Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UT Southwestern offers a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Rehabilitation Psychology with major rotations focused on acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, and medically complex populations. Minor rotations focus on concussion, epilepsy and general neuropsychological assessment. We have space for two fellows. Fellows have two, one-year major rotations in our Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Units and total of four, 6-month minor rotations. The didactic series and supervision is designed to prepare candidates for board certification in Rehabilitation Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Additional, complimentary didactics, rotations and supervision are consistent with requirements for board certification in Clinical Neuropsychology.

Note: Our program is distinct from UTSW’s Department of Psychiatry’s Adult Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuropsychology that includes fellowships focusing on sports concussion, dementia, and general neuropsychology. For more information about these fellowships, please Laura.lacritz@utsouthwestern.edu Laura Lacritz.

Clinical Rotations

Inpatient Hospital Settings: Zale Lipshy Pavilion – William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital 

Fellows gain advanced interviewing and assessment skills with acutely injured patients using multiple sources of information (e.g., medical records, treatment provider, family and caregiver reports, imaging records) and serial assessment as indicated through the recovery process. Psychological services include, but are not limited to, brief cognitive assessment; nonpharmacological and behavioral management of delirium, agitation, and other neurobehavioral syndromes; patient and family psychoeducation; care-partner supportive services; facilitation of individual and family adjustment to health status; addressing end of life issues; and other brief interventions to optimize the rehabilitation process and transition to the community. Fellows refine their interpersonal skills to maintain optimal communication in a multidisciplinary team, including Physiatry, Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Physical Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation. Fellows learn the various roles that Rehabilitation Psychology/Neuropsychology fills on the inpatient rehabilitation team, also becoming knowledgeable of other disciplines skillset in the rehabilitation milieu.

  1. Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation

    The inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) service spans two, 20-bed units.

    First, our neurorehabilitation/acquired brain injury (ABI) unit provides comprehensive rehabilitation services with a multidisciplinary team for individuals with ABI. The modal diagnoses are cerebrovascular accidents and traumatic brain injury (TBI), followed by a wide range of conditions, including anoxia/hypoxia, brain tumor and other CNS cancers, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and movement disorders. There is also opportunity to work with less common diagnosis, such as paraneoplastic syndromes, disorders of consciousness, encephalitis and Parkinson’s plus syndromes.

    Second, our spinal cord injury (SCI) and medically complex unit provides services to patients with traumatic and non-traumatic SCI, complications after solid organ transplant (i.e., lung, liver, kidney and heart), autoimmune disorders, non-CNS oncology, severe COVID-19 illness, and other medical complications, including deconditioning and amputation.

  2. Epilepsy Monitoring Unit – William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital

    UT Southwestern is a Level 4 Epilepsy Center, the highest level designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. This combined inpatient and outpatient clinical rotation takes place at the William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and the Aston PM&R Clinic. Patients on the surgical pathway are evaluated to identify cognitive, psychological and behavioral barriers to successful surgical candidacy and are referred for individual and/or group intervention. Postsurgical patients are referred to our outpatient clinic for neuropsychological assessment informing the next steps in rehabilitation. Interdisciplinary treatments are aimed at promoting functional and social independence through integration into work, studies, volunteering, and other productive activities. Coordinated treatments include vocational therapies and other rehabilitation disciplines, such as physical, occupational and speech/cognitive therapies. Individual and group psychological interventions are provided as needed.

Outpatient Clinic Settings 

  1. Ambulatory PM&R Clinic – Dallas Campus

    This rotation provides fellows experience with comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation of adults with a broad range of disorders. Common diagnoses include stroke, TBI, post-concussion syndrome, neuro-oncological disorders, epilepsy, other acquired neurological disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, neurodegenerative conditions), functional neurological symptom disorder and long COVID. Fellows interact with physician faculty who are brain injury medicine specialists and our multidisciplinary rehabilitation team as part of the TBI and concussion clinic. Fellows will work with rehabilitation counselors, physical and occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists and other specialties in the team to guide patients’ individualized treatment needs.

    Additionally, our clinic provides individual and group intervention to rehabilitation patients and their families. Patients primarily are neurorehabilitation patients with associated diagnoses, in addition to a variety of chronic medical conditions served in the PM&R clinic. A variety of specialty group interventions are provided, including our General Wellness Group, COVID Recovery Group, PACES in Epilepsy – a self-management group, and community oriented groups for survivors of stroke and TBI.

  2. Frisco PM&R Clinic

    This minor rotation is a satellite clinic with a similar patient population, serving direct referrals from Neurology and PM&R departments. The primary focus for this rotation is comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of adults within a rehabilitation setting to assist with evaluation of cognitive and emotional functioning and treatment planning.

  3. Empire Neuropsychology Clinic

    This minor rotation is an outpatient clinic within the Department of Psychiatry with a diverse patient population, serving referrals from all departments to meet the needs of patients with memory disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders and mixed neurological disorders.

Education and Didactics

Our program is an active member of the Council of Rehabilitation Psychology Postdoctoral Training Programs (CRPPTP), which follows guidelines established by the Baltimore conference on Rehabilitation Psychology Guidelines for Postdoctoral Education and Training, and American Psychological Association Division of Rehabilitation Psychology.

Mandatory Didactics

  • Rehabilitation Psychology didactics are weekly and fulfill eligibility requirements for board certification in Rehabilitation Psychology.
  • Clinical Neuropsychology didactics are weekly. Our program has been an active participant in the Neuropsychology Distance Learning Seminar since 2018, which involves multiple training sites including Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs (VA) and civilian medical university sites, such as UTSW. This is a two-year curriculum.

Optional Didactics

  • Departmental didactics are also weekly as part of the Physiatry Residency Program
  • As a large university, grand rounds are regularly presented from the O’Donnell Brain Institute Training Programs, which includes departments and divisions from PM&R, Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, Neurological Surgery, Neuroscience, Neuroradiology, Neuropathology and Psychiatry.

Additional training opportunities also exist for tiered supervision of clinical psychology interns.

Our Fellows

Previous

  • Raquel Kirmse, Psy.D. (2017)
  • Willa Vo, Psy.D. (2018-2020)
  • Maria Boix Braga, Ph.D. (2020-2022)

Current

  • Princess Braggs, Ph.D. (2022-2024)
  • Alejandra Lopez, Ph.D. (2022-2024)

Research and Community Advocacy

Fellows will be expected to complete one independent research project or community advocacy activity under faculty mentorship and guidance, with consideration of the fellow’s professional goals.

Research

  • Multiple research opportunities exist for fellows to participate in new or established projects. The UTSW system also offers institutionally sponsored lectures to promote development of professional skills related to research and grant writing, all of which is open to fellows. Our fellows have a history of success in our departmental research competition, “Shark Tank.”
  • Division faculty are involved in TBI, epilepsy, self-management treatment, caregiver and dementia research. The department is affiliated with the North Texas TBI Model System and the North Texas Burn Rehabilitation Model System.
  • As a part of the OBI, internal grants, such as the Trainee Travel Grant, are available to fellows.

Community Advocacy

  • Our Rehabilitation Psychology Faculty and staff have been involved with a variety of ongoing community initiatives related to our field, such as the UTSW Adaptive Sports Coalition, Hope After Brain Injury, Dallas Acquired Brain Injury Support Group (DABISG), Stroke Journey Group, Girls Empowered by Mavericks (GEM), and Mavs Gaming.

Salary and Benefits

Salary is competitive, currently exceeding NIH based salaries. Fellows receive all benefits of a UTSW employee, including medical insurance, retirement, and other fringe benefits (e.g., flex spending account, basic life insurance).

Life in Dallas

Enjoy a thriving blend of culture and commerce in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

  • A lively arts scene – the largest urban arts district in the country.
  • Sports central – teams in all five major professional sports and many minor league teams, too.
  • Abundant parks & recreation – more than 23,000 acres of parks and nearly 62 miles of trails.
  • Music & entertainment – theater, symphony, opera, country, pop.
  • Shop & eat ‘til you drop – unlimited shopping and more restaurants per person than New York.
  • Easy access for travel – DFW airport and Dallas Love Field allow convenient travel to hundreds of destinations around the world.

How to Apply

The following documents must be submitted via Willa.Vo@UTSoutherwestern.edu to the Program Director of Training.

Subject line should read "Postdoc Application: (insert applicant first & last name)"

Necessary Application Elements – Due December 15th

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement outlining
    • interest of professional interests and goals
    • clinical experience in rehabilitation and neuropsychology
    • any research experience, including rehabilitation and/or neuropsychological research interests
  • Scanned copy of your official graduate school transcripts
  • Final official transcripts with conferred degree must be received prior to starting postdoc
  • Three letters of reference
    • At least one of these must be from an internship supervisor or Director of Training. Letters must be sent directly from the writer, via email.
  • Two de-identified sample reports
  • Applicants must meet minimum selection requirements:
    • Completion of an APA accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology by start of the fellowship program
    • Completion of an APA or CPA accredited internship in psychology

Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated interest in Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology through prior experience in the provision of psychological services to populations relevant to this specialty area, professional presentations, publications, participation in national professional organizations or research productivity.

The program does not currently participate in the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN) Resident Matching Program.

Important Dates

  • Application Deadline: December 15, 2023
  • Interview Dates: Fridays in January (Virtual). Site visits available at candidate’s discretion.
  • Notification of Selection: February 15, 2024
    • Notifications of selection will be provided via telephone on the morning of February 15 between 8am-10am CST. Following a verbal acceptance, an email with a formal offer letter will be sent to the selected candidate.
  • Recommended Start Date: September 1, 2024

UT Southwestern Non-Discrimination Policy

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of: race; color; religion; national origin; sex, including sexual harassment; age; disability; genetic information; citizenship status; and protected veteran status.