Director of Training: Erika Chiappini, Ph.D. 

Within the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry offers a one-year postdoctoral fellowship designed to provide supervised experiences in Pediatric Psychology and Child Clinical Psychology. Fellows will complete rotations in outpatient multidisciplinary pediatric clinics, inpatient consultation/liaison, and short crisis intervention. There may also be opportunities in acute psychiatric care services (e.g., emergency department, inpatient, partial hospital), psychological assessment, and outpatient mental health care, depending on fellow interest and program development. All rotations will involve active coordination with multidisciplinary teams throughout John Hopkins Children’s Center. Fellows will consult with medical providers (e.g., physicians, surgeons, nurse practitioners), multidisciplinary teams (e.g., psychiatry, nursing, child life specialists, social workers), and families to optimize adherence, improve pain management, enhance adjustment/coping with various medical conditions, and evaluate/treat comorbid psychopathology. We serve a diverse population of families from urban, suburban, and rural settings, range of SES, range of ethnic diversity, developmental stage (infant-young adult), referral concerns, and disease presentation. All clinical services and settings require strong foundation in evidence-based approaches to assessment and intervention, and monitoring treatment outcomes with empirical data. In addition, fellows will receive supervision in delivery of empirically-supported treatments (e.g., CBT, PMT, Ex/RP, MI, DBT skills training). Didactic training includes weekly Grand Rounds and research conferences offered by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; in addition, there are weekly divisional research and clinical seminars provided.

• Outpatient multidisciplinary specialty clinics: Fellows will deliver brief, evidence-based assessment and treatment for issues related to adherence to medical recommendations, preparation for transplant/surgical procedures, coping with medical stress, anxiety, inattention/hyperactivity, disruptive behaviors, and mood problems. Fellows may participate within multidisciplinary clinics within Urology, GI, Burn, Dermatology, Surgery, Oncology, Nephrology, and Solid Organ Transplant (kidney, liver). Additional opportunities may be possible in General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine, Otolaryngology, and Cardiology.
• Inpatient consultation/liaison: Fellows will deliver behavioral interventions and coping support during pediatric medical hospitalizations. Fellows will collaborate with medical teams (physicians, nurses, child life) to develop and implement behavioral plans and to support coping.
• Short crisis intervention services include brief evidence-based interventions initiated in the emergency department setting, the Safety Planning Intervention with follow-up contacts (SPI+) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents Ultra Short Crisis Intervention (IPT-A SCI). Pending program development, there may be opportunities within psychiatric inpatient and partial hospital services.
• Psychological assessment: Fellows have the opportunity to provide assessments of cognitive/intellectual functioning, executive functioning, academic achievement, and psychological/emotional/social functioning in youth with medical and/or psychiatric difficulties.
• Outpatient therapy: Fellows will carry a caseload of youth with general mental health concerns (anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc.) and/or acute/chronic medical conditions. Caseloads vary depending on fellow rotations/interests.
• Research: While the focus of our fellowship is clinical, all fellows will be involved in research as well. Research opportunities emphasize topics within pediatric psychology (e.g., coping with chronic illness, adjustment following injury, psychological profiles of youth with specific medical problems), program evaluation, and developmental psychopathology (e.g., predictors of pediatric suicidal behavior, emotion regulation).

Fellows are housed in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, in the division of Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. The minimum stipend for an entry-level position is $54,840 plus health insurance (based on NIH guidelines; the exact stipend may be adjusted for cost of living increases). The fellow is afforded two weeks of vacation and additional professional development time and sick leave. Fellows may be invited to stay a second year based upon performance and mutual agreement.

The Pediatric Medical Psychology Program at Johns Hopkins is expecting at least 1 opening for a 1-year postdoctoral fellowship. We may have an opening for a second position, but will not know until the fall. We will update our posting accordingly. Interested applicants must complete all requirements for a doctorate in child clinical, pediatric, counseling, or school psychology prior to the start date of August 1, 2023 (later start dates will be considered). Review of applications will begin December 1, 2022. We expect to host interviews on Fridays in January 2023 in-person and virtually (depending on preference/availability/COVID regulations). We will follow APPIC guidelines for the selection and application process, and we will adhere to the Common Hold Date. We encourage all applicants to carefully review the APPIC guidelines as well. Only applications submitted electronically through the APPA-CAS system will be considered (located at https://www.appic.org/Postdocs/APPA-CAS-Postdoc-Application-Information), and timely submission of materials is encouraged. Please direct inquiries to Erika Chiappini, Ph.D., Director of Training, via email: [email protected] (please note “Fellowship Application Question – [Your Name]” in the subject line to minimize overlooked emails). Submission of incomplete materials may result in delayed review. We do not require transcripts for the interview process but will require them for degree verification once accepted to the fellowship.

US News and World Report has rated Johns Hopkins Hospital in the top 5 best hospitals for 33 years in a row, and the #1 hospital 22 times. Nearly 90% of previous fellows acquired initial positions as faculty or staff at Johns Hopkins or other academic medical centers; approximately 75% are currently in academic settings. Moreover, many faculty and staff psychologists have developed programmatic initiatives within Johns Hopkins (e.g., multidisciplinary teams with pediatric medical subspecialties, child clinical specialty programs) or have developed similar programs elsewhere.

About the area: Johns Hopkins is located on the downtown medical campus in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore is located near the Chesapeake Bay and within driving distance of several beaches in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. Founded in 1729, Baltimore is the second largest seaport in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Baltimore's Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States and is now home to restaurants, shopping, and outdoor entertainment. Baltimore is known for its neighborhoods throughout the city (Fells Point, Canton, Mt Vernon, Charles Village, Federal Hill, Patterson Park, Mt Washington, Hampden) with many unique restaurants and local attractions. Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins University serve as the city's top two employers. Over 620,000 residents count Baltimore as home, with approximately 2.7 million residents living in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Baltimore is conveniently located near several major mid-Atlantic cities, including Washington, DC and Philadelphia.