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, post concussion evaluations and group psychotherapy, and pre-surgical assessments for spinal cord stimulators, 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 are required to 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 2025 - 2026 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 faculty within the Mary Free Bed Pain Rehabilitation Program includes eleven licensed psychologists across several locations, four of whom are based in Grand Rapids and would provide direct supervision for the postdoctoral fellow, and one masters-level psychologist. Fellows will have opportunity to collaborate with all psychology staff through weekly 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. Core clinical faculty 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.
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 $55,000 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 2025, 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 on or around February 24, 2025. 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 10, 2025 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 Julia.craner@maryfreebed.com .
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.
Physical Requirements for Essential Job Qualification
None
Occasionally
(Less than 1/3)
Frequently (1/3 to 2/3)
Majority (More than 2/3)
Remain in a stationary position
x
Traverse or move around work location
x
Use keyboard
x
Operate or use department specific equipment
x
Ascend/Descend equipment or ladder
x
Position self to accomplish the Essential Functions of the role
x
Receive and communicate information and ideas for understanding
x
Transport, position, and/or exert force
Up to 10 pounds
x
Up to 25 pounds
x
Up to 50 pounds
x
Up to 75 pounds
x
More than 100 pounds
x
Other weight: Up to pounds
Other
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification. If you require a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of this position, you must request accommodation in writing, within 182 days after you know or should know of the need for accommodation.
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.