Pain Psychology Post Doctoral Fellowship

About this role

Grand Rapids, MI Full time

Pain Psychology Post Doctoral Fellowship POSITION: Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital offers a one-year postdoctoral psychology fellowship position in interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation. This fellowship offers specialized training in assessment and treatment of chronic pain, including but not limited to musculoskeletal pain, chronic headaches, migraine, fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome. Fellows receive specialized training in pain neuroscience and evidenced based treatments for chronic pain with an emphasis on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Fellows obtain experience in the delivery of pain psychology services within an interdisciplinary outpatient setting. Fellows develop expertise in differential diagnosis; cognitive, behavioral and psychosocial problems associated with chronic pain; and consultation and collaboration with interdisciplinary team members in the delivery of integrative rehabilitative treatment services. A variety of medical education opportunities also exist.

This position primarily involves clinical training, working with a predominately adult population presenting with a variety of chronic pain conditions. Approximately 70% of time is dedicated to clinical service activities, which include: intake assessment, individual and group psychotherapy, and interdisciplinary team meetings. Additional opportunities may involve inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation treatment, and post concussion evaluations and treatment, depending on availability. In addition, 4 hours per week will be dedicated to research/program evaluation, 4 hours to didactics, and 2 hours to individual supervision.

Fellows also develop an independent research or program evaluation project, in collaboration with current staff. Results of this project will be prepared for a presentation and/or journal submission. Research supervision will be provided by Julia Craner Cooper, PhD, ABPP.

This program seeks to prepare fellows for a career in clinical health psychology with a focus on chronic pain and interdisciplinary care. There is one position available for the 2027-2028 year.

SETTING: Mary Free Bed is a not-for-profit, nationally accredited rehabilitation hospital located in Grand Rapids, MI that serves thousands of children and adults each year through inpatient, outpatient, sub-acute rehabilitation, orthotics and prosthetics and home and community programs. With the most comprehensive rehabilitation services in Michigan and an exclusive focus on rehabilitation, Mary Free Bed physicians, nurses and therapists help patients achieve outstanding clinical outcomes. In 2014, Mary Free Bed and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSUCHM) created a partnership to expand Mary Free Bed into a teaching and research hospital and launched the Division of Rehabilitation Medicine.

For more than 30 years, the Mary Free Bed Pain Rehabilitation Program has worked with individuals suffering from chronic pain conditions to help them restore function, and the hope and freedom to live full and productive lives. The program offers 10 to 12 weeks of treatment in an interdisciplinary team model, including physicians, physician assistant, nursing, physical therapists, occupational therapists, pain psychologists and support staff. Originally based on the hospital’s main campus in Grand Rapids, MI, the program has undergone a period of growth recently and now operates programs and service in satellite locations (Holland, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Troy, and Muskegon). For additional information, please visit the program website at https://www.maryfreebed.com/rehabilitation/the-pain-center .

FACULTY: The psychology faculty at Mary Free Bed include 16 licensed or limited licensed psychologists across several locations. Core clinical faculty for the pain psychology postdoctoral program include: Julia Craner Cooper, Ph.D., ABPP, Arianna Perra, Psy.D., Trevor Jaskiw, Psy.D., Anthony Bonita, Ph.D., Kyleigh Skedgell, Ph.D., Eric Lake, MA, LLP, and Kayla Moore, LMSW. Dr. Julia Craner Cooper and Dr. Arianna Perra provide direct supervision for the postdoctoral fellow. Fellows will have opportunity to collaborate with all psychology staff through weekly didactics and psychology team meetings. Psychologists with the Pain Rehabilitation Program enjoy a close relationship with our colleagues in the Mary Free Bed Psychology Department that specializes in rehabilitation psychology and clinical neuropsychology.

QUALIFICATIONS: By their start date, qualified applicants will have successfully completed a PhD or PsyD in a regionally accredited graduate training program in psychology, and obtain a Michigan Doctoral Education Limited License (Doct Ed Ltd) prior to their start date. Preference will be given to applicants from an APA-accredited doctoral program including a one-year APA-accredited internship program. APPIC member internship sites also considered. Other preferred qualifications: applicants with a background in psychological practice in medical settings; clinical, health or rehabilitation psychology; training in research methodology/statistics; and applicants with an ultimate interest in a career oriented in rehabilitation, health or pain psychology.   

SALARY & BENEFITS: The position has an annual salary of $58,000 and includes health benefits, 18 days of paid time off and 7 paid holidays

APPLICATIONS:  The anticipated fellowship start date is in early to mid-September 2027, though start date can be flexible. Virtual/remote or in-person interviews (based on applicant preference) will be offered January/early February. Offers will be extended in mid February. Interested applicants are asked to provide a letter of interest that includes the applicant’s anticipated date of dissertation defense, curriculum vita, graduate school transcripts and three letters of reference and complete an online application. Applications materials must be received by January 8, 202

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