp. Towards the bottom of that page click on: Nomination, Submission, and Application Instructions for VA Advanced Fellowships in Mental Illness Research and Education (Advanced Psychiatry and Psychology).

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VISN 1
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VISN 3
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VISN 4
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VISN 5
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VISN 6
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VISN 16
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VISN 19
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VISN 20
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VISN 21
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VISN 22

MIRECC	Psychiatry Contact	Psychology Contact
Mental Illness Research, Education, Clinical Center (MIRECC)
West Haven VA/ Yale University School of Medicine New England Healthcare System (VISN 1)	Mehmet Sofuoglu, M.D. Phone: (203) 932-5711 x4809 Email: Mehmet.Sofuoglu@va.gov	Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, Ph.D. Phone: (203) 937-4760 Email: Ilan.Harpaz-Rotem@va.gov
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NY/NJ Veterans Healthcare Network (VISN 3) and Mount Sinai School of Medicine	Bruce Levine, M.D. Phone: (718) 584-9000 x5204 Email: bruce.levine@med.va.gov	Effie Mitsis, Ph.D. Phone: (718) 584-9000 ext 6012 Email: effie.mitsis@mssm.edu
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Philadelphia VA Medical Center (VISN 4) and University of Pennsylvania VISN 4 MIRECC Fellowship Website	Henry Kranzler, M.D. Phone: (215) 222-3200 x137 Email: Kranzler_h@mail.trc.upenn.edu	Steven Sayers, Ph.D. Phone: (215) 222-3200 x135 Email: Steven.Sayers@va.gov
Pittsburgh VA Medical Center/ University of Pittsburgh VA Pittsburgh Healthcare system (VISN 4)	Robert A. Sweet, M.D. Phone: (412) 383-5848 Email: sweetra@upmc.edu	Gretchen L. Haas, Ph.D. Phone: (412) 954-5354 Email: gretchen.haas@va.gov
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Baltimore VA/ University of Maryland Medical Center Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5)	Seth Himelhoch, M.D., MPH Phone: (410) 637 1863 E-mail: Seth.Himelhoch@va.gov	Melanie Bennett, Ph.D. Phone: (410) 605-1859 Email: Melanie.Bennett@va.gov
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Durham VAMC/ Duke University VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6)	Christine Marx, M.D. Phone: (919) 286-0411 x7426 Email: marx0001@mc.duke.edu	Patrick Calhoun, Ph.D. Phone: (919) 286-0411 x7970 Email: Patrick.Calhoun2@med.va.gov
Richmond VA/Virginia Commonwealth University VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6)	Robert Schneider, M.D., FACP Phone: (804) 675-5000 x5116 Email:Robert.Schneider3@va.gov	Scott McDonald, Ph.D. Phone: (804) 675-5000 x3633 Email: Scott.McDonald@va.gov
Salisbury VA/ Wake Forest School of Medicine VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6)	Robin A. Hurley, M.D., FANPA Phone: (704) 638-9000 x3450 Email: Robin.Hurley@va.gov Donald Eknoyan, M.D. Phone: (704) 638-9000 x2977/3450 Email: Donald.Eknoyan@va.gov	Ruth Yoash-Gantz, Psy.D., ABPP-CN Phone: (704) 638-9000 x3019 Email: ruth.yoash-gantz@va.gov
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Houston VA Medical Center/ Baylor College of Medicine South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16) VISN 16 Fellowship Website	Mark Kunik, M.D. Phone: (713) 794-8639 Email: mkunik@bcm.tmc.edu	Jeffrey Cully, Ph.D. Phone: (713) 791-1414 Email: jeffrey.cully@va.gov
Little Rock VA/ University of Arkansas Medical School South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16) Little Rock Fellowship Website	Greer Sullivan, M.D., MSPH Phone: (501) 257-1971 Email: sullivangreer@uams.edu	Patricia Dubbert, Ph.D. Phone: (501) 257-1937 Email: Patricia.Dubbert@va.gov
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Denver VA/ University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and University of Utah School of Medicine Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19) Denver (ECHCS) Psychology Fellowship Website	Hal Wortzel, M.D. Phone: (303) 399-8020 x5644 Email: hal.wortzel@ucdenver.edu; hal.wortzel@va.gov	Lisa Brenner, Ph.D. Phone: (303) 399-8020 x2571 Email: Lisa.Brenner@va.gov Beeta Homaifar, Ph.D. Phone: (303) 355-5886 Email: Beeta.Homaifar@va.gov
Salt Lake City VA/ University of Utah School of Medicine Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19) Salt Lake City Psychology Fellowship Website		Deborah Yurgelun Todd, Ph.D. Phone: (801) 582-1565 x2707 Email: Deborah.YurgelunTodd@va.gov Erin McGlade, Ph.D. Phone: (801) 587-1412 Email: Erin.McGlade@va.gov
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VA Puget Sound Health Care System/ University of Washington Northwest Network (VISN 20)	Elaine Peskind, M.D. Phone: (206) 277-3965 Email: peskind@u.washington.edu	Tracy Simpson, Ph.D. Phone: (206) 277-3337 Email: tracy.simpson@va.gov
Portland VA/Oregon Health Sciences University Northwest Network (VISN 20)	James Boehnlein, M.D. Phone: (503) 220-8262 x56200 Email: james.boehnlein@va.gov Ruth Ann Tskuda, Ed.D., MPH, R.N. Phone: (503) 273-5227 Email: Ruth.Tskuda@va.gov	Elizabeth (Betsy) Goy, PhD Phone: (503) 220-8262 x57470 Email: Elizabeth.Goy@va.gov
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VA Palo Alto Health Care System/Stanford University Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)	Michael Ostacher, M.D. Phone: (650) 493-5000 Email: Ostacher@stanford.edu	Julie Weitlauf, Ph.D. Phone: (650) 493-5000 x23429 Email: Julie.Weitlauf@va.gov
VA San Francisco/ University of California San Francisco Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)	Kristine Yaffe, M.D. Phone: (415) 221-4810 x3985 Email: Kristine.Yaffe@ucsf.edu	Angela E. Waldrop, Ph.D. Phone: (415) 221-4810 x6308 Email: angela.waldrop@va.gov
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San Diego Health Care System and University of California, San Diego Desert Pacific Health Care Network (VISN 22)	Scott C. Matthews, M.D. Phone: (858) 552-8585 Email: scott.matthews@va.gov	Barton Palmer, Ph.D. Phone (858) 642-3907 Email: bpalmer@ucsd.edu
Greater Los Angeles Health Care System/University of California Los Angeles Desert Pacific Health Care Network (VISN 22)	Stephen R. Marder, M.D. Phone: (310) 268-3647 Email: stephen.marder@va.gov Alexander S. Young, M.D. Phone: (310) 268-3416 Email: ayoung@mednet.ucla.edu	Robert Kern, Ph.D. Phone: (310) 478-3711 x49229 Email: rkern@ucla.edu Michael F. Green, Ph.D. Phone: (310) 794-1993 Email: mgreen@ucla.edu
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Coordinating Hub Site for the Fellowship Program
Coordinating Hub Site for the Fellowship Program VA Palo Alto Health Care System/Stanford University Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)	Ruth O'Hara, Ph.D., Director Sherry Beaudreau, Ph.D., Associate Director Bevin DeMuth, MSW, ASW, Program Coordinator 3801 Miranda Avenue, (151Y) Palo Alto, CA 94304 Email: roh@stanford.edu or sherry.beaudreau@va.gov For general inquires please contact Bevin Demuth at Bevin.DeMuth@va.gov or bevin.demuth@stanford.edu
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COE	Psychiatry Contact	Psychology Contact
National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD)
West Haven VA/ Yale University School of Medicine New England Healthcare System (VISN1)	Steven M. Southwick, M.D. Phone: (203) 932-5711 x2461 Email:Steven.Southwick@va.gov	Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, Ph.D. Phone: (203) 785-1935 Email: Ilan.HarpazRotem@va.gov
Palo Alto VA/ Stanford University VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VISN 21)	Steve Lindley, M.D., Ph.D. Phone: (650) 493-5000 x22393 Email: steven.lindley@va.gov	Marylene Cloitre, Ph.D. Phone: (650) 493-5000 Email: Marylene.Cloitre@va.gov
Serious Mental Illness Treatment, Research, Evaluation Center (SMITREC)
Ann Arbor VA/ University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Clinical Management Research Health Services Research & Development (VISN 11)	Marcia Valenstein, M.D., MS Phone: (734) 845-3471 Email:Marcia.Valenstein@va.gov or marciav@med.umich.edu	Fredric C. Blow, Ph.D. Phone: (734) 845-5046 Email: Fred.Blow@va.go Mark A.IIgen, Ph.D. Phone: (734) 845-3657 Email: Mark.Ilgen@va.gov
Center of Excellence (COE)
Waco VA/Texas A&M College of Medicine Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (VISN 17)	Drew Cook, Ph.D. Phone: (254) 297-5298 Email: Andrew.Cook@va.gov	Drew Cook, Ph.D. Phone: (254) 297-5298 Email: Andrew.Cook@va.gov
Canandaigua VA VA Health Care Upstate New York (VISN 2)	Yeates Conwell, M.D. Phone: (716) 275-4985 Email: yeates_conwell@urmc.rochester.edu	Deborah A. King, Ph.D. Phone: (585) 393- 7665 Email: Deborah.King@va.gov
Buffalo VA VA Health Care Upstate New York (VISN 2)	Laura Wray, Ph.D. Phone: (716) 862-5898 Email: laura.wray@va.gov
Coordinating Hub Site for the Fellowship Program
Coordinating Hub Site for the Fellowship Program VA Palo Alto Health Care System/Stanford University Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21)	Ruth O'Hara, Ph.D., Director Sherry Beaudreau, Ph.D., Associate Director Bevin DeMuth, MSW, ASW, Program Coordinator 3801 Miranda Avenue, (151Y) Palo Alto, CA 94304 Email: roh@stanford.edu or sherry.beaudreau@va.gov For general inquires please contact Bevin Demuth at Bevin.DeMuth@va.gov
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Useful Links

MIRECC, NCPTSD, SMITREC and COEs Fellowships

Fellowship Overview

Fellowship Program Announcement

Special Announcement - Applications must be received by November 15, 2012

Requirements

Applications

Mental Illness Research, Education, Clinical Center (MIRECC)

Coordinating Hub Site for the Fellowship Program

National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD)

Serious Mental Illness Treatment, Research, Evaluation Center (SMITREC)

Center of Excellence (COE)

Coordinating Hub Site for the Fellowship Program

VA Resources