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CTVHCS Approved For Interprofessional Fellowship Program in Psychosocial Rehabilitation

Skip breadcrumb navigation COLLEGE STATION, Texas (October 16, 2006) – The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS), one of the College of Medicine’s clinical partners in Temple, was recently notified that it has been selected as one of the newest sites to offer a fellowship program in psychosocial rehabilitation.

In spring 2006, the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Office of Academic Affiliations sent out a request for proposals for expansion of the VA Interprofessional Program in Psychosocial Rehabilitation for Veterans with Chronic, Serious Mental Illness. The goal was to increase the number of fellowship programs from three to six nationally. Expansion of this fellowship program is seen as critical to implementation of the recommendations of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health and the Comprehensive VHA Mental Health Strategic Plan.

“This fellowship will provide a wonderful training opportunity for our residents,” says Dr. Kathryn Kotrla, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the College of Medicine and Medical Director of Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine at CTVHCS. “It will also afford us the opportunity to educate all providers about the President's New Freedom Commission Report on Mental Health, and the recovery model.”

The initial three fellowship programs were established in 2002, and the VHA was looking to expand the program. Ten facilities submitted proposals, including the CTVHCS. Funding decisions were made based on the quality of the applications as judged by a peer review panel of VHA psychosocial rehabilitation and education experts.

“This award brings one set of advantages and one set of challenges,” says Dr. Walter Penk, professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “The advantages accrue from learning from the other awardees that have been operational since 2003, and bringing new technologies in training interdisciplinary staff in psychosocial rehabilitation techniques to Central Texas. The challenges come in that we will be developing new models of interventions in health service. Additionally, we will become part of the innovation that will guide psychosocial rehabilitation for the next several decades.”

The CTVHCS new fellowship program will begin in July 2007.

For more information about the CTVHCS, please visit: http://www.centraltexas.va.gov/
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