Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Women’s Mental Health and Integrated Care
Jumpstart your professional career in women’s mental health and integrated behavioral health care with national innovators at the Lifeline4Moms center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. This 2-year, research-focused post-doctoral fellowship provides training on integrating mental healthcare into maternal and child health care settings that have not traditionally provided mental health care. Fellows will work on projects that aim to build the capacity of maternal and child health care providers to address mental health and substance use disorders among pregnant and postpartum (perinatal) individuals and their children. Studies range from outpatient OB/GYN and pediatric settings to community settings and include developing, implementing and evaluating innovative approaches to increase access to care through building front-line provider capacity.  Fellows will work on existing NIH-funded clinical and implementation studies and help with grant submissions. Fellows will also have the opportunity to work on population-based statewide programs focused on building the capacity of the medical community to address perinatal mental health and substance use disorders in Massachusetts (www.mcpapformoms.org) and other states (www.lifeline4moms.org).

This fellowship can be tailored to the career goals of the individual. In addition, fellows can opt to work on a statewide system to increase access to evidence-based trauma services and medical and community supports for children impacted by trauma and adversity and, if interested, can develop training skills in trauma-informed care and trauma-responsive practices in order to be able to train other providers in various settings.  If of interest, fellows will have the opportunity to work on integrating behavioral healthcare into the emergency department setting, including developing, studying, and integrating into practice cutting-edge e-health and m-health technologies. Fellows will be actively mentored to develop their own independent research and have opportunity for publications and presentations.

Current active research includes CDC, NIMH, SAMHSA, foundation, and state funded projects. Clinical activities across a range of illnesses and settings enhance the fellow’s ability to integrate physiological and psychological information into health psychology treatment plans for pregnant and postpartum individuals, how to expand and augment integrated care. Supervisors are committed to evidence-based practice and provide supervision across a variety of empirically supported treatments, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Health Psychology, Motivational Interviewing, evidence-based trauma therapies (e.g., Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), and mindfulness-oriented therapies. Fellows will primarily work with Nancy Byatt, DO, MS, MBA, the Executive Director of Lifeline4Moms, https://profiles.umassmed.edu/display/133369.  The fellow will also work with other Lifeline4Moms faculty including Tiffany Moore Simas, MD, MPH, Med, FACOG, https://profiles.umassmed.edu/display/129886, Jessica Griffin, PsyD, https://profiles.umassmed.edu/display/133596, Heather Forkey, MD, https://profiles.umassmed.edu/display/130261,  and Edwin Boudreaux, PhD  https://profiles.umassmed.edu/display/130048. The fellow is encouraged and supported to obtain their license after their first year of training.

About UMass Medical School:

University of Massachusetts Medical School and its clinical partner, UMass Memorial Medical Center, is a thriving academic health care system located in Worcester MA, about an hour’s drive west of Boston. The environment provides a highly supportive home for fellows, with opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers and engage in meaningful clinical work. 

How to Apply:

A PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology or related field and completion of an APA-accredited internship with relevant experience is required. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Send a detailed letter of interest that specifies the fellowship of interest and summarizes relevant experiences and career goals, curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference to:

c/o Robyn Leonard:

Lifeline4Moms Center

Department of Psychiatry / iSPARC

UMass Medical School / UMass Memorial Health Care

222 Maple Ave – Chang Building
Shrewsbury, MA 01545

email: Robyn.Leonard@umassmed.edu 

Nancy Byatt, DO, MS, MBA, FACLP

Medical Director, MCPAP for Moms

Executive Director, Lifeline4Moms

Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Population & Quantitative Health Sciences

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMMS recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds.