Pain Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow

Grand Rapids, MI

Full time

Pain Psychology Post Doctoral Fellowship

POSITION: Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital offers a one-year postdoctoral psychology fellowship position in interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation. This fellowship offers specialized training in assessment and treatment of chronic pain, including but not limited to musculoskeletal pain, chronic headaches, migraine, fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome. Fellows receive specialized training in pain neuroscience and evidenced based treatments for chronic pain with an emphasis on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Fellows obtain experience in the delivery of pain psychology services within an interdisciplinary outpatient setting. Fellows develop expertise in differential diagnosis; cognitive, behavioral and psychosocial problems associated with chronic pain; and consultation and collaboration with interdisciplinary team members in the delivery of integrative rehabilitative treatment services. A variety of medical education opportunities also exist.

This position primarily involves clinical training, working with a predominately adult population presenting with a variety of chronic pain conditions. Approximately 70% of time is dedicated to clinical service activities, which include: intake assessment, individual and group psychotherapy, and interdisciplinary team meetings. Additional opportunities may involve inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation treatment, and post concussion evaluations and treatment, depending on availability. In addition, 4 hours per week will be dedicated to research/program evaluation, 4 hours to didactics, and 2 hours to individual supervision.

Fellows also develop an independent research or program evaluation project, in collaboration with current staff. Results of this project will be prepared for a presentation and/or journal submission. Research supervision will be provided by Julia Craner Cooper, PhD, ABPP.

This program seeks to prepare fellows for a career in clinical health psychology with a focus on chronic pain and interdisciplinary care. There is one position available for the 2027-2028 year.

SETTING: Mary Free Bed is a not-for-profit, nationally accredited rehabilitation hospital located in Grand Rapids, MI that serves thousands of children and adults each year through inpatient, outpatient, sub-acute rehabilitation, orthotics and prosthetics and home and community programs. With the most comprehensive rehabilitation services in Michigan and an exclusive focus on rehabilitation, Mary Free Bed physicians, nurses and therapists help patients achieve outstanding clinical outcomes. In 2014, Mary Free Bed and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSUCHM) created a partnership to expand Mary Free Bed into a teaching and research hospital and launched the Division of Rehabilitation Medicine.

For more than 30 years, the Mary Free Bed Pain Rehabilitation Program has worked with individuals suffering from chronic pain conditions to help them restore function, and the hope and freedom to live full and productive lives. The program offers 10 to 12 weeks of treatment in an interdisciplinary team model, including physicians, physician assistant, nursing, physical therapists, occupational therapists, pain psychologists and support staff. Originally based on the hospital’s main campus in Grand Rapids, MI, the program has undergone a period of growth recently and now operates programs and service in satellite locations (Holland, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Troy, and Muskegon). For additional information, please visit the program website at https://www.maryfreebed.com/rehabilitation/the-pain-center.

FACULTY: The psychology faculty at Mary Free Bed include 16 licensed or limited licensed psychologists across several locations. Core clinical faculty for the pain psychology postdoctoral program include: Julia Craner Cooper, Ph.D., ABPP, Arianna Perra, Psy.D., Trevor Jaskiw, Psy.D., Anthony Bonita, Ph.D., Kyleigh Skedgell, Ph.D., Eric Lake, MA, LLP, and Kayla Moore, LMSW. Dr. Julia Craner Cooper and Dr. Arianna Perra provide direct supervision for the postdoctoral fellow. Fellows will have opportunity to collaborate with all psychology staff through weekly didactics and psychology team meetings. Psychologists with the Pain Rehabilitation Program enjoy a close relationship with our colleagues in the Mary Free Bed Psychology Department that specializes in rehabilitation psychology and clinical neuropsychology.

QUALIFICATIONS: By their start date, qualified applicants will have successfully completed a PhD or PsyD in a regionally accredited graduate training program in psychology, and obtain a Michigan Doctoral Education Limited License (Doct Ed Ltd) prior to their start date. Preference will be given to applicants from an APA-accredited doctoral program including a one-year APA-accredited internship program. APPIC member internship sites also considered. Other preferred qualifications: applicants with a background in psychological practice in medical settings; clinical, health or rehabilitation psychology; training in research methodology/statistics; and applicants with an ultimate interest in a career oriented in rehabilitation, health or pain psychology.   

SALARY & BENEFITS: The position has an annual salary of $58,000 and includes health benefits, 18 days of paid time off and 7 paid holidays

APPLICATIONS:  The anticipated fellowship start date is in early to mid-September 2027, though start date can be flexible. Virtual/remote or in-person interviews (based on applicant preference) will be offered January/early February. Offers will be extended in mid February. Interested applicants are asked to provide a letter of interest that includes the applicant’s anticipated date of dissertation defense, curriculum vita, graduate school transcripts and three letters of reference and complete an online application. Applications materials must be received by January 8, 2027 for priority consideration.

 Letter of interest and curriculum vita should be uploaded during the online application process while letters of reference and graduate school transcripts should be sent directly to Dr. Craner Cooper at [email protected] .

ADDITIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM DETAILS: Training methods include observation, co-facilitation in individual and group clinical services with a supervisor, and didactic seminars. Fellows have access to a variety of other training resources. Residents have access to an office, computer, furniture, phone, printer, business cards, and office supplies. Testing measures/scoring, textbooks, and manuals are available in the office suite and in shared digital folders. Patient Service Representatives (PSRs) assist with patient scheduling, check-in, and general schedule management. Funding for continuing education is available upon request and managerial approval. Trainees can access to journal subscriptions through an affiliation with the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. The Mary Free Bed Education Academy (https://educationacademy.maryfreebed.com/#/public-dashboard) has a wealth of training resources including mandatory annual education and continuing education programs (live and virtual). Performance evaluations for fellows are completed by supervisors at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Fellows complete evaluations for supervisors at the same time intervals. Due process would be initiated if a fellow did not meet expected levels of competency. This fellowship fulfills licensure requirements for psychologists in the state of Michigan.

LIFE IN GRAND RAPIDS:  Named as one of US News and World Reports “Best Places to Live”, Grand Rapids, Michigan offers residents the complete package and is attracting college students, young families and professionals with its healthy job market, affordable housing and outdoor recreational activities. A scenic spot perched on the Grand River – Michigan's longest waterway – Grand Rapids has evolved from its 19th-century roots as a hub of furniture production to the modern-day metro area offering a range of thriving neighborhoods, schools, recreational activities and cultural opportunities, including museums, theater, professional sporting events, year-round outdoor activities and amusement parks. Communities throughout the region are growing and becoming increasingly diverse. Grand Rapids has an affinity for public art and plays host to Art Prize, an annual art competition and festival that turns the city into a walking art museum. Despite being the second largest metro area in Michigan, Grand Rapids exudes small-town charm and Midwest friendliness. No matter where you live in the greater Grand Rapids region, you are within minutes of an inland lake, within an hour of Lake Michigan and within a few hours of the natural wonders of Northern Michigan.
 

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].

Mary Free Bed is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristic.