Contact Information

Medical and Clinical Psychology


Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Tricia Crum
Email: tricia.crum@usuhs.edu
Phone: (301) 295-3270
FAX: (301) 295-3034

Medical & Clinical Psychology Program Description

The Medical Psychology - Clinical Track provides training in clinical research. In order to conduct meaningful clinical research students are also trained in evidenced based practice. While students are prepared to become licensed psychologists, the expectation for graduates of this track is a career in clinical research. This program is aimed at training psychologists both academically and clinically to work as researchers. Students in this new track must complete requirements of both Medical Psychology and Clinical Psychology programs.

1. Overview

The Medical Psychology- Clinical track represents an integration of the Medical Psychology, Research and Clinical Psychology Program curricula. For the Medical Psychology- Clinical track, the military emphasis is replaced with a major emphasis on clinical research. The student in this track completes requirements for both tracks over a 6-year training period that concludes with an APA accredited internship during the sixth and final year. The Medical Psychology- Clinical track was developed to provide a cadre of civilians who plan to pursue research focused careers that integrate medical and clinical psychology, clinical research informed by an in depth understanding of research and practice. These careers may be in academic, public health, or medical settings. It is open to civilians only and is designed for a selected group of individuals with proven evidence of commitment to research who wish to train to conduct research using clinical populations.

The Medical Psychology- Clinical track is consistent with the USUHS mission as an academic health sciences center. It is aimed at training psychologists who are both academically and clinically prepared to work as researchers in academic or various medical settings. This track is designed based on the premise that psychologists conducting physical and mental health-related research and research in health settings need skills in clinical psychology to complement their strong foundation and skills in research. Students in this track have up to two additional years of research, clinical training and experience. They are encouraged to present their research at scientific meetings and are expected to publish research, reviews, chapters and other academic related work during their pre-doctoral training years; in addition to writing at least one grant application related to their own research interests. After completing the program these dual track students are trained to conduct clinically meaningful research and teaching in public health, federal or state government and/ or civilian academic settings.

Both tracks have the same four primary goals, however the relative emphasis on clinical practice and development of professionals who use their scientific training in the context of clinical work, clinical problems solving, program development and evaluation is the hallmark of the Military Psychology track. Those in the Medical Psychology, Clinical, track while trained in evidence based clinical psychology the emphasis in this track is to train students to conduct clinically meaningful research.

This track emphasizes combined year-round training in health psychology research and the development of skills in the clinical application of health psychology. The Medical Psychology- Clinical track requires completion of both the Medical Psychology Training and Clinical Psychology Program requirements plus extensive clinical training requirements and completion of a one year internship to be eligible for clinical licensure.

Please Note. This track is clearly designed for those students who are primarily interested in a research and academic career. Those prospective applicants who seek entry into this track who wish to pursue professional clinical careers are asked to consider other programs. If you are pursuing a professional clinical career there will be a significant mismatch between the program's focus and the student's personal goals.

2. Program Plan

  • A. Didactic Training
    • Year 1 - Med Psych Curriculum
    • Year 2 - Med Psych Curriculum; Foundations of Psychotherapy; Psychopathology; Ethics in Psychology; Assessment; Practica begin Summer Quarter
    • Year 3 - CBT; The Art of Therapy; Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy; Integrative Psychotherapy; Epidemiology; *Cultural Diversity; *Social Psychology
    • Year 4 - Electives
    • Year 5 - Electives
       
      (* offered on alternate years)
  • B. Research Training & Requirements
    • Same as Med Psych
  • C. Academic Milestones
    • Completion of Ph.D. Qualifying Exams following Year 2
    • Completion of master's thesis
    • Completion of 3rd year paper
    • Completion of dissertation
  • D. Clinical Training
    • Begins Summer Quarter Year 2
    • 3 Summer Clerkships (Year 2, Year 3, Year 4)
    • 9 Quarters of Practica (Year 3, Year 4, Year 5)
       
      Case Conference (monthly)
       
      Internship (Year 6)
  • E. Teaching Assistant Requirements
    • TA for at least 2 courses during Years 2 and 3 and at least 1 course in Year 4

3. Admission Requirements

Medical Psychology - Clinical TrackIn addition to the criteria above specified for the general Medical Psychology Program, students applying to the Clinical Track must have:

  • a. Demonstrated evidence of motivation and ability to pursue a research/academic career (e.g., publications, professional presentations).
  • b. Career goals consistent with the aim of this research focused program. These should be detailed in the applicant's Personal Statement.

Internal Candidates for Admission to the Medical Psychology - Clinical TrackIf a student currently enrolled in the Medical Psychology Program is interested in entering the Clinical Track, he/she must submit a curriculum vitae, a personal statement, and a letter of recommendation from their major advisor. Additional admission requirements include:

  • 1. Personal statement defining career goals.
  • 2. USUHS GPA of 3.5 or better.
  • 3. Demonstrated research productivity to include publications in peer reviewed literature and/or professional presentations at scientific meetings
  • 4. A letter of recommendation from the major advisor.
  • 5. Advancement to candidacy by the beginning of Fall Quarter year three:
    • a. Completion of 2nd year paper
    • b. Successful completion of Ph.D. qualifying exams
    • c. Completion of requisite coursework.
  • 6. Successful completion of two clinical courses:
    • a. Psychopathology during Year 2
    • b. Ethics during Year 2.