Houston, TX
Houston, TX
Program Description
The Houston Interprofessional Fellowship in Addiction Treatment seeks to train leaders and scholars who will contribute to improving care for substance use disorders through Veteran-centric translational research, clinical practice, implementation practice, and quality improvement. Fellows will spend 75% of their time in research, quality improvement, and educational activities and the remaining 25% in direct service (e.g., clinical practice). Fellows will work closely with a team of mentors to develop a plan for collaborating on and leading research and quality improvement projects, developing scholarly products (e.g., peer reviewed manuscripts), and engaging in targeted research quality improvement, and/or clinical training. The robust treatment services for substance use disorders and related mental health conditions at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center offers ample opportunity for clinical practice and training on an interdisciplinary team. Mentors also have strong partnerships with key research institutions, including the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, the South Central Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, and Baylor College of Medicine.
Research and Clinical Opportunities in Addiction
- Research on improving behavioral treatments for co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorders
- Research on implementing technology-based treatments in rural areas
- Research on novel pharmacotherapies for substance use disorders
- Clinical opportunities in large specialty outpatient substance use clinic providing individual and group therapies, medication management, and intensive outpatient program.
Application Process
Please have letter writers send letters directly via email from their work or university account. Applications must include
- A cover letter that outlines their area of scholarly or research interest, description of proposed research or improvement work, career goals, and fit with Fellowship mentors
- Curriculum Vita
- Doctoral-program or terminal degree transcript (unofficial is acceptable),
- Three letters of recommendation, sent directly from the recommender
- Publication reprints are encouraged for applicants interested in research.
Focal Areas
- Co-occurring mental health disorders and SUD
- Implementation Science
- Health Systems Research
- Pharmacotherapies for SUD
- Quality Improvement
Potential Mentors
- Anthony Ecker, PhD
- Chris Verrico, PhD
- Jan Lindsay, PhD
- Darius Dawson, PhD
- Julianna Hogan, PhD
- Paige Morrison, PsyD
- Veronica Siffert, LCSW
Psychology Fellows
Prior to beginning the fellowship, psychology fellows must meet the following criteria:
- Possess a doctoral degree from an accredited doctoral program that would make them eligible for VA hire.
- Fellows can begin the fellowship if the degree is not yet formally conferred if they have met all requirements (including dissertation defense) and documentation is presented from the fellow’s graduate program. If the degree is not yet conferred, the Program Director and the Director of Clinical Training at the applicant’s graduate program must complete the VA Psychology Postdoctoral Verification form: Department of Veterans Affairs Psychology Postdoctoral Resident.
- Doctoral programs must be accredited by American Psychological Association (APA), Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) or Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS).
- Have completed an APA or CPA-accredited internship (or a new OAA funded, VA-based internship that is not yet accredited).
Social Work Fellows
Prior to beginning the fellowship, social work fellows must meet the following criteria:
- Possess an MSW degree from an accredited doctoral program that would make them eligible for VA hire.
- Have completed clinical internship in mental health or SUD setting.
Anthony Ecker, MD
Dr. Anthony Ecker is a clinical psychologist and researcher with the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and the VA South Central Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC). He is an Assistant Professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. He received his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. He completed predoctoral internship at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven and a research fellowship at the VA South Central MIRECC. Through his research, Dr. Ecker aims to better understand and improve mental health treatment for Veterans with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and how to use innovations in mental health treatment to improve access to care for underserved Veterans.
About Houston
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the US, with many opportunities for recreation, arts/music, and food. A hub of medical science, the Texas Medical Center (where the Houston VA is located) is the largest medical complex in the world, home to several academic medical centers, including our academic affiliate, Baylor College of Medicine. Houston is home to major professional sports teams and arenas that draw major artists year-round. A rich cultural environment leads to an array of festivals, museums, and food from all over the world.