There are no specific academic requirements for application to the AGH Psychology Internship. However, applicants from APA-approved training programs are preferred. As such the applicants are expected to have completed academic training in the areas of personality theory, biological, cognitive, social, and affective aspects of behavior, theories and methods of psychological assessment diagnosis, effective psychological intervention, theories of psychopathology and behavioral dysfunction, research design and methods, and professional ethics.
There are also no minimal requirements for the amount of practicum hours general applicants must have prior to applying to the AGH Psychology Internships; however, applicants are expected to have completed practicum experiences in both psychological assessment and intervention. All of these educational activities should have been completed in the context of sensitivity to cultural and individual diversity, as well as current professional standards. Interns interested in child training through the CTSCA must prequalify for the rotation by having previously completed a course in developmental psychopathology and practicum training with child & adolescent cases, as well as the online, TF-CBT training (medicine.musc.edu) prior to beginning the CTSCA major rotation.
We rely on the letter of readiness completed and signed by the Graduate Director of Clinical Training at the applicant’s home institution, which is submitted through the standard APPIC application. Applicants with didactic training and clinical practica in the training areas offered by AGH are preferred.
Our internship program welcomes and celebrates applicants from all personal, familial and cultural backgrounds. Past internship classes have included individuals from a wide-variety of backgrounds, including rural and urban areas and individuals fluent in a number of languages. Past interns have hailed from across the globe, representing diverse religious beliefs and have identified as LGBTQ and other gender/sexual identities. The Allegheny Health Network is fully committed to opposing discrimination in recruitment, selection, placement, transfer, promotion, reassignment, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, separation from employment and other terms and conditions of employment. In accordance, the AGH Psychology Internship engages in recruitment, selection, evaluation, and retention of interns without regard to race, creed, sex, or age. The AGH Psychology Internship adheres to the APPIC guidelines in the recruitment and selection of intern, including the interview and match schedule. The AGH Psychology Internship participates in the APPIC match program. Intern applicants submit the universal APPIC application form or AAPI (available on the APPIC web page-www.appic.org) as well as a transcript of graduate training, three letters of recommendation from teachers and supervisors, and a vita.
In the cover letter, applicants must indicate their two preferred major rotations and rationale for choices based on experience and career aspirations. Applications are reviewed by the Director of Training or Associate Director of Training and two faculty members in order to evaluate the degree of match between the applicant’s prior training experiences, career aspirations, and the training opportunities available through the AGH Psychology Internship. Applicants with appropriate fit are invited to interview via Zoom format. Phone interviews are not available. Candidates who attend the interviews are involved in introductory meetings with internship leadership and small group introductions to the rotations with rotation faculty. Applicants participate in several individual faculty interviews during the second half of the Zoom interview day, concluding with a wrap up social hour with all faculty members, current interns, and post-doc fellows invited. The interviews are offered on two Fridays in December and last between 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Interview procedures, including our photography policy, are thoroughly explained to all applicants.
Faculty complete standardized rating forms for both the initial APPIC applications and the interviews. At the end of the recruitment process a faculty ranking meeting is held. Interns are invited to provide feedback before the meeting, but do not attend the full ranking meeting. At the ranking meeting, the preliminary rankings are reviewed and modified before submitting them to the match process. On the match date and following notification of the match results to the Director of Training, contact is made with each successfully matched candidate to welcome them to the internship.
Prior to formally beginning the internship, all new interns are required to complete background checks (Pennsylvania State Police, Childline Child Abuse, and FBI), a pre-employment physical, and all of the paperwork and online corporate compliance trainings required by the AHN Human Resources Department. Interns will be provided a comprehensive orientation with the Director and Associate Director of Training and will meet with the graduating interns to help facilitate a smooth transition between training classes. New interns will also complete training in the electronic health record (EHR) system used throughout AHN.
Matched candidates for doctoral psychology internship training are offered conditional employment contingent upon the successful completion of all pre employment requirements, which include but are not limited to the following:
In addition, applicants must complete all of the paperwork and online corporate compliance trainings required by the AHN Human Resources Department. Interns will be provided a comprehensive orientation with the Director and Associate Director of Training and will meet with the graduating interns to help facilitate a smooth transition between training classes. New interns will also complete training in the electronic health record (EHR) system used throughout AHN.
Candidates for employment as a psychology intern are expected to comply with Pennsylvania law regarding illegal substances, to comply with ethical standards for psychologists, and to comply with all company policies and procedures.
Intern performance relative to expected competencies is regularly evaluated by the primary supervisor for each rotation. The Director and Associate Director of Training are also responsible for providing regular feedback regarding the intern’s overall professional development and progress through the program. Timely and consistent feedback is the cornerstone of helping interns to develop their clinical and professional skills. Interns are expected to be informed of any deficiencies in their performance and corrective plans are developed in coordination with the Director of Training and, if necessary, the intern’s supervisor as soon as they are identified. Likewise, exemplary performance is recognized and reinforced. All evaluations are related to performance in professional and training tasks and are not related to variables of diversity, whether cultural, religious, sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnic identity, or age. The following are the Performance Evaluation procedures for all psychology interns:
The internship policy statements include formal procedures for evaluation of the interns. In addition to subscribing to the regulations of APPIC, the AGH Psychology Internship is run in accordance with general policies of the Allegheny Health Network regarding equal opportunity and ethical standards of behavior.
Interns will be eligible for completion of the internship:
It is the policy of the AGH Psychology Internship to resolve all grievances by interns to the mutual satisfaction of both parties whenever possible. No staff member shall interfere in any grievance procedure in any way. Interns shall be assured the freedom to file a grievance, and freedom from interference or coercion. Interns are made aware of the Grievance Policy at the beginning of the internship year and are provided with a copy of this document in their internship packet. All of the following procedures shall be conducted without consideration of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnic identity, religion, or other aspect of diversity.
