Clinical Pediatric Psychology Residency Program

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. Clinical psychology internships are integral parts of the training, offering psychology residents advanced exposure and experience. Training opportunities are facilitated through modeling, mentoring, teaching, supervision and active skills practice.

Pediatric psychology 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 clinical psychology 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 interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills

Psychology Residency Evaluation:

Clinical psychology internship evaluation is an ongoing process, and all supervisors and residents are encouraged to share feedback with each other throughout the year. An informal residency evaluation is completed at the two-month mark. Formal evaluations of pediatric psychology residents based on the profession-wide competencies set forth by APA are completed two times a year at six and 12 months. Psychology 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.

Clinical psychology residents also provide regular feedback to training staff. Residents complete program evaluations at six and 12 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 three to four hours of didactics each week specific to pediatric psychology, medical and behavioral health care, 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 for Pediatric Psychology

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 Psychology Service Hour

This lecture series is led by various medical and other health care professionals throughout the hospital. This series will focus on providing education about particular diagnoses and opportunities from the health care provider perspective.

Additional educational opportunities for pediatric psychology include:

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

Pediatric Psychology Research Internships

Clinical psychology interns 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, pediatric pharmacy program residents will not have protected time for research as this year is focused on clinical care.

The training year is divided into two, six-month rotations. During one half of the training year, clinical psychology residents will complete a major rotation, assessment experience and mini-elective. During the other half of the training year, psychology 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. Pediatric psychology interns will rank their preferences for rotations and electives. Every effort will be made for residents to complete their top one to two rotation preferences.

Possible Major Rotations for Psychology Internship

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

Possible Minor Rotations for Psychology Internship

• 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 & Tourette Service

Possible Mini-Elective Rotations

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

Possible Clinical Psychology Assessment Rotations

• Autism Diagnostic Clinic
• Neuropsychology 

Example 1

Example 2

Akron Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Psychology Residency Program Offers the Following Benefits:

Pediatric Psychology Residency Salary

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

Residency Vacation

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

Conference Time

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

Pediatric Resident Educational Stipend

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

Health Benefits for Psychology Residents

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 Stipend

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 and Resources

Pediatric psychology residents each have a cubicle in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Each resident is provided with a laptop, email 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 pediatric residency 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 Monday, November 25, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Interviews

Virtual interviews will be held on Monday, January 6, 2025, and Friday, January 10, 2025.

Residency Requirements

The clinical psychology 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 psychology 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