Title

Psychology Training Program

Meta
Meta description
Psychology Training Program
Content
Page introduction
Welcome to Psychology Training at Kansas City VA Medical Center. We provide psychology training across all levels, including practicum, internship, and psychology residency training.
Generate a table of contents from major headings
Include table of contents
Main content

Psychology Internship Program

The Psychology Internship Program at KCVA is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (contact information below). The internship program at KCVA focuses on generalist training across mental health and other service lines throughout the medical center.  Please see the recruitment materials below for specific program, application, and eligibility information.

Application Due Date: November 15
APPIC MATCH NUMBER: 234011

Download the Brochure (PDF)

Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs

The Kansas City VA Medical Center’s Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is accredited until 2028 by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (contact information below).  Our program includes three postdoctoral positions:

  1. General Clinical Psychology with Health Psychology Emphasis
  2. General Clinical Psychology with PTSD and SUD Focus
  3. General Clinical Psychology with Serious Mental Illness Emphasis

Please see the recruitment materials below for specific program, application, and eligibility information.

Application Due Date: January 2

Download the Brochure (PDF)

Stipends and Benefits

Stipend: Interns receive a competitive stipend paid in 26 biweekly installments. VA internship pay is locality adjusted to reflect different relative costs in different geographical areas. Currently, stipends range from $26,297 to $32,079 annually.

Benefits: Internship appointments are for 2080 hours, which is full time for a one year period. Start dates for the internships range from June 17 to September 1, with the specific start date determined by the individual program. VA interns are eligible for health insurance (for self, spouse, and legal dependents). While most interns will not be eligible for life insurance, vision, or dental benefits, eligibility is based on prior federal service.

Holidays and Leave: Interns are eligible for federal holidays throughout the calendar year, although they do not qualify for holiday or premium pay.  In addition, most interns will be in Leave Catagory 1, meaning they will accrue 4 hours of sick leave and 4 hours of annual leave for each full two-week pay period, for a total of between 96 and 104 hours of each during the year. If an intern has prior federal service, their leave category will be determined based on their service computation date.

Authorized Absence: According to VA Handbook 5011, Part III, Chapter 2, Section 12, employees, including trainees, may be given authorized absence without charge to leave when the activity is considered to be of substantial benefit to VA in accomplishing its general mission or one of its specific functions, such as education and training. Application of this policy varies from site to site, so questions for a specific program must be directed to the Training Director.

Liability Protection for Trainees: When providing professional services at a VA healthcare facility, VA sponsored trainees acting within the scope of their educational programs are protected from personal liability under the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act 28, U.S.C.2679 (b)-(d).

 

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

Stipend: Postdoctoral fellows receive a competitive stipend paid in 26 biweekly installments. VA fellowship stipends are locality adjusted to reflect different relative costs in different geographical areas. Currently, stipends range from $46,334 to $59,575 annually.

Benefits: Most fellowship appointments are for 2080 hours, which is full time for a one year period. Start dates for the fellowships range from July 1 to September 1, with the specific start date determined by the individual program. VA fellows are eligible for health insurance (for self, spouse, and legal dependents). Some fellows will be eligible for life insurance, vision, or dental benefits; eligibility is based on prior federal service and the individual’s service computation date. 

Holidays and Leave: Fellows may be eligible for federal holidays throughout the calendar year. In addition, most fellows will be in Leave Category I, meaning they will accrue 4 hours of sick leave and 4 hours of annual leave for each full two-week pay period, for a total of between 96 and 104 hours of each during the year.  If a fellow has prior federal service, their leave category will be determined based on their service computation date.

Authorized Absence: According to VA Handbook 5011, Part III, Chapter 2, Section 12, employees, including trainees, may be given authorized absence without charge to leave when the activity is considered to be of substantial benefit to VA in accomplishing its general mission or one of its specific functions, such as education and training. Application of this policy varies from site to site, so questions for a specific program must be directed to the Training Director.

Liability Protection for Trainees: When providing professional services at a VA healthcare facility, VA sponsored trainees acting within the scope of their educational programs are protected from personal liability under the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act 28, U.S.C.2679 (b)-(d).

 

PRACTICUM TRAINING

Practicum experiences are without compensation.

Liability Protection for Trainees: When providing professional services at a VA healthcare facility, VA sponsored trainees acting within the scope of their educational programs are protected from personal liability under the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act 28, U.S.C.2679 (b)-(d).

Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation (CoA)
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
Education Directorate
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
202-336-5979

 

Contact

Kristen Davis-Durairaj, Psy.D. 
Postdoctoral Training Director 
kristen.davis-durairaj@va.gov

Amber Hinton-Dampf,Ph.D
Internship Training Director
amber.hinton-dampf@va.gov

4801 Linwood Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64128
816-861-4700, ext. 52641

APPIC Match Number

Internship - 234011

Applications Due

Internship- November 15
Fellowship- January 2

Related Links
Residency programs at Kansas City VA Medical Center
Nurse Practitioner Residency Program
The program is designed to provide the resident with advanced competencies in a complex, Veteran-centric health care environment leading to specialized clinical and leadership skills. Specifically, the program provides training in culturally sensitive, patient-centered care using empirically based best practices and interprofessional collaboration.
Optometry Residency Program
The KCVA Ocular Disease Residency with an emphasis on Glaucoma and Low Vision is looking for enthusiastic individuals who enjoy learning in an exciting medical center environment. Three residents are selected each year. The program is affiliated with the UMSL College of Optometry and was the first COE approved residency program in the United States. As of July 2021, the program has graduated 115 residents.
PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program
PGY1 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and outcomes to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists responsible for medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions, eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency training.
PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program
PGY2 pharmacy residency programs build on Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education and PGY1 pharmacy residency programs to contribute to the development of clinical pharmacists in specialized areas of practice. PGY2 residencies provide residents with opportunities to function independently as practitioners by conceptualizing and integrating accumulated experience and knowledge and incorporating both into the provision of patient care or other advanced practice settings.
PGY2 Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency Program
The ASHP Accredited PGY2 Infectious Diseases residency program at the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center offers training opportunities for the individual desiring to develop clinical competency in the specialized area of infectious diseases pharmacotherapy. This 12-month training program offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient learning experiences designed to build the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients.