Purpose: The HIV & LGBTQ Health Disparities Track endeavors to provide additional emphasis
training in preparing professional psychologists to provide services in interdisciplinary
environments for 1) individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS and 2) LGBTQ patients
and family members in primary care settings.
Settings: Augusta University-Medical College of Georgia Outpatient Psychiatry, Augusta University
Medical Center Adult Infectious Diseases and Reproductive Endocrinology (Transgender
Care) Clinics, Children’s Hospital of Georgia Pediatric Infectious Disease Clinic,
AU Health Services-Equality Clinic of Augusta, Augusta.
Faculty:
Lara Stepleman, PhD, Track Director
Christopher Drescher, PhD
Amy House, PhD
Graham Theisen, MD
David Haburchack, MD
Cheryl Newman, MD
Jonell Poe, PA
Goals/Objectives of the HIV & LGBTQ Health Disparities Track:
To develop proficiency in the theory, research, and practice of LGBTQ health and HIV/AIDS
psychology, and more generally, in health psychology, chronic illness management,
and integrated primary health care delivery.
To train Interns to function effectively in interdisciplinary medical settings.
To train Interns in consultation assessment strategies in HIV/AIDS medical settings
using a biopsychosocial approach.
To train Interns in consultation assessment strategies in LGBTQ primary care settings
and hormone/surgery readiness evaluations for transgender individuals in outpatient
psychiatry.
To develop a working knowledge of HIV transmission, disease course, medications, common
co-morbid psychiatric and substance abuse diagnoses, and related psychosocial issues.
To develop a working knowledge of LGBTQ health disparities, related psychosocial issues,
and delivery of appropriate medical and mental health care.
To train Interns to become proficient in the assessment of a broad range of disadvantaged
patient populations (e.g., rural, low SES, racial, sexual, and gender minorities)
with emphasis on assessment in primary care settings.
To train Interns to become proficient in the implementation of evidenced based interventions
with a broad range of patient populations in psychiatric, primary care, and social
service settings. Emphasis will be placed on individual therapy, group therapy, behavioral
medicine, motivational interviewing, and psychoeducation.
To train Interns to provide HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ mental health education to consumers
and medical and mental health care providers, particularly in areas of critical need
such as in rural and African American communities.
To develop a working knowledge of how culture, race, religion, sexual orientation,
gender identity, and economic status intersect with HIV/AIDS mental health issues
and other health considerations.
Measurable Outcomes HIV & LGBTQ Health Disparities Track:
Interns will work comfortably across a broad array of HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ treatment
environments including medical and mental health settings that work largely with medically
underserved patient populations.
Interns will demonstrate proficiency in consultation assessment strategies by completing
a minimum of 45 brief consultations across Infectious Disease HIV Clinics, Equality
Clinic, and Reproductive Endocrinology (Transgender Care) Clinic. The quality of the
consultations will be judged by the responsible clinical supervisor on the basis of
the accuracy of the consultation documentation and the effectiveness of communication
with the consultee.
Interns will demonstrate knowledge of common psychiatric and medical illnesses associated
with HIV/AIDS and related psychosocial issues as determined by the quality of their
assessments, consultations, and associated treatment recommendations in ID settings.
Interns will demonstrate knowledge of common health disparities affecting sexual and
gender minorities, and related psychosocial issues as determined by the quality of
their assessments, consultations, and associated treatment recommendations in LGBTQ
primary care settings.
Interns must complete a minimum of one integrated assessment reports of an HIV/AIDS
case and/or one medical or surgical gender transitioning evaluation of a transgender
patient in which the Intern provides pertinent data for the purpose of a clear formulation
of the case, demonstrates a thorough conceptualization of the case consistent with
the theoretical model used, provides a treatment plan that effectively follows from
the conceptualization of the case, and includes evidence of empirical support for
the treatment plan devised (if applicable).
Interns will demonstrate proficiency in at least two evidenced based interventions
(DBT, CPT, CBT, Seeking Safety, etc). The responsible supervisor will judge the quality
of these interventions.
Interns will successfully participate in at least one HIV/AIDS and/or LGBTQ mental
health educational program that may include consumer/community presentations, lectures
to medical students, and medical/mental health provider continuing education.
Educational Implementation: Interns will spend one four-month rotation plus one full day per week throughout the
year in The HIV & LGBTQ Health Disparities track. The track makes use of the following training environments in an effort to
achieve the identified Goals/Objectives of this emphasis track:
The MCG/AU Adult and Pediatric Infectious Disease Clinics treats close to over 1400 HIV+ individuals and is the recipient of Ryan White funding
that provides primary and ancillary medical services to indigent HIV-positive patients.
The intern functions as part of a large multidisciplinary primary care team, training
and practicing alongside physicians, physician assistants, nurses, treatment navigators,
peer educators, fellows, medical students, and social workers. In this setting the
intern will gain skills in consultation to physicians and patients, rapid assessment,
crisis intervention, motivational interviewing and behavioral interventions.
MCG/AU Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic provides diagnostic evaluation, individual, family, and group psychotherapy for transgender/genderqueer
individuals and individuals infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. In this setting
the intern will gain skills in assessment, evaluation, and brief and long term evidence-based
psychotherapeutic interventions.
AU Health’s Equality Clinic of Augusta is an all-volunteer clinic that provides integrated primary care services to uninsured/under-insured
LGBTQ individuals from the CSRA and surrounding regions. The intern functions as part
of a large multidisciplinary primary care team, training and practicing alongside
physicians, fellows, medical students, dental students, and occupational therapy students.
In this setting the intern will gain skills in consultation to physicians and patients,
rapid assessment, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing and behavioral interventions.
MCG/AU Reproductive Endocrinology (Transgender Care) Clinic provides specialty care in hormone therapy and related healthcare services to transgender
individuals with eligible insurance. The intern functions as part of a multidisciplinary
care team, training and practicing alongside physicians, nurses, and fellows. In this
setting, the intern will gain skills in consultation to physicians and patients, rapid
assessment, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing and behavioral interventions.
Interns will chose from other MCG/AU and VA clinic options to augment their track
experience including substance abuse, trauma, psychology of women, palliative care,
and other chronic illness populations.
Interns will participate in at least one HIV/AIDS and/or LGBTQ mental health educational
program that may include consumer/community presentations, lectures to medical students,
and medical/mental health provider continuing education.
The intern will participate 4 hours per week in activities that fulfill the research
requirement for the internship. This may involve a data-based research project, analysis
of an existing data base, writing a critical review, conducting a program evaluation
project, or a policy evaluation project. The intern’s research project will be relevant
to LGBTQ health, people living with HIV/AIDS, and/or HIV risk behavior.
