NEUROPSYCHOLOGY POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS Answers to Burning Questions & Recommendations
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS Answers to Burning Questions & Recommendations Octavio A. Santos, M.S., ANST Liaison Officer Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Student University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Association of Neuropsychology Students in Training (ANST) Society for Clinical Neuropsychology’s Education Advisory Committee (SCN-EAC) Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN) Jennifer L. Gess, Ph.D., ABPP/CN Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Georgia State University Internship at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University Specializes in adolescent/adult populations with cognitive impairment, epilepsy, acquired brain injuries, neoplasm & neurodegenerative conditions Research: assessment of NP & neuroimaging techniques to better predict post-surgical cognitive outcomes in epilepsy, neoplasm & MD Internship director at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Member of SCN-EAC Steven D. Bodin, PhD., ABPP/CN Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Internship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Postdoctoral fellowship at Nationwide Children's Hospital Specializes in pediatric population Research: outcomes following TBI & epilepsy surgery as well as concussion & post-concussion symptoms Director of the postdoctoral fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Current president of APPCN Robert L. Collins, PhD., ABPP/CN Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at University of Houston Internship at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Postdoctoral fellowship at University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Specializes in neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy & the impact of medical illness on cognition Research: assessment of the diagnostic utility of NP instruments, self-report measures & effort in neurological populations Director of the postdoctoral fellowship at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Member director of APPCN Derin J. Cobia, Ph.D. Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Saint Louis University Internship at West Virginia University School of Medicine Postdoctoral fellowships at Northwestern University/Feinberg School of Medicine Specializes in adults with ADHD, autoimmune disorders, hepatic encephalopathy, TBI, epilepsy, tumors & psychiatric illness Research: development/implementation of computational anatomy tools in studying neuropsychiatric diseases Member of SCN-EAC Webinar Outline 1. Introduction: what is a NP fellowship, differences from internship & requirements 2. Preparation Phase: becoming a strong applicant, networking, available resources, types of fellowships & location considerations 3. Application Phase: number of apps, timeline, match vs. non-match apps, required app materials & tips 4. Interview Phase: location, family plans, sensitive questions, programs’ responses & tips 5. Post-Interview Phase: weighing pros-cons, dealing with offers, matching odds & next steps Introduction & Preparation at the Doctoral Level JENNIFER L. GESS, PHD, ABPP ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENTS OF PSYCHIATRY & NEUROLOGY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES What is the purpose of a neuropsychology postdoctoral fellowship? To prepare individuals for independent practice and eventual board certification in clinical neuropsychology. How does fellowship differ from internship? Level of independence Level of specialization What sort of hours are needed to meet the requirements for fellowship? Prior to fellowship: Successful completion of 2080 hour internship, with a formal training component in Neuropsychology, ideally including both clinical and didactic experiences (check specific fellowship listing) During fellowship: Two years of full time training in neuropsychology or the equivalent Why are neuropsychology fellowships two years instead of just one? Based upon Houston Conference Guidelines (http://www.div40.org/pub/Houston_conference.pdf) Can I get board certified without a fellowship? At present the three recognized boards in clinical neuropsychology (ABCN, ABPdN, ABN) all require advanced competence in the provision of clinical neuropsychology services, generally defined as two years of post-doctoral education The Preparation Phase What are some things I can do to make myself a strong applicant? Helpful articles: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23035737 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10855054 At the doctoral level: Should I pursue a PhD or a PsyD? In data gathered by APPCN students with PhD were almost twice as likely to match as students with PsyD Other correlated factors: Research experience Academic productivity Working with well-known mentors Consider career trajectory, focus, and interests At the doctoral level: Do my supervisors need to be boardcertified? Favorable to have board certified supervisors Diversity of supervision is also very important At the doctoral level: What sort of neuropsychology coursework should I obtain? Refer to Houston Guidelines Look at the specific requirements of the sites to which you are applying Explain your experience in your cover letter At the doctoral level: How many posters and publications should I seek to complete? Is first authorship important? Dependent on the site Generally, the more the better (see below) First authorship is an important indicator that an individual is able to take charge on a project, and is more important to have at least one first-authorship than many with low authorship At the doctoral level: What amount and type of clinical training is best? Depends on your career goals Match for the sites to which you are applying may be important Important to have some integrated experiences (interview, assessment, and report preparation) Diversity of experiences is very desirable (settings, patient populations, etc) At the doctoral level: How important are professional activities? What counts: Less essential, but may be helpful in extending your network Consider involvement with different organizations, participation in scientific conferences Preparation at the Internship Level Robert Collins, PhD, ABPP Clinical Neuropsychologist Michael E DeBakey VAMC Houston, Texas At the internship level: Accreditation Should the internship program be accredited by the APA and how might this be viewed by postdoctoral fellowships At the internship level: “I was unable to obtain an APA accredited internship – and instead obtained a CAPIC internship”? • This will create limitations • Some sites require APA accreditation for fellowship At the internship level: Supervisors • Do my internship supervisors need to be board certified? At the internship level: Didactics • “What sort of neuropsychology didactics should I obtain?” • This may be set at your internship • You can use HCG as a guideline to – understand possible areas of weakness and work to improve them At the internship level: Research • “How many posters and publications should I seek to complete?” • “Is research experience on internship even that important?” • “Should I tailor research to a preferred fellowship – or find one that has a similar interests as my own” At the internship level: Clinical Rotations • 50% or not 50% - that is the question At the internship level: Professional Activities • “How important is this?” • Very important! • This will be appreciated by TDs At the internship level: Where can I find out about fellowship opportunities? • Networking: ANST, conferences, join professional listservs, make personal contact with TDs that have programs • Other resources: APA, APPCN, APPIC, conferences/message board At the internship level: Do neuropsychology fellowships have to be accredited by the APA? • Most neuropsychology fellowships are not APA accredited • Attending an accredited fellowship is not a requirement for future board certification • Those that are APA accredited have undergone a rigorous process of evaluating their training mechanisms and have agreed to provide outcome data about their program (e.g., accountability) At the internship level: What does it mean if a program is an APPCN member program? • • • • There are currently 66 member programs in APPCN Among other requirements (e.g., supervision, didactics, research) these programs have agreed to provide training consistent with Houston Conference Guidelines Attending an APPCN program allows trainees to fast-track their materials to ABPP – streamlining the application process Attending an APA accredited fellowship or an APPCN fellowship is not a requirement for board certification At the internship level: What about attending a fellowship that is not a APPCN member or APA accredited? • Many fellowship applicants will attend programs that are not APA accredited or APPCN member programs • If the program has been established have they been successful in producing board certified neuropsychologists? • Are appropriate didactics offered? As a fellow, will the fellowship offer appropriate developmental opportunities in knowledge and skill? • This scenario will require more work in your application for board certification • Attending an APA accredited fellowship or an APPCN fellowship is not a requirement for board certification • Do your homework! At the internship level: What about “creating” my own fellowship or doing a fellowship in a private practice? • Again, the preceding rules apply • If the program has been established have they been successful in producing board certified neuropsychologists? • Are appropriate didactics offered? As a fellow will the fellowship offer appropriate developmental opportunities in knowledge and skill? • This scenario will require more work in your application for board certification • Do your homework! At the internship level: What are the pros and cons of staying on for fellowship at my internship site? You may have an advantage in applying: • Some sites seek to recruit from their internship class • When you are known for your good work your supervisors will not want to part ways • Things to consider • How is the training experience different? • Are the didactics different? • How will this affect your professional development as a professional neuropsychologist • At the internship level: How much should I consider location? • “Should I try to do a fellowship where I expect to settle down?” • There is no easy answer to this question • If you restrict yourself geographically you will limit your chances of obtaining a fellowship • Your goal is to become a competent, independently practicing neuropsychologist: • You should strive for the best training opportunity available Doug Bodin, Ph.D., ABPP Nationwide Children’s Hospital The Ohio State University Application Phase Is there a suggested number of applications I should submit in order to maximize my chances of receiving an offer or being matched? Past match data: Matched applicants (M=5.7 programs); Unmatched applicants (M = 3.8 programs) No real magic #. Fit is more important Application Phase How many applications are too few or too many? Depends on your circumstances Geographic restrictions etc May want to shoot for 5 to 10 programs Seek out advice from mentor(s) Application Phase What is a reasonable timeline for me to start the process of applying for fellowship? Postdoc announcements start coming out in October Application deadlines tend to be in December and early January Request letters of rec in early November Have your list finalized by end of November Application Phase How do I juggle applying to both match and non- match programs? No consensus on recruiting approaches Depends on your circumstances Seek out advice from your mentor(s) Focus on the fit between the programs and your training needs and career goals Application Phase What sort of materials are typically required for a postdoc application? CV Letter of interest Sample reports Three letters of recommendation Grad School transcript New this year: APPIC Centralized Application System Application Phase General application tips Cover letters: What about this programs makes you a good fit? Be specific for each program PROOFREAD Get mentor(s) and colleagues to read your letters CV Make sure it is up to date Highlight your neuropsych experiences Have your mentor(s) review your CV Application Phase General application tips Sample reports De-identify them Choose diverse populations that fit the programs your are targeting Ex: Medical populations vs neurodevelopmental populations Letters of recommendation Helps to have a big name letter writer Not always possible Grad school mentor and at least one internship supervisor Give your letter writers a brief blurb about what you like in each program Application Phase Should I contact training directors before applying? Not necessary Only if you have a question that is not covered in program materials Several sites I applied to for internship sent me emails asking me to apply to their postdoc program. Will they be offended if I do not apply? No, they shouldn’t be Should I communicate my reasons for not doing so with them? No, you don’t have to. Interview Phase Where are postdoc interviews held? Many programs hold interviews at the February INS meeting Many do so on the Tuesday of the conference week Many spread them out through the week Be prepared to arrive at the INS city on Monday and stay most of the week if needed. Do I have to register for the INS conference to be able to attend my interviews at INS? Yes, you will need to register for the conference Interview Phase Is there a standard response date by which programs are required to contact me to let me know if I have been invited for an interview? No, you can check with each individual program If I expect to begin a family during post-doc, how could I ask appropriately about whether family leave is offered and/or whether there is flexibility in my work schedule to allow for childcare? Is this even o.k. to approach? It is o.k. for you to ask, it is NOT o.k. for a program to ask if you are going to have a baby! You could ask for an HR contact to obtain more information about benefits You need to complete a full two years (some programs may be more flexible than others) Interview Phase Are there any questions I would ask that would reduce my chances of getting ranked highly? Not really Don’t ask a bunch of basic questions that are easily answered in the programs’ materials. It’s o.k. to ask for clarification Should I save sensitive questions for after the match? Depends on the question/issue Seek out advice from your mentor Basic Interview Tips Attend the annual SCN/EAC/ANST interview workshop at APA if possible Should I communicate with programs before/after interview? You can Interview attire? Business (suits) Verbal and nonverbal behavior? Smile, good eye contact, thoughtful questions What materials should I bring with me? Do your homework. Have prepared notes for each program. It is o.k. to take notes during interviews What if I have to cancel an interview? Politely and professionally explain the conflict. Interview Questions Questions for you to ask What is a typical week like for your postdocs? What work settings have your former postdocs graduated to? May I speak with your current postdocs? What support is available for attending conferences during post-doc? Questions you may be asked What are you looking for in a post-doc? What are your career goals? Tell me about an interesting or difficult case. Tell me about an ethical dilemma you have faced. Tell me about your dissertation. Post-Interview Phase What are the pros and cons of taking a match vs. non- match postdoc? There is no simple answer to this question. Whether you take a match vs non-match position depends on your individual professional needs and personal circumstances. All programs that participate in the match essentially meet most of the Houston Conference Training guidelines, but many nonmatch programs also are consistent with the Houston Conference. Consult with your mentors when picking which programs to consider. Post-Interview Phase What do I do about pre-emptive non-match offers that I might receive before the match? Check the match rules Consult with your mentor(s) Post-Interview Phase What variables predict my chances of obtaining a post-doc? Number of applications: On average, applicants who match submit more rankings than applicants who don’t match. Only rank programs that you want to attend. Geographic limitations: May be at a disadvantage if you only have a few programs to rank Post-Interview Phase What variables predict my chances of obtaining a post-doc? Lack of clinical hours? No data on this. Most post-doc programs look at quality of your previous experiences rather than # of hours Lack of certain training experiences? No data on this. If your training is consistent with Houston Conference Post-Interview Phase What if I don’t obtain a post-doc? What are my next steps? A list of non-matched positions will be released by National Matching Service following the match There are occasionally positions that open up after the match Monitor neuropsych e-mail list-serves Other questions?? Thank you for your attendance and support! Please fill out our brief survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q6VYNP7 This webinar will be available on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iwVUbRabms
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