Research

Research within the Division of Psychology and Behavioral Health focuses on improving outcomes for patients and their families by examining interactions between child health, behavior, family and community. Our research faculty actively translate research into novel practices to optimize care and improve the health and well-being of children and families. The brand-new facilities at the Research & Innovation Campus offer researchers in the Children’s National Research Institute an ecosystem setting to nurture innovation by bringing together stakeholders from the community, industry, academia, healthcare, city and federal agencies, startups as well as international community representatives.

The Center for Translational Research is the scientific home for behavioral, health services and community research, providing valuable research infrastructure support and training in implementation science, mechanism-based and clinical trial designs, grants enhancement, informatics and biostatistics. The Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Children's National (CTSI-CN) is a partnership between Children’s National and The George Washington University which contributes to the acceleration of health research nationally through the consortium of research institutions funded by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).

Through these and numerous other training opportunities, our psychology fellows will obtain experience in multiple research designs (prospective longitudinal, intervention, school-based), disseminating research through presentations and publications, and contributing to grant-writing activities.

Didactics

Postdoctoral fellows will have didactics within their specific fellowship programs. Additionally, all psychology fellows participate in the Fellow Seminar Series, which meets once per month (for 1 hour) and focuses on professional development topics (e.g., licensure, applying for jobs, supervision, etc.). Fellows are also invited to all-trainee presentations (for externs, interns and fellows) on special topics such as Social Determinants of Health and D.C. Housing Inequity. Postdoctoral fellows are highly encouraged to attend Behavioral Health Grand Rounds (a weekly didactic focused on varying topics within mental health) and also welcome to join the hospital-wide grand rounds series such as Pediatric Grand Rounds. 

Fellows are also encouraged to participate in the Extern Didactic Series by giving a presentation on a topic of their choice, typically in their area of expertise or interest. This is optional, but a great professional development opportunity.