POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR

The University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry/Women’s Wellness & Counseling Service is currently accepting applications for 1 Postdoctoral Fellow in Perinatal Mental Health Care for the 2023/24 training period. The Women’s Wellness & Counseling Service (WWC) is the product of a unique collaboration between the Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics-Gynecology. Located at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics – Iowa’s premier academic medical center – the WWC has the unique distinction of being the only clinic in the state to provide comprehensive, specialized perinatal psychotherapy and medication management services in an outpatient care setting. We serve women across the reproductive spectrum with a focus on the perinatal period. In addition to cutting-edge clinical services, we provide high-quality education and training to clinicians and student-learners, and design research protocols that highlight the value of our clinical and training efforts. 

A multidisciplinary treatment model based upon collegial and patient collaboration is our greatest strength, and we are committed to upholding optimal standards of inclusion and diversity in patient care. Our staff is anchored by perinatal psychologists and psychiatrists but also includes nurse practitioners, social workers, doctoral-level students, resident physicians, medical students, and other clinicians. Embedded within the Department of Psychiatry, the WWC benefits from the vast resources and support of this dynamic and diverse department. This departmental support has resulted in both the tremendous growth of our clinic since its founding in 2007 and the development of/collaboration on innovative initiatives including an Inpatient Antepartum Mental Health Care Clinic, a Maternal Substance Abuse Disorders Clinic, and embedded mental health care in the Stead Family Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The 2023/24 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Perinatal Mental Health Care will offer exceptional opportunities that will produce a highly marketable, well-rounded graduate positioned to excel in a variety of desirable career settings. The fellowship program will include approximately 2000 hours of specialized training (including paid time off, vacation, and sick leave) in clinical psychology; 1500 hours will be supervised professional experience as required by the Iowa Board of Psychology for licensure purposes. 

The Fellowship is a full-time (40 hours per week) position and will include the following activities:

Psychotherapy Services (~60%): Care will be provided to women and/or couples who are planning to conceive, coping with infertility, or suffering from perinatal loss, who are pregnant or postpartum, coping with PMS/PMDD or other OB-GYN medical concerns, or who are going through the menopausal transition. Treatment will include both in-person and telehealth care options. Our 2023/24 Fellow will work with the WWC Director to develop a clinical care program that will enhance or extend the clinical work or training that is already being done in the WWC. This initiative will be considered their Capstone Clinical Project and will also form the basis of their Fellowship Research Project, identified below.

Research (~20%): In collaboration with the WWC Director, the Fellow will develop a Fellowship Research Project that will detail the impacts of their Capstone Clinical Project. The goal of this endeavor will be the submission of a scholarly product to a relevant peer-reviewed journal. 

Education, Training, and Professional Development (~20%): The Fellow will benefit from a variety of educational opportunities within the WWC as well as in the Psychiatry Department and larger hospital system. Activities include weekly WWC multidisciplinary team meetings/didactic seminars, Psychiatry Grand Rounds, and may include OB-GYN Grand Rounds and other hospital educational programs. Training will include weekly individual supervision with the WWC Director. The Fellow may also have the opportunity to provide clinical supervision to doctoral-level psychology students. The WWC encourages the professional development of their trainees: the Fellow will be allowed designated time each week to prepare for the licensing exam (EPPP), may take time off to attend professional conferences and other events, and will have the opportunity to engage with other clinicians, as desired. The Fellow will also be encouraged to present professional lectures and programs to clinic, department, and hospital staff, as well as to external agencies.

Iowa City is an attractive, family friendly, college town with abundant local and world-class cultural, theatrical, and musical events, top ranked schools, and outdoor recreational attractions. The Iowa City area is often ranked as one of the most livable communities in the nation (Livability.com). To learn more about our great community please visit the Iowa City website: https://gme.medicine.uiowa.edu/discover-iowa.

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.

http://uihc.org/womens-wellness-and-counseling-service 

Completion of a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in Clinical or Counseling Psychology from an APA/CPA accredited program and completion of an APA/CPA accredited internship prior to start date of August 2023.

Required qualifications, application materials, process, and deadlines:

• Completion of a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in Clinical or Counseling Psychology from an APA/CPA accredited program and completion of an APA/CPA accredited internship prior to start date of August 2023.
• Cover letter that describes training goals for the fellowship year, a description of ways in which your training and clinical experiences fit the mission and multidisciplinary composition of the WWC, and potential ideas for the Capstone Clinical Project/Fellowship Research Project.
• Current CV
• Graduate transcripts
• Three letters of reference from a) your internship director, describing progress and anticipated completion date; b) the chair of your dissertation committee, detailing the status of your dissertation and the anticipated completion date of your doctoral training; c) a supervisor familiar with your clinical work.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

It is expected that an offer will be made to an applicant by January 31, 2023.

If you have questions please contact:

Stacey Pawlak, PhD – Clinical Psychologist and Director, Women’s Wellness and Counseling Services, Psychiatry; stacey-pawlak@uiowa.edu

To start the Online Application process for this position, click the “Apply for This Position” button located below the Contact Information.