Application

Qualifications

• Background in pediatric psychology with a specific interest in providing care to patients with pain issues, complex medical conditions, or requiring rehabilitation, palliative care, or other subspecialty care.
• PhD or PsyD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology with a focus on clinical child and adolescent or pediatric/health psychology from an APA-approved doctoral program.
• APA-accredited internship in pediatric psychology completed.
• Graduate and internship training completed prior to the start date.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital requires successful completion of a standard background check, a 12-panel drug screen (including marijuana) and TB Test as part of the new hire onboarding.  A positive test for marijuana, even with a medical marijuana card, will prevent hiring or result in termination.

Criminal or other concerning history identified in a background check will be reviewed by the Training Committee, the Graduate Medical Education Committee and, if applicable, PCH Compliance, on a case-by-case basis to determine if there are mitigating factors that warrant proceeding with the onboarding process. PCH follows all applicable federal and state laws, including the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in conducting any background screening.”

As we all know, the status of the COVID-19 pandemic has been frustratingly fluid since its onset.  Therefore, the information in this section is time-bound and subject to change with the course of the pandemic.

• Full vaccination for COVID-19, among other diseases, is a condition of employment.
• Changes to the program related to COVID-19.  

Our curriculum remains basically the same although the means by which some of the experiences are obtained has changed.  For example, didactic training can occur through video conferencing.  In addition, outpatient psychotherapy and some of the assessment process (e.g., interviews, informing sessions, etc.) can also be conducted remotely. We will provide training in tele-therapy and the use of the Phoenix Children's Hospital telehealth system.  Inpatient intervention and much outpatient assessment is conducted in-person.   

Safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic

1. As the conditions of the pandemic are fluid, these precautions and recommendations are subject to change.
2. Interns and postdoctoral residents/fellows are considered “essential workers”.
3. Interns and other trainees may conduct outpatient psychotherapy through Zoom.
4. Interns and other trainees may have in-person contact for testing.  If Interns and other trainees would like to attend parent conferences, they may do so via zoom.
5. For in person testing, hospital-required PPE must be utilized. For most of our patients, this would include patient, parent, and student wearing a mask.   Currently, eye protection is not a standard PCH recommendation except when caring for patients undergoing testing or who have tested positive.  However, many providers have chosen to purchase their own goggles.  If you choose to use goggles, please review the hospital policy on how to clean them between patients. 
6. Interns and other trainees should wash hands or utilize sanitizer every time they enter and leave a testing room.
7. Interns and other trainees should wipe all high-contact surfaces before the patient arrives and thoroughly wipe all materials after the patient leaves. Janitorial services should sanitize the testing room after each patient leaves. 
8. Only one family member may accompany the patient into the building as is hospital-wide policy.
9. The patient and the accompanying family member will be required to answer the COVID screening questions prior to Interns and other trainees having contact with the patient.
10.   Interns coming from other states do not need to quarantine. 

COVID-19 and Trainee Recruitment / Interviews

•  For the coming year, the psychology internship program at Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital is in agreement with APPIC’s encouragement “to consider factors such as equity and inclusion and mitigation of bias in making decisions regarding the use of virtual interviews in recruitment.”  These decisions will be made by the Training committee and included in our public materials.  We also recognize that Interns and other trainees' practicum experiences have been impacted by COVID-19, in some cases resulting in fewer hours of experience.  Thus, our evaluation process will emphasize the acquisition of competence over the accrual of hours. 

How to Apply

Please send all inquiries regarding this position to Dr. John L. Barton at jbarton@phoenixchildrens.com.   Applications will be evaluated as they are received. Deadline for submission is December 5. We anticipate interviews will begin mid-January.  We also recognize that applicants’ internship experiences have been impacted by COVID-19, in some cases resulting in fewer hours and types of experience.  Thus, our evaluation process will emphasize the acquisition of competence over the accrual of hours. 

Phoenix Children’s follows the APPIC Postdoctoral Selection Guidelines with offers being made according to the policies of the Common Hold Date of 2/27/2023.

Required materials

1) Cover letter describing clinical and training interests and professional goals.

2) Current CV.

3) Copy of graduate school transcript.

4) Verification from your Director of Clinical Training that you are on track for completing the program prior to August.

5) Three letters of recommendation.  Send application materials to Dr. Barton jbarton@phoenixchildrens.com and the director of the Arizona Psychology Training Consortium, Dr. Elizabeth Capps-Conkle drcappsconkle@gmail.com, Training Director, Arizona Psychology Training Consortium (AzPTC).

Deadline:  December 5, 2022