Pediatric Feeding Track (4 positions)
The Pediatric Feeding Track offers an intern the opportunity to work with children ages 9 months to 21 years who do not consume enough volume or variety of food to maintain adequate growth or nutrition. Children with this level of feeding disorder fall under the broader psychiatric diagnosis of Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). ARFID in pediatric populations often co-occurs with complex medical and/or developmental conditions (e.g., pre-maturity, gastrointestinal, cardiac, food allergy, autism); therefore, this rotation offers interns a breadth of training opportunities with a diverse range of patients. Our model of care involves multidisciplinary assessment and treatment and throughout the training year interns gain experience working with a team that includes physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians, speech-language pathologists, an occupational therapist, and a social worker.
The Pediatric Feeding Track offers a scientist practitioner model of training. Our clinic integrates science and best practices by involving a data-driven decision-pathway model of care that also facilitates new discoveries through single-subject research. The model of supervision is behavioral and involves competence-based benchmarks. The supervisor provides modeling and performance feedback with heavy oversight initially and support is faded as the internship progresses.
The intern in the Pediatric Feeding Track will spend a full year training in clinical experiences that include feeding assessments, intensive day treatment, and outpatient therapy. Across these areas, interns will gain experience with treatment approaches that include applied behavior analysis, parent training, parent-child interaction therapy, and manual-based interventions. Interns will split their time between Marcus Autism Center, the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, and community outpatient settings. In addition to feeding, treatment often focuses on associated behavioral/pediatric concerns including sleep, toileting, and disruptive behavior. Professional opportunities include participating in grant funded and/or clinical research projects, presentations at regional and national conferences, and supervision of others.
Interns will also have the opportunity to conduct a minor rotation (1/2 day a week) in a clinic outside of the Pediatric Feeding Program throughout the entire year. Minor rotations may be available in the Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics Department or Severe Behaviors Department.
Possible Minor Rotations Options
RUBI-Parent Training Program (minor rotation) within the Severe Behaviors Program is an outpatient program developed and shown to decrease challenging behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) between the ages of 3 and 10. The program involves teaching parents a number of strategies to prevent, manage, and reduce occurrences of problem behaviors of mild to moderate severity while promoting skill development.
The Brief Behavior Intervention (BBI) Program (minor rotation) within the Severe Behaviors Program is a weekly outpatient program. Children have a variety of problem behaviors of moderate to high severity, including aggression, self-injury, noncompliance, disruptive behavior, elopement, and pica. Targeted treatment goals are achieved through the therapist coaching the caregiver in completing a functional analysis and implementing treatment. There is a heavy emphasis on parent training, with the caregivers rehearsing skills both during the appointment as well as between appointments.
The Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Department (minor rotation) is a multidisciplinary clinic that provides diagnostic assessments of individuals with a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders with a possible autism spectrum disorder. Children seen in the CAD clinic range from infancy to late adolescence with a focus on children ages 16 months to 6 years.
Long-term Follow Up (minor rotation) within the Severe Behaviors Program is a service provided to children after completion of day-treatment and short-term follow-up. Clients are transferred to long-term follow-up approximately 6 months after discharge and most clients are seen every 1-3 months. This program provides experiences in maintenance of behavioral interventions.
The Early Intervention Program (minor rotation) is an outpatient parent coaching program designed to support families of toddlers with or at-risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in developing play, communication, social engagement, and imitation skills. The program uses the Project ImPACT curriculum, which has been shown to build skill in young children with ASD and other developmental delays through integrating behavioral and developmental treatment strategies. The program emphasizes active parent participation within and between sessions.
The Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety program (minor rotation) is an outpatient therapy program. The program is aimed to treat youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and co-morbid anxiety disorders. This program is currently offered in an individual context via telemedicine. The clinic utilizes the Facing Your Fears Program, which uses cognitive behavioral principles to help youth develop their awareness and insight into their anxiety and/or fears and learn ways to effectively manage their symptoms. The program actively involves parents via a parent education component. This minor rotation is for persons with graduate practicum experience in delivering individual/group therapy to any child/adolescent with or without ASD.