Curriculum

Training objectives are specific to each focus area, with a varying balance between clinical and research concentrations. Each focus area has a primary mentor who provides oversight of the fellow's training plan, including independent research and / or preparation for licensure. All fellows participate in didactics in professional development, cultural competency; clinical / research training, and licensure.

Fellowship Positions Available

The Center for ADHD, housed within the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s, announces the availability of one (two-year) Postdoctoral Fellowship position. The Center for ADHD is composed of a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians devoted to improving the care of children and adolescents with ADHD and related disorders. Center for ADHD faculty are highly productive and hold numerous federal grants from the NIH and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The fellow will work on ongoing studies focused on longitudinal associations with cognitive disengagement syndrome across adolescence, sleep and circadian function in teens with and without ADHD, and resilience and sex differences in students with ADHD. Fellows will obtain experience in multiple research designs (experimental, prospective longitudinal, intervention, school-based) and disseminating research through presentations and publications. Fellows receive weekly clinical and research mentoring with the goal of ensuring that they are competitive job applicants upon completion of fellowship. For information about this fellowship opportunity, please contact Stephen Becker, PhD, stephen.becker@cchmc.org.

Clinical Fellowship in Inpatient Consultation Liaison Services – Heart Institute & Gastroenterology

The Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology (BMCP) is offering a one-year clinical postdoctoral fellowship with the Inpatient Consultation/Liaison (C/L) Behavioral Medicine team. This position provides a tailored experience that affords extensive inpatient opportunities in consultation and interventions to facilitate coping, improve quality of life, optimize treatment adherence, manage acute and chronic pain, and treat psychological co-morbidities for medically admitted patients and their caregivers. There will be a primary clinical focus on supporting patients and their caregivers in the gastroenterology units (Lumen and Liver) and cardiac units (in collaboration with Heart & Mind Wellbeing Center). This position includes dedicated research time with Gastroenterology faculty, including opportunities to participate in clinical research intervention and publication. With these and other medical units, there will also be opportunities to integrate with and support multidisciplinary clinical teams that include child life specialists, social workers, integrative health, chaplains, music therapists, allied health professionals, nurses, and physicians. The fellowship also involves ample clinical time with our general C/L service that covers hospital medicine, neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, nephrology/endocrinology, surgery, solid organ transplant, and rehabilitation service lines. Opportunities for additional consultation experience with outpatient medical clinics and for umbrella supervision and education of residents are also available. Protected time for EPPP study included to support progress toward licensure. For more information, please reach out to Wendi Lopez, PsyD (wendi.lopez@cchmc.org).

Clinical Fellowship in Inpatient Consultation Liaison Services – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology (BMCP) is offering a one-year clinical postdoctoral fellowship with the Inpatient Consultation/Liaison (C/L) Behavioral Medicine team. This position provides a tailored experience that affords extensive inpatient opportunities in consultation and interventions to facilitate coping, improve quality of life, optimize treatment adherence, manage acute and chronic pain, and treat psychological co-morbidities for medically admitted patients and their caregivers. There will be a primary clinical focus on supporting patients and their caregivers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), with opportunities to take part in program development and quality improvement initiatives with the NICU psychologist and NICU psychosocial team. With these and other medical units, there will also be opportunities to integrate with and support multidisciplinary clinical teams that include child life specialists, social workers, integrative health, chaplains, music therapists, allied health professionals, nurses, and physicians. The fellowship also involves ample clinical time with our general C/L service that covers hospital medicine, gastroenterology, neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, nephrology/endocrinology, surgery, solid organ transplant, and rehabilitation service lines. Opportunities for additional consultation experience with outpatient medical clinics and for umbrella supervision and education of residents are also available. Research opportunities may also be available depending on interest and fit. Protected time for EPPP study included to support progress toward licensure. For more information, please reach out to Wendi Lopez, PsyD (wendi.lopez@cchmc.org).

Clinical Fellowship in Autism Assessment and Intervention for Adolescents

The Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Psychology (NDBP) Program within the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology of Cincinnati Children’s is offering a one-year clinical fellowship position focused on the diagnostic assessment and treatment of adolescents (primarily ages 12-22) who present with autism and other co-occurring conditions. Most assessment experiences will occur in the Autism and Complex Mental Health (ACMH) Diagnostic Clinic (Lauren Tadevich, PhD), a differential diagnosis clinic for adolescents presenting with concerns for autism and complex mental health (mood disorders, PTSD, OCD, psychosis, personality concerns, complex anxiety presentations, and complex ADHD presentations). The fellow will also be involved in clinical research (Amie Duncan, PhD) that is focused on the delivery of evidence-based group interventions (e.g., social skills, executive functioning, daily living skills, etc.) to autistic middle and high school students. The fellow receives training and certification in the following interventions: Surviving and Thriving in the Real World (STRW), PEERS, and Achieving Independence and Mastery in School (AIMS). There are opportunities related to the assessment and treatment of autistic adolescents (e.g., individual treatment, group therapy, follow-up consultations with assessment patients). The fellow can participate in community outreach activities, provide umbrella supervision to doctoral level graduate students, and participate in an interdisciplinary fellow testing clinic with developmental behavioral pediatric fellows. If interested, there are opportunities for the fellow to assist with developing and refining intervention content and writing/submitting manuscripts, grants, and/or conference presentations. For more information, please contact the Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Psychology Training Director: Rebekah Ridgeway, PsyD; rebekah.ridgeway@cchmc.org.

Clinical Fellowship in Evaluation and Treatment of Children & Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

The Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Psychology (NDBP) Program within the Division of Behavior Medicine and Clinical Psychology of Cincinnati Children’s is offering one (one-year) clinical fellowship positions which focus on the diagnostic assessment of children and adolescents (ages 1-22) who present with neurodevelopmental disabilities within an interdisciplinary, outpatient setting. Conditions include autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, maladaptive behaviors, developmental delay, intellectual and learning disabilities, and internalizing/mood concerns within the context of developmental delays. There are several minor elective rotation possibilities (fellows often select one to three depending on preferences), including short-term behavior treatment (anxiety/mood, parent behavior training), group therapy (e.g., social skills, anxiety, parent behavior training, daily living skills, flexibility/executive functioning, healthy relationships), feeding intervention, early intervention/ABA treatment, integrated behavioral health, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Next Step Clinic for prenatal substance exposure, Autism and Complex Mental Health diagnostic clinic for adolescents, and community outreach activities. Fellows that select the PCIT elective can work towards PCIT certification. Fellows provide umbrella supervision to doctoral level graduate students, participate in a fellow testing clinic in collaboration with developmental and behavioral pediatric medical fellows, and rotate through a primary care autism assessment clinic. The position is primarily clinical and assessment focused, with the option of clinical research training for interested fellows. For more information, please contact the Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Psychology Training Director: Rebekah Ridgeway, PsyD.; rebekah.ridgeway@cchmc.org.

Clinical Fellowship in Moderate to Severe Behavior (MSB) Team Treatment in Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

The Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Psychology (NDBP) Program is offering a one-year clinical fellowship with our MSB team, serving youth with severe behavior challenges who haven't responded to traditional outpatient care or need a higher level of support. The fellow will train primarily with Abby Lonnemann, PsyD. in Brief Intensive Behavior Therapy (BIBT), an ABA-based program using functional analysis to address presentations ranging from pica to aggression. Caregivers are embedded in every stage of care, giving fellows hands-on experience coaching families and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. In addition, secondary training will occur across three specialty service lines:

  • Intensive Behavior Consult (IBC): Telehealth family interviews to assess behavioral risk, deliver in-the-moment safety guidance, and triage to appropriate care
  • Protective Equipment Clinic (PEC): Hybrid telehealth/in-person assessment of severe self-injury to determine medical necessity for restrictive equipment
  • Behavior Response Team (BRT): Crisis response across NDBP disciplines for real-time risk assessment and safety management

Also included:

  • BCBA supervision
  • Opportunity to observe/train in the Severe Behavior Intensive Therapy (SBIT) program

For information about this fellowship opportunity, please contact Abby Lonnemann, PsyD. (abby.lonnemann@cchmc.org).

Clinical Fellowship in Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

The Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Psychology (NDBP) Program within the Division of Behavior Medicine and Clinical Psychology of Cincinnati Children’s is offering one (one-year) clinical fellowship position which focuses on evidenced-based treatment of children and adolescents (ages 1-22) who present with neurodevelopmental disabilities within a multidisciplinary, outpatient setting. Clinical training will include a combination of group interventions (e.g., social skills, anxiety, cognitive flexibility) and individual interventions (e.g., parent behavioral training, exposure therapy, adapted-CBT for emotion regulation). The fellow can develop or further refine their skills in evaluating the effectiveness of clinical services using program evaluation and/or quality improvement methods through a mentored applied research project. Several minor/elective rotations are also available, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (with the opportunity to work towards certification), diagnostic assessment, interdisciplinary feeding treatment, early intervention/ABA, integrated behavioral health, and the neurobehavioral psychiatry inpatient unit. Depending on rotation selections, the fellow can generally engage in two to three minor rotations. The fellow can also participate in community outreach activities and provide umbrella supervision to graduate level doctoral trainees. With position-specific questions, please contact the primary mentor, Allison Blackburn, PhD (allison.blackburn@cchmc.org).

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation

The Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s, announces the availability of a Research Postdoctoral Fellowship focused on autism and rare disorder assessment and behavior support. Cincinnati Children’s is an ARIA Project IMPACT Site. The IMPACT Network is an international collaboration of sites working together to accelerate clinical readiness and therapeutic development for autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions. This two-year research fellowship position is within the clinical research labs of Rebecca Shaffer, PsyD and the Neurobehavioral Lab, whose research focuses on Autism Spectrum Disorder, emotion dysregulation, and fragile X syndrome. The fellow will work directly to conduct a range of psychological assessments and biomarker collection with a wide age range for the longitudinal portion of the study. Additionally, this study provides a range of behavioral supports to make sure it is inclusive for individuals with profound autism. The fellow will assist with creating supports for successful research visits including reward plans, visual aids, and social stories. Finally, the study includes opportunities for community engagement through recruitment events and activities. Strong candidates will have a commitment to creating an inclusive research environment and psychological testing. Other active studies in the lab focus on phenotyping, early diagnosis and intervention, Regulating Together emotion regulation intervention in autism, and fragile X intervention. There are many opportunities for independent research related to the studies, clinical experiences, and leading presentations and publications if the fellow is interested. Diagnostic testing and intervention experiences with autism and fragile X are also available if the fellow so desires. Additionally, supervision experience with undergraduate and graduate students and coordinators is available. Responsibilities can be arranged to meet supervised hour requirements for licensure as well as the fellow’s unique interests and goals.

The Shaffer Lab is very involved in the local autism community through community events and partnerships with local school districts which provides additional event experiences throughout the year. Our lab is part of a larger multidisciplinary group, The Neurobehavioral Lab, which is a large team including child psychiatrists, licensed clinical psychologists, social workers, and research coordinators. For more information, please contact Rebecca Shaffer, PsyD. at rebecca.shaffer@cchmc.org.

Clinical Neuropsychology/Psychology Fellowship Program

Housed within the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, the fellowship program in Neuropsychology (Neuropsychology Training Director: Thea Quinton, PhD., ABPP; thea.quinton@cchmc.org, Associate Training Director: Dean Beebe, PhD., ABPP; beebd0@cchmc.org) has an opening for one two-year position. This fellowship conforms to the guidelines established by the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN). Fellows receive broad clinical training with diverse neurologic and medical populations, participate in a variety of didactic activities, and contribute to ongoing research programs. We use an apprenticeship model focused on active mentoring, career development, professional role identity, and development of skills in clinical care and research that ensures success as a scientist-practitioner. For more information about the neuropsychology fellowship and a list of needed application materials, please click here to view our brochure.

The Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology (BMCP) at Cincinnati Children’s is offering a one-year clinical postdoctoral fellowship within the Acute Inpatient Psychiatry Program, focused on behavioral consultation, training, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This fellowship provides a rich, immersive experience in a high-acuity psychiatric setting across a 75-bed system composed of approximately 45 adolescent and 30 child inpatient beds. The position is ideal for candidates interested in program development in acute settings, clinical supervision, and interdisciplinary inpatient care with involvement in training and research. The fellow will primarily supervise and collaborate with master’s level clinicians to design, implement, and refine individualized behavior plans and programmatic systems (e.g., token economies). They will work closely with interdisciplinary treatment teams and allied health professionals to integrate behavioral strategies across care settings. Additional opportunities include direct patient therapy, co-supervision of psychology trainees, and staff training in behavioral and de-escalation techniques. The fellowship is tailored to the fellow’s interests, providing a rich environment for developing clinical, supervisory, and programmatic leadership skills. The primary mentor of this position is Aaron Vaughn, PhD (aaron.vaughn@cchmc.org).

Clinical Fellowship within Cancer and Blood Disease Institute

The Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology has partnered with the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute (CBDI) to offer a one-year clinical postdoctoral fellowship in psychosocial hematology, oncology, and hematopoietic stem cell transplant. This position provides a tailored experience that affords extensive inpatient and outpatient training opportunities in evidence-based assessment, consultation, and intervention to facilitate coping, improve quality of life, optimize treatment adherence, manage acute and chronic pain, and treat psychological co-morbidities. The fellow will be fully integrated into multidisciplinary clinical medical and psychosocial teams. Additionally, the fellow will participate in a minor clinical research rotation throughout the fellowship year comprised of activities consistent with clinical faculty positions, such as intervention development and facilitation, fidelity, quality improvement and program development initiatives. Finally, the fellow will participate in seminars and didactics in the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, as well as the CBDI.

Click here for more information on the Patient and Family Wellness Center. With program questions, contact Maggie Brock, PhD.

Clinical Fellowship in Eating Disorders Treatment and Research

The Division of Behavioral Medicine & Clinical Psychology (BMCP) at Cincinnati Children's announces the availability of one (one-year) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Eating Disorders Treatment and Research. Successful candidates will be committed to evidence-based practice, have prior clinical experience in child and adolescent psychology, and have an ultimate desire to specialize in eating disorders treatment and research. The fellow will work closely with a multidisciplinary team to provide evidence-based care for youth (aged 8-25) with a wide range of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, and binge eating disorder. Training opportunities in complementary clinical areas will also be provided based on the fellow’s needs and interests, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) team, multidisciplinary feeding team, pain clinic, consultation/liaison service, gender health clinic, OCD treatment, and/or treatment for behavior problems. The fellow will also receive protected time for collaborative research projects, program development, and/or teaching, as determined by their ultimate career goals. The primary mentor of this position is Claire Aarnio-Peterson, PhD. (claire.aarnio-peterson@cchmc.org).

Pediatric Pain Clinical Research Fellowship

The Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s and the Pediatric Pain Research Center (PPRC, Susmita Kashikar-Zuck, PhD and Christopher King, PhD), announce the availability of one (two-year) postdoctoral fellowship position. The fellow will primarily work with an interdisciplinary team of researchers on a large clinical-translational project in pediatric musculoskeletal chronic pain. The study is part of the NIH HEAL KIDS Chronic Pain initiative in which the fellow will have the opportunity to work with a consortium of investigators dedicated to understanding the biobehavioral mechanisms underlying pediatric-onset chronic pain with the aim of developing the most effective treatments. The fellow will also be involved with delivering cognitive-behavioral and exercise-based treatments for adolescents with chronic pain (the FIT Teens Program). The fellowship offers structured training in clinical research methodologies, analysis of electronic medical records, and collection of patient-reported outcomes. Fellows may also engage in ambulatory monitoring of sleep and physical activity and quantitative sensory testing. Mentorship in scholarly activities, such as manuscript and grant writing, will be included. The PPRC is a dynamic multidisciplinary group with multiple ongoing collaborations between experts in pain neuroscience, behavioral medicine, rheumatology, anesthesia and sports medicine. Additional clinical training opportunities are available within the interdisciplinary pain service. Applicants with strong clinical and translational research interests in pediatric pain are encouraged to apply. For more information, please contact Susmita Kashikar-Zuck, PhD at susmita.kashikar-zuck@cchmc.org or Christopher King, PhD at christopher.king@cchmc.org.

Clinical Fellowship in Pediatric Behavioral Sleep Medicine

In collaboration with the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s, the Division of Behavioral Medicine & Clinical Psychology (BMCP) announces the availability of a one-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Behavioral Sleep Medicine. Successful candidates will embrace a scientist-practitioner model of training and clinical care and have prior clinical experience in pediatric and/or child and adolescent psychology. Prior exposure to pediatric sleep disorders evaluation and treatment is preferred, and the ideal candidate should have a long-term career goal to specialize in pediatric behavioral sleep medicine. The fellow will work closely with board certified sleep psychologists and sleep physicians within a Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Accredited Behavioral Sleep Medicine Training Program and an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Accredited Sleep Center. Training will focus on evidence-based behavioral sleep medicine evaluation and treatment with the full spectrum of pediatric sleep disorders including insomnia, hypersomnia, parasomnias, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, and sleep disordered breathing. While the fellowship is primarily focused on clinical training, the fellow can receive protected time for collaborative research projects, program development, and/or teaching, as determined by their career goals. The primary mentor of this position is Kelly Byars, PsyD, ABPP, CBSM, DBSM (kelly.byars@cchmc.org).

NIH T32 Research Fellowship in Adherence and Self-Management

The NIH T32 Adherence and Self-Management Fellowship is a two-year training program for candidates with PhD, MD/DO, or comparable degrees who are interested in research and/or program development related to adherence and self-management. The program is housed in the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s and is funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (Co-Directors: Kevin Hommel, PhD (kevin.hommel@cchmc.org) and Meghan McGrady, PhD (meghan.mcgrady@cchmc.org).

All fellows are paired with a primary mentor who complements their interests and skills. Each of our faculty have a strong track-record of publishing, obtaining external grant support, program development, and mentoring trainees. Fellows are also able to train with multiple additional faculty from 14 medical divisions at Cincinnati Children's. A complete list of primary mentors and ongoing projects can be found here. Click here for more information about the Center for Adherence and Self-Management.

NIH T32 Research Fellowship in Child Behavior and Nutrition

The Division of Behavioral Medicine & Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s announces the availability of one (two-year) position in the T32 Fellowship, Research Training in Child Behavior and Nutrition (T32DK063929-24; Co-PIs: Meg H. Zeller, PhD and Scott W. Powers, PhD, ABPP). Healthy lifestyle behaviors are critical to preventing and managing many pediatric chronic conditions. Our goal is to develop the next generation of academic leaders and interdisciplinary clinician scientists dedicated to improving the nutrition, health, and well-being of all youth. T32 fellows are paired with faculty mentors who provide mentored experiences via ongoing funded work. Fellows balance time between these clinical research experiences, clinical rotations in aligned programs, and the development of a mentor-aligned independent project. Core didactics and individualized experiential learning support skills in scientific writing, grant development, team science, nutrition science, self-management science, and community engagement. T32 funds support research-related expenses, tuition, and travel. The T32 is part of the larger Psychology Fellowship Program at Cincinnati Children's with additional trainings/didactics towards clinical licensure and career development as a pediatric psychologist. Graduates successfully transition to faculty and staff positions and emerge as leaders of clinical programs, training programs, and research teams.

For this upcoming cycle, the primary experience available will focus on early life nutrition and obesity prevention: community-engaged approaches and home visiting to promote healthy eating amongst infants and toddlers, targeting the impact of maternal mental health and stress on child health outcomes with Cathy Stough, PhD (odarcc@ucmail.uc.edu). Potential secondary experiences may include: dietary behavior in adolescents: clinical and community-engaged research projects focused on food insecurity, disordered eating, cardiometabolic disease prevention, and health promotion in Hispanic/Latino families with Carolina Bejarano, PhD (carolina.bejarano@cchmc.org); early childhood obesity prevention in primary care: integrated primary care research focused on early childhood obesity prevention, responsive parenting interventions, feeding and behavioral health measurement and implementation science with Tiffany Rybak, PhD (tiffany.rybak@cchmc.org); sleep and circadian rhythms: observational studies and clinical trials to understand the impact of inadequate or mistimed sleep on adolescent health, including dietary intake, mental health and immune responses with Dean Beebe, PhD, ABPP (beebd0@cchmc.org); Young adult ); CBT and nutrition for pediatric migraine: management and delivery of a comparative effectiveness multi-site clinical trial, deliver CBT and nutrition telehealth protocol, engage with stakeholder groups (e.g., youth, parents, providers, payors) with Scott W. Powers, PhD, ABPP (scott.powers@cchmc.org).

Training Objectives

Postdoctoral training in psychology occurs under the supervision of licensed psychologists and occurs over a one-to-two-year period. Based upon Ohio state law and the criteria for listing in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC), there are no year-specific objectives for training. However, the following goals and objectives are forwarded to the State Board of Psychology each year when our program reports the individuals under supervision for the upcoming year. Specifically, at the conclusion of training (one - two years), the:

  • Fellow will be able to provide clinical care that is based in theoretical and empirical knowledge bases and will become familiar with psychology billing practices.
  • Fellow will be able to provide clinical care in a manner which is sensitive to individual differences of all people, is non-discriminatory, and which respects and protects human and civil rights.
  • Fellow will be able to provide clinical care only within the context of a professional relationship and according to American Psychological Association Ethical Codes and standards.
  • Fellow will know and apply the rules governing Psychologists under Ohio Psychology Law.
  • Fellow may participate in umbrella supervision in accordance with Ohio law.
  • Fellow will be able to interact professionally and responsibly with colleagues from other disciplines.
  • Fellow will provide professional consultation in a manner which respects and protects the individual differences of patient and family.
  • Fellow will show a primary obligation and take reasonable precautions to respect the confidentiality rights of those with whom they work or consult.
  • Fellow will know procedures for addressing any personal signs of impairment in self, colleagues, and faculty.

Clinical Responsibilities and Lines of Supervision

Each clinical case (assessment, treatment, or consultation) is assigned to a supervisor who is a licensed psychologist with specialized knowledge in the given area. This supervisor meets face-to-face each week with the fellow for supervision and reviews each case and signs all treatment, assessment, and / or discharge notes. In addition, in accordance with Ohio State Law, each individual receiving clinical care receives a letter documenting the supervised nature of the services that they are receiving. Evaluation for clinical care will take place by the primary clinical supervisors and will be based on the degree of competence in the specific areas of practice of the fellow, the responsiveness and timeliness of their communications with multi-disciplinary colleagues and family members, and documentation and records.

Clinical training experiences are built into clinical fellowship positions. For research fellows, the program director can match research-focused fellows with clinical experiences / shadowing, when desired and appropriate. All fellows obtain a minimum of 1,500 clinical hours by the completion of their training to ensure eligibility for licensure.

Many fellows are expected to take part in research that is significant, empirically sound, and ethically appropriate. The degree of involvement and the specific projects will be set between fellow and mentor at the beginning of the fellowship. Several fellowships are heavily research oriented. Specific goals for research will be set for each six-month period.

Every research fellow will attend the Psychology Research Group and Writer's Workshop seminars that occur monthly and will have the opportunity to present proposals and manuscripts and to review others' work. For each session, faculty will provide guidance to the fellow. The presenting fellow will work closely with the mentor during preparation.

Research will be evaluated based on significance, scientific merit, innovation and human subjects' issues. In addition, many of the focus areas have specific journal clubs pertinent to their subject area. All fellows are invited to attend these journal clubs. Evaluation for research will take place by determining the degree to which the fellow is accomplishing goals.

Each fellow participates in didactic teaching and mentoring of psychology and / or medical trainees, as well as colleagues of other disciplines. Some fellows will be involved in "umbrella supervision" of graduate students or psychology interns. Supervisors will evaluate fellows' teaching and mentoring by determining whether they have accomplished the teaching activities set as objectives. In addition, evaluators will complete formal evaluation forms, faculty observation, and informal feedback from participants when assessing fellows.

Each fellow is required to participate in a minimum of eight hours per month of didactic learning experiences. Most of these hours will be completed in seminars related to fellows' specific focus areas. There are two monthly seminars that all fellows are required to attend, and several other seminars that fellows may choose based on their interests and training goals. Each fellow will be asked to keep a monthly log of seminars attended, which is submitted to the mentor and the directors of training every six months.

Self-Assessment and Initial Goal Setting

Fellows should be entering fellowship training at Cincinnati Children's because they have specific skills they wish to further develop. Fellows assess their baseline skills and experiences via our program's Fellow Self-Assessment Form. During the first month of training, fellows rate their perceived competence and confidence across specific research and clinical skills. This self-assessment is not meant to be evaluative, but simply to start a dialogue about past training experiences and to enhance goal setting. Fellows set goals and are evaluated across the following areas: Clinical, Research, Teaching / Mentoring, and Professional Relationships / Development. The self-assessment and goal setting forms are reviewed by mentors and program directors. Feedback will be provided for revisions, if necessary. The final document is signed by all parties.

Evaluation Process

Fellow Evaluation: At six-month intervals, the primary mentor(s) / supervisor(s) and fellow complete a series of evaluations. The fellow completes the Goals and Fellow Evaluation form with their initial (or previous goals) and provides documentation of progress towards each goal. The primary supervisor will then add their comments and ratings to this form to ensure both the evaluation and progress towards goals is captured in one document. New goals are also set for the next six-month period. The evaluation forms are reviewed by the program directors. Feedback will be provided for revisions, if necessary. The final document is signed by all parties.

Ratings: Fellows are evaluated on a three-point scale to denote status across Educational, Clinical, Research, Teaching / Mentoring, and Professional Relationships / Development domains (e.g. "Needs Improvement (1)"; "On Target (2)"; "Exceptional Performance (3)").

Evaluation of Mentors, Supervisors, and Training Program: Clinical and research mentors are evaluated along the same timeline (every six months) using program specific forms. The evaluation forms are reviewed by the program directors. Feedback is provided as necessary. The final document is signed by all parties. Fellows also evaluate the training program throughout the year, as well as formally at the end of the training year. An anonymous online survey is provided for this end-of-year evaluation, which is compiled by the chief fellow(s) and presented to faculty at the end of training, with a copy forwarded to the Cincinnati Children's Graduate Medical Education Office.

Appeal, Due Process and Grievances: Fellows and training faculty have the right to appeal any evaluation they have received. Fellows and their supervisors are encouraged to work out any difficulties within the context of the supervisory relationship and among focus area faculty. Any difficulties that cannot be resolved or persist should be brought directly to the fellowship program directors. Procedures for appeal, due process, grievances, and handling professional impairment are reviewed at the annual fellow and faculty orientation and are included on the program website and in the program manual.

Each fellow is provided with a Professional Development Mentor (PDM), which may be a mentor within BMCP or in a related field. The PDM does not have an evaluative or supervisory role over the fellow, allowing for open dialogue about professional development and career goals. Fellows are required to meet with their PDM at least four times per year (quarterly) or more often as desired. Most research fellows also select a Scholarly Oversight Committee (SOC), which is comprised of several mentors in the fellows’ specialty and/or related field that monitor and evaluate the fellow’s progress and individual development, including the selection and execution of research activities.

We have a due process policy and a grievance policy in place. Fellows and faculty receive a copy of these procedures at the commencement of training, with a copy included in the training manual.

Seminars and Didactics

Title: Psychology Fellows’ Didactic
Frequency: Second Friday of the month
Time: 1:00 – 2:50 pm
Organizer: Chief Fellows, Oversight: Fellowship Directors
Purpose: Provide a forum to discuss issues of professional development such as program development, preparing for job talks, work-life balance, interviewing, etc.
Audience: Required for all BMCP fellows.


Title: Psychology Fellowship Colloquium
Frequency: First and Fifth Monday of month (depending on graduating class size, more Mondays may be added)
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Organizer: Meg Stone-Heaberlin, PsyD and Denisse Herrera Delgado
Purpose: Provide first and second year fellows an opportunity to present their research and / or clinical interest to BMCP peers, faculty, and staff. Fellows are provided with oral and written feedback on presentation style, slide-set, and content.
Audience: Required for all BMCP fellows.

Title: Clinical Fellows "Lunch and Learn"
Frequency: Six Fridays during training year
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: T Building or Medical Office Building (MOB; 3430 Burnet Ave), in-person
Organizer: Meg Stone-Heaberlin, PsyD and Denisse Herrera Delgado
Purpose: Clinical fellows provide informal presentation/education on their training track and area of specialty. One track leads content for each of the Lunch and Learn dates.
Audience: Required for BMCP clinical fellows. Open to all fellows.

Title: Pre-Psychology Research Group (Pre-PRG)
Frequency: Various Thursdays of the month
Time: 9:15 – 10:00 am
Organizer: Fellowship chief fellows
Purpose: Allow fellow reviewers and other fellows an opportunity to informally discuss grants to be reviewed during PRG
Audience: Required for BMCP T32 fellows. Open to all fellows.


Title: Psychology Research Group seminar (PRG)
Frequency: Various Thursdays of the month
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Organizer: Kevin Hommel, PhD
Purpose: Foster the development and review of research projects within the division.
Audience: Required for BMCP T32 fellows. Open to all fellows.


Title: Fellows' Academy Research in Progress
Frequency: Varies
Time: Varies
Organizer: Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office
Purpose: Each session will include two separate 15-minute presentations from current Cincinnati Children's clinical fellows, followed by a short feedback session by the presenter's peers and mentors. Presentations will address planned research from junior fellows (first-year fellows) and ongoing or completed research from senior fellows (second- and third-year fellows).
Audience: Open to all fellows.


Title: Fellows Academy Professional Development and Leadership
Frequency: Varies
Time: Varies
Organizer: Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office / CME Office
Purpose: To keep psychologists abreast of current developments in research and clinical care.
Audience: Open to all fellows.


Title: CCTST Grand Rounds and other events
Frequency: Information can be found on the CCTST website, including a full calendar of events.
Scheduling: Please visit the website and select 'add to my calendar.'
Audience: Open to all fellows.

NDBP / Autism

Title: NDBP Quarterly ADOS-2 Reliability
Frequency: Quarterly the second Wednesday of the month
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Organizer: Whitney Gealy, PhD & Robin Adams, PhD
Purpose: Ensure competency across ADOS-2 modules related to administration and scoring.

Title: DDBP Research and Understanding the Evidence Base Seminar Series
Frequency: One to two times per month, typically on a Tuesday or Wednesday (varies)
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Organizer: Anna Esbensen, PhD
Purpose: Obtain latest updates to advances in research on conditions associated with developmental and behavioral pediatrics.
Scheduling: Admin will add to calendar


Neuropsychology

Title: Neuropsychology Didactic Series and Case Conference

Frequency: Every Wednesday
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am
Organizer: Thea Quinton, PhD
Purpose: A rotation of didactic experiences, including readings, brief and extended case presentations, topical presentations, and mock oral examinations for board certification.

Title: ABPP Neuropsychological Readings Group

Frequency: Second and Fourth Wednesday of the month
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 am
Organizer: Neuropsychology Fellows
Purpose: To review readings in preparation for the ABPP written exam. Intended for fellows, junior faculty, and select graduate students.


Adherence T32

Title: Adherence Center Fellowship Seminar
Frequency: Second Friday of the month
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Kevin Hommel, PhD
Purpose: Discuss topics related to treatment adherence and professional development
Audience: Open to all fellows. Required for Adherence T32s.

Title: Research Seminar
Frequency: First and Third Friday of the month
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: T32 PIs (Meg Zeller, PhD, Scott Powers, PhD, ABPP, FAHS, and Kevin Hommel, PhD)
Purpose: This is a required (combined) seminar for T32 fellows from Child Behavior and Nutrition and the Center for Adherence and Self-Management for topics related to ethics and research misconduct, skills in manuscript writing and peer review, and grant-writing. Fellows also present a "research in progress" during their second year of training.
Audience: Open to all fellows. Required for T32s.

Title: Writer's Workshop
Frequency: Fourth Friday of the month
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: Fellow (appointed annually)
Purpose: Provide a supportive group-based critique of fellows' manuscripts in progress, revise and resubmit editorial verdicts, grant proposals.
Audience: Open to all fellows. Required for T32s.

Title: Pre-PRG
Frequency: Various Thursdays of the month
Time: 9:15 – 10:00 am
Organizer: Fellowship Co-Chiefs
Purpose: Allow fellow reviewers and other fellows an opportunity to informally discuss grants to be reviewed during PRG.
Audience: Open to all fellows. Required for T32s.

Title: Psychology Research Group seminar (PRG)
Frequency: Various Thursdays of the month
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am
Organizer: Kevin Hommel, PhD
Purpose: Foster the development and review of research projects within the division.
Audience: BMCP research faculty. Open to all fellows. Required for T32s.


T32: Child Behavior and Nutrition

Title: Research Seminar
Frequency: First and Third Friday of the month
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Organizer: T32 PIs (Meg Zeller, PhD, Scott Powers, PhD, ABPP, FAHS, and Kevin Hommel, PhD)
Purpose: This is a required (combined) seminar for T32 fellows from Child Behavior and Nutrition and the Center for Adherence and Self-Management to topics related to ethics and research misconduct, skills in manuscript writing and peer review, and grant-writing. Fellows also present a "research in progress" during their second year of training.
Audience: Open to all fellows. Required for T32s.

Title: Writer’s Workshop
Frequency: Fourth Friday of the month
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00pm
Organizer: Fellow (appointed annually)
Purpose: Provide a supportive group-based critique of fellows' manuscripts in progress, revise and resubmit editorial verdicts, grant proposals.
Audience: Open to all fellows. Required for T32s.

Title: Pre-PRG
Frequency: Various Thursdays of the month
Time: 9:15 – 10:00 am
Organizer: Fellowship Co-Chiefs
Purpose: Allow fellow reviewers and other fellows an opportunity to informally discuss grants to be reviewed during PRG.
Audience: Open to all fellows. Required for T32s.

Title: Psychology Research Group seminar (PRG)
Frequency: Various Thursdays of the month
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Organizer: Kevin Hommel, PhD
Purpose: Foster the development and review of research projects within the division.
Audience: Open to all fellows. Required for T32s.