Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Perinatal Mental Health and Integrated Care

Jumpstart your professional career in perinatal and integrated care with national innovators in the Department of Psychiatry, Lifeline for Families Center, and Lifeline for Moms Program at the UMass Chan Medical School. This research-focused post-doctoral fellowship will work on a project that integrates mental healthcare and community support into perinatal health care settings that have not traditionally provided mental health care. More information about the study can be found at this link. The post-doctoral fellowship is for two years with potential for an 18-month extension depending on project needs.

Fellows will work on the implementation and evaluation of two multi-component intervention arms to increase screening, treatment, and follow-up of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in outpatient perinatal care settings. Project leads are working with state-level Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs  in a train-the-trainer model to increase scalability of the interventions.

The project’s team members are pioneers in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, community-based psychosocial interventions, obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn), and pediatrics, leading paradigm-shifting work focused on addressing perinatal mental health. Together, we have collective experience, expertise in women’s mental health and perinatal health, and deep relationships with community partners, including medical societies and policymakers. In collaboration with these community partners, our faculty develop, implement, and test interventions that increase access to, and engagement in, evidence-based mental health care for families.  Throughout the Department of Psychiatry and the Lifeline for Families Center, we are deeply committed to integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our interventions, protocols, and approaches from their inception. Thus, there are many opportunities for equity focused research. Prior and ongoing projects at the Lifeline for Families Center focus on:

• Building the capacity of nontraditional settings and developing practical approaches to address mental health as part of perinatal, infant, and child health care, no matter what door the family enters.
• Creating feasible and scalable care delivery models, trainings, and tools for women and families to be supported by the professionals they present to, regardless of that professional’s specific discipline.
• Doing work that is scalable, replicable, evidence based, and already implemented nationwide. 

• Creating innovative solutions are driven by our research, the voices of community partners, and others’ research.

The Fellow will receive training in integrating systems-level interventions into obstetric practice to better meet the needs of pregnant and postpartum individuals and children, and how to expand and augment integrated care. Fellows will primarily work with Nancy Byatt, DO, MS, MBA, DFAPA, FACLP, the Executive Director of Lifeline for Families and Chris Sheldrick, PhD. Fellows will also have the opportunity to work with Tiffany Moore Simas, MD, MPH, MEd, FACOG, the Chair of the Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gina Sullivan, MD, Sarah Palmer, MD, and Thomas Mackie, PhD (UMass Amherst). Fellows are encouraged and supported to obtain their license after their first year of training.

About UMass Medical School:

UMass Chan Medical School and its clinical partner, UMass Memorial Health, is a thriving academic health care system located in Worcester MA, about an hour’s drive west of Boston. The environment provides a highly supportive home for fellows, with opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers and engage in meaningful clinical work.

How to Apply:

A PhD or PsyD in a health-related or field is required. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Send a detailed letter of interest that summarizes relevant experiences and career goals and a curriculum vitae to rebekah.getman2@umassmed.edu. Candidates invited for an interview will be asked for three letters of reference; these can be addressed to:

Nancy Byatt, DO, MS, MBA, DFAPA, FACLP

Professor with Tenure, Departments of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Population and Quantitative Health Sciences

Executive Director, Lifeline for Families Center and Lifeline for Moms Program at UMass Chan Medical School

Medical Director of Research and Evaluation, Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (MCPAP) for Moms

222 Maple Ave

Shrewsbury, MA 01545

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Chan Medical School recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds.