Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology
Program Overview
The Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology provides training to prepare doctoral students for professional practice as psychologists in health service settings. We employ a competency-based approach to education and training that focuses on biological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects of health and behavior.
For the 2027-2028 training year, 8 internship positions are available across three tracks to meet the training goals of interns interested in clinical child and pediatric psychology:
- The Pediatric Psychology (PP) Track (119711) has a particular focus on serving children/adolescents and families experiencing medical illness, somatic symptoms, and/or hospitalization. Interns train in hospital-based, medical inpatient and outpatient specialty care settings, with a focus on using evidence-based approaches to address psychosocial challenges and to support medical coping. Interns on the pediatric psychology track also participate in minor rotations, as well as common training experiences in outpatient psychotherapy, psychological testing, and early childhood or autism intervention.
Number of Intern Positions: 4 - The Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) Track (119712) emphasizes training in integrated pediatric primary care psychology. Interns are placed in community-based, integrated pediatric primary care settings and hospital-based specialty care settings, where they integrate evidence-based psychological services within primary care and other clinics that comprise the medical home. IBH interns also participate in common training experiences in outpatient psychotherapy, psychological testing, and early childhood or autism intervention.
Number of Intern Positions: 3 - The Clinical Child & Community (CCC) Track (119713) provides training in clinical child and adolescent psychology in multiple settings, with a focus on referrals from the surrounding community. Interns are placed in outpatient specialty care settings, integrated pediatric primary care, and school-based health centers. Interns on this track participate in minor rotations, as well as common training experiences in outpatient psychotherapy, psychological testing, and early childhood or autism intervention.
Number of Intern Positions: 1
Ìý
Accredited By
American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation
750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 336-5979
- Curriculum
- Salary & Benefits
- Location & Living
- Faculty & Participants
Training Program Details
Please see our 2027-2028 training brochure for full details about our program’s aims and competencies, clinical rotations, didactic and professional development curriculum, training faculty and life in the greater Wilmington/Philadelphia area.
Please see our internship admission, support and initial placement data for admission information, stipends/benefits and initial post-internship positions for our three preceding cohorts.
Salary & Benefits
The minimum stipend for all interns is $46,560 for the 2027-2028 training year. Interns are also provided with a generous benefits package, including:
- 20 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), which can be used flexibly for vacation, sick leave, fellowship/job interviews and graduation
- Five Educational Leave days for educational and professional development activities
- One day of volunteer time off for an approved activity
- Subsidized health insurance
- Six paid holidays
- Free on-site parking
- Options for prescription medication coverage
- Options for dental and vision insurance
- Retirement annuity programs
- Employer-paid short-term disability
- Basic life insurance and A&D
- Voluntary additional life insurance and/or AD&D
- Voluntary long-term disability
- Flexible spending accounts for health, dependent care, and/or transportation
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Wellness program
- Financial education program
The 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Child Development Center is the hospital’s on-site child care facility (NAEYC-accredited) and provides high-quality child care, prekindergarten, and kindergarten, as well as before-/after-care, drop-in care and summer camp. Interns are welcome to use the hospital’s medical library and can join the hospital’s Fitness Center for free.
Interns have access to support personnel, including our GME coordinator, numerous other full-time psychology/psychiatry administrative staff, check-in/check-out billing liaisons, medical assistants, psychometrists, insurance verification specialists and medical transcriptionists. Support staff aid in scheduling patients, obtaining authorizations, patient check-in/check-out and other clerical work. There are also personnel to assist with hospital-based research project protocols, statistical consultation for hospital-based projects, poster preparation and editing and review tasks. Finally, there is computer/technological support available on a daily basis including computerized administration and scoring for many of our testing batteries.
Training at 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ in Delaware Valley
91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children’s Hospital, Delaware, sits on a scenic, 300-acre estate in Wilmington’s Brandywine Valley. It’s the largest pediatric training site in our system, big enough to offer nearly every specialty, yet close-knit enough that faculty know their learners well. From the start, you’ll notice a culture built on collaboration, mentorship, and curiosity.
Hospital & Training Environment
Most of your training takes place at our children’s hospital in Wilmington, a nationally recognized destination for complex pediatric care. It’s the state’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and home to a Level IV NICU, so you’ll see the full range of high-acuity cases. Families come from across the region, giving you exposure to diverse conditions and hands-on learning in a true referral hub. Take a video tour of the hospital now.Ìý
Along with 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´, you may also spend time at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and other partner hospitals. These rotations bring variety in community pediatrics, rehabilitation care, and patient populations you won’t see every day in Wilmington.Ìý
Living in Wilmington & Delaware Valley
Wilmington is easy to settle into. It’s affordable, manageable in size, and just a short train ride from Philadelphia. Baltimore and Washington, D.C., are also close by. Need fresh air? The Brandywine Valley has trails, rivers, and historic gardens. Want more energy? Philly has food, arts, and sports at a world-class level. Here, you get the best of both worlds.Ìý
Research Opportunities
Research is part of the program. Some trainees work in the lab, others join clinical trials, and many focus on quality improvement. Supported by faculty mentors and dedicated resources, trainees may also present at national meetings or publish in peer-reviewed journals.Ìý
Resident & Fellow Life
Training here isn’t only about rotations and research. It’s also about having the space and support to enjoy the journey.
Community & CultureÌý|ÌýColleagues quickly become friends. Alumni talk about the camaraderie, the sense that you’re part of something bigger, and the ease of finding mentors who genuinely care.
Wellness & Support |ÌýWellness is built into the experience. From apps and peer networks to professional counseling, resources are there when you need them. There's also a free 24/7 gym on campus and regular wellness programming.
Everyday Perks |ÌýFree parking. Meals at noon conference. On-site child care center. Call rooms and quiet spaces when you need rest. These make a difference in the rhythm of daily training.
Train With Recognized Leaders
If you’re looking for a rewarding program built on academic excellence and family-centered care, 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ offers outstanding medical, surgical, pharmacy, nursing, therapy and psychology programs. Train with faculty who are respected leaders in their fields, a patient care model that stands apart and access to groundbreaking research.Ìý
Apply Today
Application Requirements
Deadline:ÌýNovember 1, 2026
Materials Required
Our training program requires the AAPI Online, which is available through or at . Your online application should include:
- Cover letter that discusses your interest in our program and the fit between our program and your experiences and training goals. Please also indicate if you are interested in more than one of our tracks or one track in particular. (See below under A Note About Tracks).
- Curriculum Vitae
- AAPI itself (which includes essays and the DCT's verification of eligibility and readiness)
- All graduate transcripts.Ìý
- Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which should be from supervisors familiar with your clinical work.Ìý
Note: We do not require supplemental application materials beyond what is listed above.
A Note About Tracks and the Application Process
It is helpful to us when applicants indicate interest in one (or more) of our tracks at the time of initial application, but doing so does not commit an applicant. Many applicants are interested in more than one track, and we do not view this as problematic in any way. Applicants who are invited to interview are asked to indicate at the end of the interview day, after hearing in detail about our program, which track(s) they wish to be considered for when our rankings are submitted.
Application Deadline
Applications are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Interview offers will be extended by email on or before November 27, 2026, and all applicants will be notified of their status by December 4, 2026 at the very latest.
Interviews
Interviews will be held virtually.ÌýInterview dates for the upcoming year are:
- Monday, December 14, 2026
- Friday, December 18, 2026
- Tuesday, January 12, 2027
Additional interview dates may be added if needed.
The virtual interview day consists of general orientation, video "tour", opportunities to meet with current residents and fellows, and three individual faculty interviews.
For Applicants Who Indicate Spanish Language Fluency:
We offer Spanish-speaking applicants the opportunity to meet with a bilingual faculty member during one of their faculty interviews. Because bilingual training opportunities may vary based on an applicant's language skills and interests, it is helpful for faculty when a portion of the conversation can be conducted in Spanish when applicants feel comfortable doing so. Applicants are encouraged to engage in Spanish to the extent they feel comfortable, and the conversation may occur in Spanish, English, or a combination of both languages. This provides an opportunity to discuss any prior experiences working with Spanish-speaking patients and families, as well as interest in bilingual training opportunities and related training goals. It also helps faculty better understand an applicant's Spanish-language abilities and readiness for bilingual clinical experiences, while identifying training opportunities that align with their interests, goals, and developmental needs.
Questions About Applying?
Questions regarding our internship program or the application process should be addressed to Dr. Kira Branch, Director of Doctoral Internship Training for Pediatric Psychology Track, or Dr. Joanna Smith, Director of Doctoral Internship Training for Integrated Behavioral Health and Clinical Child and Community Tracks, at psychologytraining@nemours.org (email is the preferred method of contact) or:
91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children's Hospital, Delaware
Division of Psychology
1801 Rockland Road, Suite 300
Wilmington, DE 19803
(302) 298-7341 (Dr. Branch) or (302) 298-8180 (Dr. Smith)