Psychosocial Oncology Fellowship

Psychosocial Oncology Fellowship

Program Description

The possible experiences include:

  • Participation in/audit the MDSC 635 course, "Introductory Course to Psychosocial Oncology".
  • Participation in clinical/educational activities including: “Kids and Teens Can Cope” Program, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Tapestry Retreat-based Program, Screening for Distress.
  • Participation in the reflecting team on a regular basis to offer feedback to families and other clinical interns.
  • Observation of clinical interviews conducted by (multidisciplinary) psychosocial oncologists.
  • Observation of group interventions conducted by psychosocial oncologists.
  • Delivery of one-on-one therapy under psychiatry supervision.
  • Additional enriched supervision of clinical skills using review of videotapes of own interviews.
  • Exposure to patients with a wide range of disease sites and their unique differences/morbidities.
  • Participation in research seminars and in a specific research project.
  • Participation in clinical case presentations and a journal club.
  • Participation in research seminars.
  • Psychopharmacology.
  • Tele-psychiatry consultation and assessment.

Educational Objectives

Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes
At the end of the fellowship, the fellow will be expected to:

  • Have an in-depth understanding of oncology and the complexity of psychosocial oncology.
  • Conduct skilled clinical interviews in various patient settings (individual/group/family).
  • Work clinically in a multi-disciplinary service and accept feedback from colleagues.
  • Develop and carry-out a research project, and/or publish in a peer reviewed journal.
  • Be efficient in a non-mental health chronic disease context.
  • Be knowledgeable about the special requirements of psychopharmacological therapies in specific cancer patient populations.

Supplementary Information

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Main Location
Arthur JE Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre 

Level of Training
Post-Specialty Psychiatry Training

Length of Rotation
Twelve months

Funding
An honorarium commensurate with PGY-6 pay is available on a competitive basis.  Fellows with a license and qualified to bill Alberta Health Care may bill fee-for-service for up to one day of clinical work per week for patients outside the clinic.

Qualifications
MD and FRCPC or equivalent.
Licensed to practice medicine in Alberta.

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Supervisors
The primary supervisor will be Dr. Janet de Groot, MD, FRCPC, MSc. Additional supervisors will be available based on the fellow’s areas of interest. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. de Groot (jdegroot@ucalgary.ca) and Dr. Andrea Feldstain, Psychosocial Oncology Education Lead (andrea.feldstain@ahs.ca). 

 

Description of Supervision
A primary clinical supervisor will be appointed, but the fellow will have access to several other supervisors as well.  Research supervision will be provided by an academic faculty member.

Evaluation Method
Ongoing formal and informal feedback from supervisors.  One measure of successful completion will be an academic presentation at departmental Grand Rounds or one publication in a peer reviewed journal.