Several graduate programs are immersing students in primary care.
This fall at Rowan University, an inaugural group of graduate students is learning primary health care in coursework "from day one," says Georita Frierson, PhD, director of clinical training. In their second year, the students will work with physicians in the college's wellness center and its two medical schools.
Also this fall, all psychology grad students at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine will shadow physicians as part of a required interprofessional course they'll take with students in the school's physician assistant or osteopath programs. "All students need to know how other professionals work and understand biopsychosocial health," says Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, director of the clinical PsyD program.
Last year, Antioch University's PsyD program launched a concentration in behavioral health integration and population health. Its goal is to train "resonant generalists" who can handle most problems for most people, as well as develop population-wide health programs and quality metrics. First-year students can spend one day a week in a primary-care or other outpatient setting, working with patients to develop care plans and providing follow-up support. More advanced students do 30-hour practicum placements in primary care supported by a new Graduate Psychology Education grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
To help jumpstart primary-care training nationwide, Div. 38 (Society for Health Psychology) has developed a free curriculum for flexible use by university faculty and clinical supervisors. Course modules include lectures, videos, resources and ideas for group discussions and exercises. Foundational modules explain basic concepts of primary care, and topical modules cover handling specific illnesses and populations, motivational interviewing, and conducting practical research in primary care. It's available on the Div. 38 website at www.health-psych.orgopens in new window.
For a full list of doctoral programs, internships and fellowships focused on primary-care psychology, visit the APA website at www.apa.org/ed/graduate/primary-care-psychology.