Pediatric Psychology Residency

The Pediatric Psychology Residency Program aims to prepare residents for either a post-doctoral fellowship or early career psychologist position working with children and families. The training year follows a developmental process such that trainees are provided with opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills to increase independence throughout the training year. Training opportunities are facilitated through modeling, mentoring, teaching, supervision, and active skills practice.

Residents pursue:

• Advanced training in pediatric psychology through core curriculum and general training objectives.
• Specialty training in clinical areas of interest through Individualized Training Plan and training activities

Throughout the training year, opportunities exist to complete rotations in inpatient medical settings, outpatient clinics, and within interdisciplinary teams. Residents will also gain experience completing neuropsychological and/or Autism-focused assessments and diagnostic evaluations.

Successful internship completion is evidenced by the resident’s ability to achieve and demonstrate competency in all profession-wide competencies outlined by the American Psychological Association’s Standards on Accreditation:

• Research
• Ethical and legal standards
• Individual and cultural diversity
• Professional values, attitudes, and behaviors
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Assessment
• Intervention
• Supervision
• Consultation and inter-professional/interdisciplinary skills

Evaluation:

Evaluation is an ongoing process and all supervisors and residents are encouraged to share feedback with each other throughout the year. An informal evaluation is completed at the two-month mark. Formal evaluations of residents based on the profession-wide competencies set forth by APA are completed two times a year at six and twelve months. Residents are evaluated by all faculty members who have supervised them during that period of time. Supervisors are expected to review their evaluation with each resident.

Residents also provide regular feedback to training staff. Residents complete program evaluations at six and twelve months during the year. This feedback helps training staff address current issues, as well as make necessary changes for subsequent training classes.

Pediatric psychology residents participate in 3-4 hours of didactics each week specific to pediatric psychology, medical and behavioral healthcare, DEI, and professional development. 

Pediatric Psychology Didactic Series: This didactic series is led by psychologists and is designed to provide training specific to topics relevant to clinical psychologists. Seminar topics cover a wide variety of assessment and treatment issues, ethical issues, professional development, cultural and individual diversity, and relevant research. Several didactics will overlap with our pediatric and neuropsychology fellows.

Professional Development Series: This didactic series is led by psychologists and addresses topics relevant to professional development. For example, this series will address preparing for the EPPP, applying for fellowships and jobs, and work/life balance.

DEI Didactic Series: This didactic series is led by psychologists and other providers and is designed to help trainees engage in self-reflection around aspects of cultural identity, intersectionality, and social context. This seminar uses experiential activities and discussions around issues including cultural identity, intersectionality, bias, privilege, and power discrepancies, in order to ensure comprehensive training in cultural competence.

Clinical Service Hour: This lecture series is led by various medical and other healthcare professionals throughout the hospital. This series will focus on providing education about particular diagnoses and opportunities from the healthcare provider perspective.

Additional educational opportunities include:

• Pediatric Grand Rounds
• Psychiatry Fellowship Seminars
• Research Seminar Series
• Pediatric Palliative Care Curriculum
• Neuropsychology Neuroanatomy / Case Conference Series
• Schwartz Rounds

Research: Residents are expected to give a research presentation during the training year. This can be a presentation based on the resident’s dissertation and/or based on research completed during the training year. Please note, residents will not have protected time for research as this year is focused on clinical care.

The training year is divided into two 6-month rotations. During one half of the training year, residents will complete a major rotation, assessment experience, and mini-elective. During the other half of the training year, residents will complete a major rotation, minor rotation, and mini-elective. Residents will also carry an outpatient caseload throughout the entire training year. Residents will gain experience in inpatient settings, outpatient clinics, and within multidisciplinary teams. Residents will rank their preferences for rotations and electives. Every effort will be made for residents to complete their top 1-2 rotation preferences.

Possible Major Rotations:

• Behavioral Sleep Medicine
• Diabetes and Endocrinology
• Headache
• Hematology/Oncology
• Inpatient Consultation/Liaison Service
• Inpatient and Day Rehabilitation
• Integrated GI-Psychology Program
• Interdisciplinary Feeding Clinic
• Sports Health-Sports Psychology
• Tic & Tourette Service

Possible Minor Rotations:

• Behavioral Sleep Medicine
• Center for Gender Affirming Medicine
• Diabetes and Endocrinology
• Eating Disorder
• Epilepsy
• Feeding
• Functional Neurological Disorder/Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures
• Headache
• Hematology/Oncology
• Integrated Gastroenterology-Psychology Program
• Sports Psychology
• Tic and Tourette

Possible Mini-Elective Rotations:

• Behavioral Sleep Medicine
• Diabetes and Endocrinology
• Epilepsy
• Headache
• Hematology/Oncology
• Integrated Gastroenterology – Psychology Program
• NICU
• Sports Psychology
• Tic and Tourette

Possible Assessment Rotations:

• Autism Diagnostic Clinic
• Neuropsychology 

Example 1

Example 2

Akron Children's Hospital's Pediatric Psychology Residency program offers the following benefits:

Salary

Stipends (Effective July 1, 2024):  $50,000

Vacation

All residents are granted 3 weeks of vacation or 15 customary working days.

Conference Time

Residents are entitled to 5 days of conference time each year to attend educational conferences, trainings, and courses outside of the hospital.

Educational Allowance

Residents are provided $500 annually for use toward medical-related journals or books, conferences, and license renewals.

Health Benefits

Residents, and their dependents, are eligible to enroll in the hospital’s health, dental, and vision insurance programs. Costs are shared between the resident and the hospital.

Short- and long-term disability benefits are provided. In addition, the hospital provides Group Term Life Insurance and dependent life insurance is available.

Professional Liability

Professional liability insurance is provided for each resident by the hospital.

Parking

A key access card for convenient parking is provided at no charge.

Lab Coats

One embroidered lab coat is provided, if desired.

Relocation Expenses

The hospital provides reimbursement for initial relocation expenses, up to $1,000, subject to current tax laws.

Administrative Support

Residents receive administrative support for onboarding, PTO requests, and travel reimbursement through the Medical Education Office at Akron Children’s Hospital, as well as the Program Coordinator.

Office Space & Resources

Pediatric Psychology Residents each have a cubicle in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.  Each resident is provided with a laptop, e-mail, and desk phone with voicemail.  Residents have access to printers and copiers.  Electronic copies of all forms can be found in the Residency Resources Folder within the Pediatric Psychology Residency Folder on SharePoint.

Our program utilizes the APPIC Application for Psychology Internships (AAPI) online. AAPI required materials include a cover letter/statement of interest, curriculum vitae, official graduate transcript(s), three reference letters, and summary of doctoral training to be verified by your program's director of clinical training/training director. We do not require any supplemental materials.

Application Deadline: All applications and materials are due by Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Interviews: Virtual interviews will be held on Monday, January 6^th, 2025 and Friday, January 10^th, 2025.

Requirements: The residency program only accepts students currently matriculated in an American Psychological Association or Canadian Psychological Association accredited doctoral program in Clinical, Counseling or School Psychology. All candidates must also meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of at least three years of full-time graduate study.
2. At least 500 hours of formal, supervised practicum training in assessment and intervention.
3. Satisfactory completion of comprehensive exams
4. Satisfactory defense of dissertation proposal.
5. Adequate preparation for internship as indicated by a statement from the applicant's graduate program director.
6. Positions filled via APA Match system only.

Questions? Please contact:

Jeannette Iskander, PhD
Pediatric Psychology Residency Director
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
One Perkins Square
Akron, OH  44308
Phone: 330-543-8284
jiskander@akronchildrens.org