What are most well-respected VA/AMC sites?

[coloradocutter]

I was a pretty straight forensic person that decided to get more balanced clinical training at a VA/AMC consortia. I was wondering what are top 10ish sites (VA or VA/AMC consortia) for very solid training? Not more exclusive research sites, just solid training. Where were you encouraged to interview by your mentors?

Thanks!

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[NeedMoreSleep08]

I'm curious about this as well.

 

[NeuroTrope]

Tough question. There's plenty that are well regarded. It depends on what you want. The Oklahoma Health Science Center is a hub for neuropsychology training. UCLA and Brown are excellent for research and neuroscience/neuropsychology. Minnesota and Palo Alto VAs are also great research sites. Just to name a few.

 

[becomethelight]

I'm assuming you're referring to internships. Some that I think are great:

Boston
Yale
Brown
UCSD/San Diego
Palo Alto
Baltimore
Charleston
UAB, specificially neuropsych
Minnesota VA as mentioned
Mississippi VA/UMMC

I think it really varies by your content area. My impression is that VAs/AMCs balance a strength in research along with good clinical training. If you are solely looking for more balanced clinical training and not really research there may be other sites that are good, but I think these would have a significant research focus.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Good list. though I'd like to strike B'more from that list....since they didn't offer me an interview.

 

[becomethelight]

I understand that feeling!

Oh! And I think the Southwest Consortium/Albuquerque VA is very underrated - they have an amazing TD and program.

Also: University of Washington SOM. I'm sure there's some great places in NYC/Chicago/Texas and the Midwest that I don't know as much about. My sense is that Baylor is strong. Maybe Emory too, but I don't know much about that program to say. Duke and Durham VA are quite good.

 

[Pragma]

From what I understand, it really depends on the content area. Some VAs are known for particular things, and some VAs have a greater emphasis on psychology than others.

The list above seems like a fairly good one based on my knowledge of VAs.

 

[PsychPhDHopeful]

From what I understand, it really depends on the content area. Some VAs are known for particular things, and some VAs have a greater emphasis on psychology than others.

The list above seems like a fairly good one based on my knowledge of VAs.

That's what I was wondering. Based on the list above, can somebody specify the areas each site is known for?

 

[Ollie123]

They aren't necessarily known for one thing though.

This is just like grad school apps...we can provide a very long list of solid programs, but its just too nuanced at that level. A program might be very strong in one area and weak in another. They might have the world's greatest neuropsych program but have to refer out all their substance use cases. Heck even the powerhouse programs in my subfield also have weaker areas within the same subfield. All of the above programs (with the possible exception of Minnesota since I'm not familiar enough to comment) are strong places for addictions work, but I could list some significant pluses and minuses to each depending on what in particular you are interested in doing.

 

[Pragma]

They aren't necessarily known for one thing though.

This is just like grad school apps...we can provide a very long list of solid programs, but its just too nuanced at that level. A program might be very strong in one area and weak in another. They might have the world's greatest neuropsych program but have to refer out all their substance use cases. Heck even the powerhouse programs in my subfield also have weaker areas within the same subfield. All of the above programs (with the possible exception of Minnesota since I'm not familiar enough to comment) are strong places for addictions work, but I could list some significant pluses and minuses to each depending on what in particular you are interested in doing.

No of course they aren't known for one thing. But I think you said it better than I did.

BTW, the MN VA is a great setting. I know some people there with non-psychology jobs and they love it. My understanding is that they have some solid neuropsych people as well, but I never have met anyone from there or applied there.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

No of course they aren't known for one thing. But I think you said it better than I did.

BTW, the MN VA is a great setting. I know some people there with non-psychology jobs and they love it. My understanding is that they have some solid neuropsych people as well, but I never have met anyone from there or applied there.

I've heard the same Re: the MN VA (particularly with respect to neuropsych, but also regarding the atmosphere in general).

 

[JeyRo]

http://www.mirecc.va.gov/index.asp

Just FYI....

 

[coloradocutter]

Is the Oklahoma Health Sciences/VA consortium considered good? It apparently has been accredited since the early 1960s. Know people who have been there for child program. They have gobs of post-docs....but I have also heard it is windy, and flat...😀

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Is the Oklahoma Health Sciences/VA consortium considered good? It apparently has been accredited since the early 1960s. Know people who have been there for child program. They have gobs of post-docs....but I have also heard it is windy, and flat...😀

I mostly know it from the neuropsych perspective, and yes, OKHSC is typically very highly regarded (I know a handful of people who've trained there, and they're all pretty stellar). Not so sure about the area itself as far as living goes, but eh, you're only there for 1-3 years (depending on if it's internship, internship+postdoc, or internship+neuro postdoc).

 

[Member6523]

Is the Oklahoma Health Sciences/VA consortium considered good? It apparently has been accredited since the early 1960s. Know people who have been there for child program. They have gobs of post-docs....but I have also heard it is windy, and flat...😀

It's known for neuropsychology. VA and child are good though and APA accredited.

Location is...well, Oklahoma. Some people do dig it, others leave after training.

 

[bmedclinic]

Is the Oklahoma Health Sciences/VA consortium considered good? It apparently has been accredited since the early 1960s. Know people who have been there for child program. They have gobs of post-docs....but I have also heard it is windy, and flat...😀

OKC is a nice city, too. Lots of fun to be had there.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

In all honesty, I'd probably have trouble identifying any VA as a poor training site. Of course, I don't have anything close to an exhaustive working knowledge of all VAs that offer internship and postdoc spots, so others are very welcome to add to my own meager experiences.

 

[HomeworkHelper]

I'm assuming you're referring to internships. Some that I think are great:

Boston
Yale
Brown
UCSD/San Diego
Palo Alto
Baltimore
Charleston
UAB, specificially neuropsych
Minnesota VA as mentioned
Mississippi VA/UMMC

I think it really varies by your content area. My impression is that VAs/AMCs balance a strength in research along with good clinical training. If you are solely looking for more balanced clinical training and not really research there may be other sites that are good, but I think these would have a significant research focus.

I agree that these programs are well-known (I would also include Duke, Durham VA, and Mass General on here as well). However, it does vary by content area and your interests in what you would like on internship. For instance, people in my program were not as familiar with the Pittsburgh VA, but I found that program had a LOT of specialized rotations, including a non-trauma anxiety disorders rotation (in addition to the more typical PTSD rotation) and a mood disorders rotation, both of which I was very interested in. The training at the Pittsburgh VA has been excellent and focused on ESTs, and everyone in my cohort has been super happy with the quality of training.

So, while part of your list may center on the well-known programs, I would round out your list with lesser-known programs that still look like they would offer the experiences you want. The well-known programs get tons of applicants because they are well-known by everyone, which makes them more of a long-shot unless you are a super strong applicant.