Graduate
Programs with
Clinical Geropsychology Training Opportunities
October, 2003
The
following information was compiled in conjunction with an article that appeared
in the Geropsychology column of the Summer, 2003 APPIC Newsletter (Association
of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers. Information about graduate
psychology programs with clinical geropsychology training opportunities was
obtained by posting a request for information about existing programs on the
Section II listserve. Listserve members responded and programs were identified.
Subsequently a request for information was sent to leaders of identified programs.
The Geropsychology APPIC Newsletter column was posted on the Section II listserve
following its publication and some additional information was forwarded to
this author. I have roughly divided programs into two categories: formal and
informal. Formal programs are those with a primary geropsychology focus, "track,"
"emphasis," "proficiency, " "concentration,"
"area of interest," or "minor" in geropsychology. Informal
programs offer opportunities to work with geropsychologists within an applied
psychology graduate program or with geropsychologists in other programs or
at other institutions. The interested reader is encouraged to contact relevant
geropsychologists for further information
Gregory A. Hinrichsen, Ph.D.
The Zucker Hillside Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System
Glen Oaks, N.Y.
hinrichs@lij.edu
Formal
Programs
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. This is a newly established doctoral program in clinical geropsychology - the first applied doctoral training program with an explicit clinical geropsychology focus. The program is slated to enter its first class in 2004. The program is lead by Sara Qualls, Ph.D. Dr. Qualls has directed an M.A. program for many years from which students have gone on to pursue doctoral training at other institutions, a fair number of whom have followed geropsychology career paths. Other faculty in the program include Drs. Dan Segal, Stacey Wood and non-clinical faculty with a primary interest in aging including Drs. Hasker Davis, Lori James, and Mike Kisley. This scientist-practitioner program will train students to work in practice and/or program management/clinical training positions. The research component of the program will be sufficient to meet the needs of students wanting to move on to research post-docs. For more information about the program contact Dr. Qualls at squalls@uccs.edu.
Case Western Reserve offers an "emphasis" in geropsychology within its general adult clinical track. Milton Strauss, Ph.D. (mes3@cwru.edu) oversees this program. Other faculty include Drs. T.J. McCallum and Cleve Gilmore. Geropsychology opportunities focus on cognitive, behavioral, and family support aspects of dementia.
Michigan State University has a "geropsychology/neuropsychology" track in its clinical psychology program that is led by Norman Abeles (Norman.Abeles@ssc.msu.edu). This program has been in existence for 12 years and provides geropsychology and neuropsychology training within a Boulder scientist/practitioner model. The program offers both inpatient and outpatient assessment experience and facilitates research in geropsychology and geroneuropsychology.
Texas A & M has a "proficiency" in clinical geropsychology within its counseling psychology program that also trains students from its sister clinical psychology program. The geropsychology proficiency has been in existence for 18 years and is led by Michael Duffy, Ph.D. (m-duffy@tamu.edu). Other faculty involved in the proficiency include Drs. Donna Davenport and Michael Ash. It is a flexible 12-15 hour program in which both counseling and clinical psychology doctoral students receive a certificate of completion in geropsychology. Courses include adult development and aging, grief and dying, research practicum/team in geropsychology, and clinical practica in local long-term care facilities. Working with faculty on a dissertation focused on geropsychology is an available option.
The University of Alabama offers a clinical geropsychology "emphasis" in the adult clinical concentration of its clinical psychology program. Available courses focusing on late life issues include cognitive aging, clinical neuropsychology, clinical psychology of aging, and a geropsychology practicum. Faculty include Forrest Scogin, Ph.D. (fscogin@gp,as.ua.edu), Drs. Lou Burgio, Rebecca Allen, Sheila Black, Martha Crowther, and Kristine Lokken.
The University of Florida. Graduate students at The University of Florida have an opportunity to take a "minor" in gerontology in its counseling psychology program. Faculty include Drs. Christina S. McCrae (csmccrae@ufl.edu), Susan Bluck, Walter Cunningham, Manfred Diehl, Michael Marsiske, and Robin West. Students pursuing a gerontology minor also complete practicum work in aging. Courses include community work in aging, culture and aging, and death & dying. The counseling psychology's sister program at the University of Florida, the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, has concentrations in neuropsychology and health psychology. Although a separate aging track does not exist within the clinical program, many faculty have strong interests in age-related illnesses including dementia. Practicum training in aging is available for interested students.
The University of Louisville's clinical psychology program has an "emphasis" in clinical geropsychology. Faculty include Drs. Suzanne Meeks (smeeks@louisville.edu), Benjamin Mast, and Stanley Murrell. Students pursuing a geropsychology emphasis see older clients in the University's Psychological Services Center and through local agencies or nursing homes. In addition, one year assessment practica are available at two local neuropsychology practices and the geriatric unit of a local state hospital. The program has relationships with other aging-related service providers. Paid clinical assistantships are available in some of these settings. Coursework is available in clinical geropsychology and neuropsychology.
The University of Southern California has a well-established (25 years and counting) "clinical-aging track" within its clinical psychology program. Primary faculty include Drs. Margaret Gatz (gatz@usc.edu), Bob Knight. Secondary faculty include Drs. Beth Meyerowitz, John Horn, and faculty at the Andrus School of Gerontology (including Drs. Vern Bengston and Elizabeth Zelinksi). Research opportunities and coursework are available in adult development and aging in the psychology department, USC's Andrus Gerontology Center, and USC's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. The clinical aging track emphasizes research training in the science of clinical psychology along with substantive clinical training in work with older adults. Current research interests of faculty include: depression, dementia, twin studies, and evaluation of intervention programs (Dr. Gatz); cross cultural issues in family caregiving, age differences in emotion, and mental health policy (Dr. Knight); health psychology, and psychological issues in adaptation to cancer (Dr. Meyerowitz). Within clinical aging it is possible to highlight health psychology, clinical neuropsychology, or family systems.
Washington University in St. Louis has an "aging track" directed by Martha Storandt, Ph.D. (mstorand@artsci.wustl.edu) that has been in existence for many years. Its faculty include Drs. Brian Carpenter, Desiree White, and Deanna Barch. Other affiliated faculty include Drs. David Balota, Randy Buckner, Sandra Hale, Larry Jacoby, Joel Myerson, and Mitchell Sommers. The clinical psychology of aging program is offered in conjunction with the Aging and Development Program in the Psychology Department. The major focus on aging was begun in 1957 making the Washington University program one of the oldest in the country offering specialization in late life research. Students in the clinical aging program take at least one course in aging each semester and select topics related to aging for a qualifying research project and dissertation. The overall goal of the program is to educate students as competent scientists and secondarily as clinical practitioners. Other specialty tracks in the clinical psychology program are neuropsychology and health psychology. Clinical students often combine aging interests with one of these other specialty areas.
Yeshiva University. The Ferkauff Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University offers a new "concentration" in geropsychology within its Psy.D. clinical psychology program. Dr. Richard Zweig leads this program (rzweig@aecom.yu.edu). Graduate coursework in geropsychology and clinical placements in a variety of community settings including primary care are available. Dr. Zweig was the only recipient of last year's Graduate Psychology Education monies with a program that exclusively focuses on geropsychology.
Xavier University offers geropsychology as an “area of interest” within its APA accredited clinical psychology program (PsyD). Xavier’s Practitioner-Scientist driven program trains students to become competent clinical psychologists serving older adults and their families. Coursework includes assessment of older adults; therapy with older adults; health issues; and neuropsychology. Clinical practica with stipends afford opportunities to engage in assessment and therapy with older adults and their families. Faculty members facilitate dissertation research in geropsychology. Contact Drs. John Barrett (barrettj@xavier.edu) or Reneé Zucchero (zucchero@xavier.edu) for further information.
Informal Programs
The University of South Florida. At the University of South Florida, doctoral students with interest in aging have two options. Those who want training focused solely on applied clinical research without acquiring a clinical credential can apply to the Ph.D. in Aging Studies Program. Drs. William Haley, (whaley@chuma1.cas.usf.edu), Victor Molinari, Larry Dupree and other faculty are involved in this program. Students interested in acquiring a degree in clinical psychology can apply to the USF clinical program and work with faculty members in that program with interests in aging. Faculty with geropsychology related interests include Drs. Cindy Cimino (clinical neuropsychology), Paul Jacobsen (psychosocial oncology), William Sacco (depression, diabetes), Charles Spielberger (emotions), and Jon Rottenberg (emotions).
West
Virginia University. Although West Virginia University does not have
a formal geropsychology track within its clinical psychology program, Barry
Edelstein, Ph.D. (bedelste@wvu.edu)
has been instrumental in laying the groundwork for many successful careers
in geropsychology. Students with interests in geropsychology can take courses
in adult development & aging, gerontology, and clinical geropsychology.
A wide variety of clinical geropsychology placements is available including
assessment and treatment of older adults in the WVU Health Science's Center,
a local state hospital, community mental health center, and cancer center.
Other opportunities include staff training at the state hospital, local nursing
homes, and day care center; neuropsychological assessment of older adults;
and assessment of family caregivers of dementia patients and conduct of caregiver
groups.