The Office of Academic Affiliations:

1. The Office of Academic Affiliations: An Update and How It Impacts the Support of Psychology Education? Linda Johnson, Ph.D., R.N. Director, Associated Health Education Office of Academic Affiliations VA Central Office, Washington, DC VA Psychology Leadership Conference April 2006 Dallas, TX

2. Office Changes • The office moved from 810 Vermont Avenue to 1800 G Street • Same mailing address • My new phone #: 202-357-4014 • My new fax#: 202-357-4057

3. Office Changes • New Chief Academic Affiliations Officer: Dr. Malcolm Cox • New staff member for Associated Health Education: Dr. Robert Zeiss

4. 2005 Learners’ Perceptions Survey • To measure the perceptions of learners who had a VA clinical training experience • To identify areas for improvement in the learning experience • To monitor the national performance measure for VA’s Teaching Mission

5. 2005 Learners’ Perceptions Survey • Is now a web-based survey • Key measurements • Overall Measures of Satisfaction • Five Satisfaction Domains • Comparison with non-VA training • Consider VA employment • 197 responses

6. 2005 Learners’ Perceptions Survey • National Performance Measure • “Physician residents and other trainees will give their VA clinical training experience a score of 85 or better by 2006.” Psychology VA-wide 2004 90 84 2005 89 84

7. 2005 Learners’ Perceptions Survey • Five Satisfaction Domains and percent who were very/somewhat satisfied • Learning Environment 96% • Personal Experience 95% • Clinical Faculty/Preceptors 93% • Working Environment 89% • Physical Environment 84%

8. 2005 Learners’ Perceptions Survey • Overall Satisfaction Measures • Rates training Excellent 88% or Very Good • Would recommend training 94% to others • Definitely or Probably choose 92% training again • VA training Same or Better 88% than non-VA

9. 2005 Learners’ Perceptions Survey • Had a clinical training experience at non-VA setting • 35 percent said yes • Compare your VA clinical training experience to non-VA training • 88% said VA a lot better, somewhat better, and about the same.

10. 2005 Learners’ Perceptions Survey • Numerical Score for VA and non-VA training • On a scale of 0 to 100 where 70 is a passing score Psychology VA-wide VA 86 82 Non-VA 87 85

11. 2005 Learners’ Perceptions Survey • Consideration of VA employment: “Before and after your VA training experience, how likely were you to consider a future employment opportunity at a VA medical facility?” Psychology VA-wide Before 56% 31% After 75% 61%

12. Trainee Allocationsfor FY 2007/Academic Year 2006-2007 • Interns • 390 positions at 86 facilities • Includes 33 additional temporary 1-year positions • Postdoctoral Fellows • 107 positions at 27 facilities • Includes 29 additional temporary 1-year positions • Totals: 497 positions (62 more than current yr)

13. Stipend Changes effective June 25, 2006 • Increase plus Locality Adjustments • Used usual system of comparing VA rates to non-VA rates excluding military • Applied locality adjustment rates determined for OPM for federal salaries

14. Stipend Changes effective June 25, 2006 • Interns • Current rate: $19,000 for all interns • New rates: $22,690 - $26,186 • $22,898 for RUS (Rest of U.S.) • RUS is actually 12.52% above base • So remember to subtract 12.52% from stated locality rate for geographic area to determine rate

15. Stipend Changes effective June 25, 2006 • Postdoctoral Fellows • Current rate: $40,000 for all interns • New rates: $41,070 - $46,968 for year 1 $43,039 - $49,220 for year 2 $45,008 - $51,472 for year 3

16. Future Plans • Expand Graduate Medical Education Program based on recommendations of Federally Chartered Advisory Committee • Expand Interprofessional Fellowship Program for the Care of Veterans with Serious Mental Illness. • Interprofessional Education Programs • GME Enhancement: Innovations

17. Thank You Questions?