The Department of Pediatrics Psychology Fellowship Program follows a "Scientist Practitioner" training model. In accordance with the Scientist Practitioner model, our program strives to integrate science and practice so that activities and advances in one domain inform the other. Trainees learn about practice and research, which are both carried out under the supervision of faculty with expertise in these areas.

While the primary focus of our program is to train in clinical practice, our faculty conduct research and fellows are encouraged to become involved in a research project during their program. Consistent with this model, our goal is to produce psychologists who use scientific methodology in their practice-decisions when working with patients by using scientifically valid methods, tools, and techniques; to inform the patients of scientifically based findings and approaches to their presenting problems; and to conduct practice-based research.

Training Models

We use a competency-based training model that is grounded in several different models including those related to Professional Psychology (Fouad et al., 2009), the Houston Neuropsychology Guidelines and Clinical Neuropsychology Synarchy (Smith 2019), and recommendations for Pediatric Psychology (Palermo et al. 2014).

These models have at their basis a scientist-practitioner model and add specificity that further informs the training of those intending to focus their professional work in the care of children and their families. These models posit a clear set of tasks and learning experiences that are essential to the development of the aspiring psychologist.