Dear Prospective Applicant:
Thank you for your interest in the APA-accredited internship in health service psychology at Harvard Medical School/Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Psychology, at Boston Children’s appoints seven interns per year. Consistent with the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) policies, we participate in the National Matching Service, with the match occurring in February of each year. The internship year begins July 1 and ends June 30. Applicants from doctoral programs in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association and Canadian Psychological Association are considered for admission into the internship program.
Boston Children’s Hospital is a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric health care. As one of the largest pediatric medical centers in the United States, Boston Children’s offers a complete range of health care services for children from birth through 21 years of age. Boston Children’s records approximately 25,000 inpatient admissions and close to 557,000 clinic visits annually. There are 121 psychologists working in the hospital who are part of the medical staff. It is the primary pediatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, and all psychologists are members of the faculty. A core group of 22 psychologists located in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences provide the clinical supervision to interns, with numerous others offering mentoring and/or didactic opportunities to the program.
The Boston Children’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences treats diseases and disorders that affect the mental, emotional, and social health of children and adolescents. The department strives to deliver innovative, family-centered care for conditions ranging from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, to depression, anxiety disorders, and disruptive behavior disorders. Interns are involved in the care of youth and their families with a wide range in age, racial, ethnic, religious, developmental, and socio-economic diversity.
Interns have the opportunity to collaborate with specialists across Boston Children’s providing opportunities to offer services to patients and families experiencing a range of socio-emotional difficulties related to a variety of medical conditions.
- Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data
- Internship Training Program Brochure (updated November 2023)
Interview dates:
Interview dates for the current cycle are:
- Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023
- Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023
- Friday, Jan. 5, 2024
- Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024
- Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024
Employment requirements:
The Health Service Psychology Internship at Boston Children's Hospital is contingent upon the successful completion of all hospital pre-employment requirements, including proof of employment eligibility under federal law, a criminal background check, and a satisfactory health screening from Occupational Health Services. Employment at Boston Children’s Hospital is subject to meeting performance expectations and compliance with the Boston Children’s Hospital policies and standards of conduct, as well as infection control requirements, which as of September 2023 include an annual flu shot, the COVID-19 primary series of vaccinations, and one 2023-24 COVID-19 booster vaccine. The hospital continues to follow all local, state, and national guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety.
APA Accreditation Information:
Questions related to the program’s accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-336-9979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org
The overall training mission for the internship program at Boston Children’s is to educate psychologists who will become leaders in health service psychology and to do so by facilitating their development of clinical skills and knowledge in child clinical and pediatric psychology for entry-level professional practice.
If you are interested in pursuing an internship at Boston Children’s Hospital, please visit the APPIC website (www.appic.org) to access the AAPI Online via the Applicant Portal and submit your electronic AAPI internship application. A completed application will consist of the following:
- A completed AAPI form verified by the student’s Academic Director of Clinical Training. The AAPI form includes the application, a curriculum vita, and all graduate transcripts.
- Three letters of recommendation. At least one letter should be from a supervisor in a practicum or clinical placement.
Particular aspects of the training program, application requirements, stipend and benefits, and additional information that may help you in deciding whether to apply to our Internship Program are found in the Internship Brochure and Handbook.
Questions regarding the Internship Program
Email: courtney.kellogg@childrens.harvard.edu
Phone: 617-355-4563
All applications must be submitted through the APPLICANT PORTAL on the APPIC National website.