MIRECC / CoE

Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

VA Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Veteran Mental Health and Suicide

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About the Fellowship

The VA Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention (COE-SP) is proud to offer a postdoctoral fellowship as part of VA's Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. Sponsored by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations, and in affiliation with the renowned University of Rochester Department of Psychiatry (URMC Psychiatry), our two-year program provides psychologists and physicians with the experience necessary to become leaders and innovators in suicide prevention research among Veterans. To accomplish this, we combine rich research and education resources of the COE-SP and URMC Psychiatry with the unique clinical and crisis response programs at the CVAMC and the Rochester Outpatient Clinic (ROPC).

Highlights include:

• Focused mentorship with renowned suicide prevention researchers
• Advanced clinical training working with Veteran populations.
• Professional and career development
• Research and Conference travel allowance and stipends
• Hybrid work schedules with flexible hours
• Benefits: paid time-off and competitive healthcare premiums

The fellowship is associated with (but not identical to) the UR-CSPS NIMH T32 Research Fellowship in Suicide Prevention. Prospective fellows may apply to both fellowships.

Specialties

Consistent with the strategic mission of our Center, the fellowship program puts primary emphasis on the public health approach to suicide prevention in a vibrant interdisciplinary setting that fosters rich and creative collaborations with investigators and clinical supervisors from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, medicine, nursing, social work, epidemiology, and health services. We offer specialized training focused on suicide prevention strategies, with emphasis on at-risk populations including older Veterans; Veterans with depression, PTSD, or other mental health disorders; Veterans with substance use disorders and comorbid conditions; and Veterans facing health challenges such as chronic pain and sleep disorders. We also offer unique clinical and research opportunities in crisis response strategies and other brief interventions to address suicide risk.

Meet the Advanced Fellowship Training Faculty

• Elizabeth Karras-Pilato, PhD*
• Lisham Ashrafioun, PhD*
• Tracy Stecker, PhD*
• Wilfred R. Pigeon, PhD*
• Peter Britton, PhD*
• Nicholas Allan, PhD*
• Craig Bryan, PsyD*
  
  
• Matthew J. Barry, DO
• Todd M. Bishop, PhD
• James T. Bridges, PhD
• Eric D. Caine, MD
• Kenneth R. Conner, PsyD, MPH
• Yeates Conwell, MD
• Wendi F. Cross, PhD
• Stephanie A. Gamble, PhD

Fellowship Activities

Fellows dedicate approximately 75% of their effort to clinical research and 25% to direct patient care and clinical consultation. A minimum of four hours of weekly research and clinical supervision is provided in individual and group formats. Per VA policy, trainees complete 2,080 hours of training during each year of the fellowship. In some instances, the program may be extended for a third year to further develop advanced competencies in clinical research. In addition, fellows work closely with senior research and education mentors, participate in core didactic offerings of the VA Hub Site and UR-CSPS, obtain advanced clinical training in VA sites matched closely to research interests, prepare at least one paper for publication and one national presentation each year, and complete a suicide prevention education project.

Program Details & Application Instructions

For PhD Applicants

• Start Date: Flexible July 1 – October 1, 2025
• Salary and Benefits: Stipend starts at $52,661 for Year 1. Fellows are eligible for health and life insurance benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Requirements: Entry into the program requires U.S. citizenship and completion of a doctoral degree, including dissertation defense, from an APA-, CPA- or PCSAS-accredited clinical or counseling program prior to the start date of the fellowship. Applications from those participating in new VHA psychology internship programs, in the process of applying for APA accreditation, may be acceptable provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and VHA Central Office of Academic Affiliations at the time of applicant’s enrollment.
• Accreditation Status: Non-accredited

To apply, submit the following materials to coefellowship@va.gov:

• Cover letter/letter of intent describing how your career goals and interests are aligned with the mission and fellowship training opportunities of the COE-SP.
• Detailed curriculum vitae describing background training and experience, description of internship and other scholarly activity/research.
• Three letters of recommendation sent directly from previous supervisors/mentors. One letter must be from the Director of Training of your APA-accredited doctoral internship.
• Official graduate transcript sent directly from your university. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable until official transcripts arrive.

For Physician Applicants

• Start Date: Flexible July 1 – October 1, 2025
• Salary and Benefits: Stipend based on previous years of ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship experience. Opportunities to supplement stipend are available. Fellows are eligible for health and life insurance benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hiring flexibility is available with potential options of part-time appointments.
• Requirements: Entry into the program requires that all Physician Applicants complete an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) residency and be Board eligible in their specialty at the commencement of the Fellowship. All applicants must document current, unrestricted U.S. medical licensure and the completion of ACGME or American Osteopathic Association (AOA)-accredited specialty and subspecialty residency training. The Physician Component of the Fellowship permits non-citizens of the U.S.
• Accreditation Status: Non-accredited

To apply, submit the following materials to coefellowship@va.gov:

• Cover letter/letter of intent describing how your career goals and interests are aligned with the mission and fellowship training opportunities of the COE-SP.
• Detailed curriculum vitae describing background training and relevant experience.
• Three letters of recommendation sent directly from previous supervisors/mentors. One letter must be from the Director of Residency Training for your program.
• Official medical school transcript sent directly from your university. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable until official transcripts arrive.

Hear from Previous Fellows

Autumn Gallegos, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center "The VA Advanced Fellowship was an incredible experience for me and helped to launch my research career. I received excellent mentorship and supervision and was given many opportunities to build my portfolio. My time at the VA led to collegial relationships with VA researchers across the country, which is work that continues a decade later. I am grateful for my time there!"

Lisham Ashrafioun, Ph.D. Researcher, VA Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention "The VA Advanced Fellowship afforded me excellent opportunities from experts within the Center, collaborators of the Center, faculty at the University of Rochester, as well of the hub site in Palo Alto. These training experiences provided foundational skills, yet also deepened my expertise at a critical point early in my career. I continue to draw from my experiences during fellowship and have no doubt I would not be in a position I am in now without the excellent mentorship and training experiences offered by the fellowship."

The COE-SP is located on the scenic Canandaigua VA Medical Center (CVAMC) campus, nestled in the Finger Lakes region of New York. It is accessible from multiple regional living hubs. Many of the employees live in different areas such as Canandaigua, Farmington, Rochester, and the many suburbs in between. This is a fantastic perk to the area as you can choose to live in a rural, suburban, or an urban environment depending on your preferences.

Here are some helpful links to learn more about Canandaigua and the surrounding area:

• City of Canandaigua
• Town of Farmington
• City of Rochester
• More about Rochester: Visit Rochester | Best Places to Live

Fellowship Team

All Inquiries
coefellowship@va.gov

Co-Directors of the Fellowship Training
Dr. Tracy Stecker | Dr. Todd M. Bishop

Associate Director of Fellowship Training
Dr. Caitlin Titus

Fellowship Coordinator
Tracy Dilcher

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