Developmental and Sequential Learning
The internship training program at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center is developmentally planned and sequentially organized. Interns begin the year with orientation which is aimed at helping them to transition into the Department of Psychology in the Family Medicine practice at Conemaugh Memorial and the Department of Behavioral Medicine, to become part of the professional staff and to begin assuming the role of Intern.

The internship program operates under the assumption that most interns will have had relatively little experience in the provision of services within a medical system and/or primary care setting. Consequently, the training program begins with an orientation to the scope of psychologist-physician collaboration, the culture of the psychiatric consultative liaison, and issues related to serving culturally diverse populations, and policies and procedures related to the referral, triage and case assignment process.

Training in each skill area utilizes a developmental approach incorporating the following modalities:

• Orientation: general introduction to all areas of functioning included in the internship and provide background conceptual and/or didactic frameworks.
• Didactic seminar sessions: provide more in depth explorations of various topics or encourage interns to contemplate their experiences thus far in the area in order to integrate their didactic and/or scientific knowledge with their provision of the service.
• Participation in case conferences: includes a discussion of multicultural and ethical considerations.
• Observation of supervisors and seasoned professionals: performing clinical services providing the opportunity to become familiar with the competencies required to provide the service and the procedures utilized by the agency in performing the service.
• Providing the service: in conjunction with a staff or clinical supervisor, being observed by a supervisor, or with consultation from a staff or supervisor.
• Develop competency: participate in training activities including discussions and review of video recordings of their sessions in supervision; discussions and case presentations in didactic seminars; and interaction and discussion with other interns.
• Evaluation and formative feedback from supervisors and training committee to interns to encourage their development, identify areas needing extra attention and provide remediation, as necessary.