Graduate Student Practicum
Graduate Student Practicum
The Behavioral Health department at Nationwide Children's Hospital has openings for full-year practicum placements for advanced graduate students in APA-accredited training programs.
The practicum program provides students with an opportunity to further develop their knowledge-base, as well as gain experience in applying theory to practice in the medical setting.
Externs will gain exposure to children with various medical, neurological, psychiatric, and developmental disorders, and specific training opportunities are available in Pediatric Psychology and Pediatric Neuropsychology. Please contact the track coordinators for additional information.
Training Programs & Details
Education and Training: What to Expect
Specific experiences include:
- Conducting Intake Interviews (primarily virtual/telehealth)
- Test Selection, Administration, and Scoring
- Interpretative Report Writing
- Feedback (primarily virtual/telehealth)
Externs will also participate in didactics including:
- Case Conference/Group Supervision
- Neuropsychology Didactics (neuroanatomy, brain development, clinical and medical disorders)
- Multicultural/DEI Competencies Series
- Specialty Topics (forensic and private practice, research projects)
Most students are on-site for 2 days per week with a hybrid of in-person and telehealth/video opportunities.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be enrolled in an APA accredited doctoral program in psychology. The neuropsychology practicum placement is intended for advanced students (entering third or fourth year) who are interested in a career in neuropsychology (either pediatric or lifespan). The practicum student (extern) will have the opportunity to work with children ages 3-years-old through young adults (up to 22 years-old) referred for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations.
Strong applicants will have at least 1 year of test administration experience (psychological or neuropsychological), be interested in eventual board certification as a neuropsychologist, and plan to apply to neuropsychology internships (pediatric or lifespan).
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Applicants must also undergo pre-employment screenings with Nationwide Children's Hospital human resources which includes a background check and drug screening.
Applicants can apply to the program by sending the following items to Ari Rabkin, PhD, via email:
- Curriculum vitae
- One short letter of interest
For more information on the neuropsychology practicum placement, please contact:
Ari Rabkin, PhD
Director of Neuropsychology Practicum Program
Ari.Rabkin@NationwideChildrens.org
(614) 722-4700
Education and Training: What to Expect
Specific experiences include providing outpatient individual and family therapy to children with:
- A range of medical conditions (e.g., Type 1 Diabetes, Epilepsy, Pain)
- Mental health concerns (e.g., Depression, Anxiety, ADHD)
- Presenting problems (e.g., Adjustment and adherence, pain management)
Externs will also participate in individual and group supervision, shadow psychologists in several different medical clinics throughout the year, and attend weekly didactics focused on a variety of topics relevant to pediatric psychology.
Students are expected to be on-site two days per week (typically Monday/Wednesday).
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be enrolled in an APA accredited doctoral program in psychology. The pediatric psychology practicum placement is intended for advanced students (entering third or fourth year) who are interested in a career in pediatric psychology. The practicum student (extern) will have the opportunity to work with children aged 22 and under referred for outpatient treatment.
Strong applicants will have at least one year of child clinical experience and be planning to apply to internships focused on working with children in a medical clinic/hospital setting.
Apply Now
Applicants must also undergo pre-employment screenings with Nationwide Children's Hospital human resources which includes a background check and drug screening.
Students can apply to the program by sending the following items to Erin McTiernan, PsyD, via email:
- Curriculum vitae
- One letter of recommendation
- One-page letter of interest
For more information on the pediatric psychology practicum placement, please contact:
Erin McTiernan, PsyD
Director of Pediatric Psychology Practicum Program
Erin.McTiernan@NationwideChildrens.org
(614) 722-4700
Psychology Pathways Initiative Summer Externship Program
Nationwide Children’s Hospital is a top 10-ranked children’s hospital located in Columbus, Ohio. Expansion of behavioral healthcare access and integration within hospital services is a key part of the Nationwide Children’s mission.
The hospital is highly committed to training the next generation of psychologists. Increasing representation of individuals from underrepresented groups in psychology is a recognized priority for the American Psychological Association (APA) and Nationwide Children’s.
The goal of our PPI summer externship program is to provide opportunities for current psychology doctoral students with diverse backgrounds to learn about specialty fields within psychology early in their training to increase readiness and competitiveness for pediatric specialty internship and fellowship training programs in healthcare settings.
Learn More About the PPI Summer Externship Program
For specific questions about the PPI Summer Externship Program, please contact:
Camille Wilson, PhD, ABPP
Director of Psychology Pathways Initiative (PPI) Summer Externship Program
PPI@NationwideChildrens.org
(614) 722-4700
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity is an important part of Nationwide Children's Hospital’s vision and, as an organization, we strive to have our staff be reflective of the communities we serve. At Nationwide Children's, diversity is defined more broadly than the traditional definition of race and/or nationality and includes race, ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, family structure, sexual orientation and physical ability. Across the hospital you will see multiple initiatives in line with this value:
- The hospital has ongoing efforts in their initiative, Stand Against Racism, Stand for Health Equity, led by the hospital's CEO and a diversity steering committee.
- The hospital also has Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s), which are teams of employees with common backgrounds, goals and interests, formed to act as a cultural resource for both group members and the entire organization.
- Behavioral Health has its own Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee that has members across Behavioral Health.
Contact Us
For more information on the neuropsychology practicum placement, please contact:
Ari Rabkin, PhD
Director of Neuropsychology Practicum Program
Ari.Rabkin@NationwideChildrens.org
(614) 722-4700
For more information on the pediatric psychology practicum placement, please contact:
Erin McTiernan, PsyD
Director of Pediatric Psychology Practicum Program
Erin.McTiernan@NationwideChildrens.org
(614) 722-4700
For more information on the intellectual and developmental disabilities practicum placement, please contact:
Ruhee Sutar, PhD
Director of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Practicum Program
Ruhee.Sutar@NationwideChildrens.org
For more information on the Psychology Pathways Initiative (PPI) Summer Externship Program, please contact:
Camille Wilson, PhD, ABPP
Director of Psychology Pathways Initiative (PPI) Summer Externship Program
PPI@NationwideChildrens.org
(614) 722-4700
