Clinical Fellowship in Moderate to Severe Behavior Treatment in Children and Adolescent with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Inpatient and Outpatient Opportunities)
The Developmental and Behavioral Psychology (DBP) Program within the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is offering one (1-year) clinical fellowship position. The fellow has the opportunity to tailor their clinical training based on interest. Opportunities include training in the inpatient developmental psychiatry acute stabilization program within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry serving children and adolescents dually diagnosed with developmental disabilities and mental health disorders (Director: Rebekah Ridgeway, PsyD, rebekah.ridgeway@cchmc.org; Direct supervisor: Rachel Holden, PsyD, rachel.holden@cchmc.org).
In this rotation, the fellow will be actively involved in the behavioral assessment, development and implementation of individualized treatment programs to treat severe problem behavior, parent and caregiver training, as well as participation in daily interdisciplinary rounds and family meetings. This training offers fellows the opportunity to experience a broad range of experiential learning from a multi-disciplinary team who cares for complex children with the goal of developing entry-level professionals with a broad skill and knowledge base to treat a range of severe behavior challenges in children with developmental disabilities.
The fellow also has the opportunity to complete their training within the Brief Intensive Behavior Treatment (BIBT) program (Direct supervisor: Laura Srivorakiat, PsyD, laura.srivorakiat@cchmc.org). BIBT is an outpatient treatment clinic for children/adolescents with developmental disabilities and moderate-to-severe behavior problems who have not been successful in traditional outpatient behavioral treatment or require a higher level of care. The program utilizes ABA methodology, including functional analysis of behavior, to address broad concerns ranging from pica to aggression. Caregivers are directly involved in all aspects of care BIBT and receive assistance from direct support staff. As such, fellows will develop skills working closely with caregivers and staff. Fellows will have the opportunity to collaborate with other multi-disciplinary team members including developmental pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and social work.
Fellows have the opportunity to select from these two rotations which may include completing both or prioritizing time in one rotation. Further, additional elective considerations include short term behavior treatment for more mild intensity behaviors, group treatment (anxiety, social skills, parent training), and feeding intervention.
Clinical Fellowship in Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
The Developmental and Behavioral Psychology (DBP) Program within the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is offering two (1-year) clinical fellowship positions which focus on the diagnostic evaluation of children and adolescents (ages 1-22) who present with a variety of neurodevelopmental disabilities within an interdisciplinary, outpatient setting. These clinics are housed within the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Conditions include developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, discipline and behavioral problems, intellectual and learning disabilities, and internalizing/mood concerns within the context of developmental delays.
Both positions are primarily clinical with the option of some clinical research training if the candidate is interested. The positions are assessment focused with several elective rotation possibilities from which to select, including short-term behavior treatment, group therapy (e.g., social skills, anxiety, parent training), feeding intervention, early intervention / ABA treatment, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Fellows selecting the PCIT elective have the opportunity to work towards PCIT certification.
For more information, please contact the developmental and behavioral pediatrics training director: Rebekah Ridgeway, PsyD, rebeka.ridgeway@cchmc.org.
Research Fellowship in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Regulating Together Intervention
The Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center announces the availability of a Research Postdoctoral Fellowship focused on intervention research related to autism spectrum disorder, specifically the Regulating Together intervention for emotion dysregulation. This two-year research fellowship position is within the clinical research lab of Rebecca Shaffer, PsyD, whose research focuses on autism spectrum disorder, emotion dysregulation, and fragile X syndrome.
The fellow will work directly on two funded intervention trials focused on Regulating Together, 1) Department of Defense Clinical Trial examining facilitators and barriers to treatment success, and 2) an NICHD R01 examining the additive effects of canine assistance. The fellow will participate in psychological testing, physiological measurement and analysis of heart rate variability, cognitive flexibility computer testing, and intervention implementation including with Regulating Together, canine assisted, and a study skills control group. Other active studies in the lab focus on phenotyping, early diagnosis and intervention, and fragile X intervention. There are many opportunities for additional research and clinical experiences including leading presentations and publications if the fellow is interested. Diagnostic testing and intervention experiences with 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.
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.
Clinical Research Fellowship in Fragile X Syndrome
The Developmental and Behavioral Psychology (DBP) Program within the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center announces the availability of a Research Postdoctoral Fellowship focused on research related to Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This 1-2 year research fellowship position focuses on a combination of clinical training and translational research in FXS. The fellow will work within The Neurobehavioral lab (Director: Craig Erickson, MD), a large team including child psychiatrists, licensed clinical psychologists, social workers, and research coordinators. The Neurobehavioral Lab has multiple federally-funded projects focused on FXS, including phenotyping studies, pharmaceutical clinical trials, and biomarker development. Opportunities within research are extensive, including but not limited to electroencephalography (EEG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood-based molecular measures, eye tracking, neurocognitive measures, and parent-report measures.
Collaborations with internal and external investigators provide additional rich opportunities to be involved in innovative translational projects working across species. Opportunities for dissemination of research through conferences, manuscripts, and oral presentations are plentiful. Clinical training will focus on diagnostic testing for autism spectrum disorders as well as developmental and cognitive assessment within the context of research. Additional diagnostic and intervention experience may be available if the fellow so desires. For more information, please contact the Meredith Will, PhD, and / or Lauren Schmitt, PhD.
Within a year of their completion of the fellowship program, our past clinical research fellows in the lab have all obtained faculty positions at academic medical centers and have demonstrated high success rates of institutional, foundational (Autism Science Foundation), and / or federal funding (NICHD K23 Career Mentored Award).
The Neurobehavioral lab is highly engaged with the broader Fragile X community. Fellows will have the opportunity to take part in FXS family picnics, bimonthly “Table Talks” on specific clinical topics, incorporating key stakeholder feedback from our Family Advisory Council, and other community events. In addition, there are opportunities to work with Dr. Schmitt and her community partnerships to develop and run trainings for autistic individuals and first responders to enhance mutual respect and community safety.