Residency/Fellowship

Beth Israel Clinical Psychology Internship Program
 

Introduction to the Applicant
The Internship Program
Adult Outpatient Rotation
Adult Inpatient Rotation
Electives
Conferences and Seminars
Application Process
Department of Psychology Faculty


INTRODUCTION TO THE APPLICANT

Thank you for your interest in applying for a position in the 2005-2006 Beth Israel Medical Center Clinical Psychology Internship Program. Please be informed that the internship site will be participating in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Matching Program administered by National Matching Services, Inc. (NMS). In order to apply to our internship site, you must request an Application Agreement package from NMS through the Matching Program web site at http://www.natmatch.com/psychint or by contacting NMS directly at (416) 977-3431. The program match code is: 146411.

The application procedure for Beth Israel Medical Center requires completion of the AAPI application form available on the APPIC website: www.appic.org. If you do not have access and cannot download from the APPIC website, please contact APPIC and request that an application form be mailed to you. You may contact APPIC directly at:

APPIC
10 G Street, NE
Suite 750
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 589-0600

Please submit THREE complete sets of the AAPI application (1 original and 2 copies) each including a curriculum vitae, a graduate transcript and three letters of recommendation to:

Elizabeth Ochoa, Ph.D.
Director of Training
Division of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry
9 Fierman Hall
Beth Israel Medical Center
1st Ave. at East 16th Street
New York, NY 10003

Because of the large number of applicants received, only a sub-group can be offered interviews. Should you be among those selected for interview, we will contact you.

Applications must be postmarked no later than November 15th, 2005.

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THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 

The psychology division of the department of psychiatry at Beth Israel Medical Center offers a year-long, full-time, predoctoral internship in clinical psychology. This program is available to matriculated doctoral students in clinical and counseling psychology programs approved by the American Psychological Association (APA). The internship program at Beth Israel was re-accredited for a full seven years by the Accreditation Council of the American Psychological Association in November 2001.

 

Office of Program Consultation & Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242

Our psychology internship program is founded on the principles and values of the local clinical scientist model (as articulated by Stricker and Trierweiler in Volume 50, Number 12 of the American Psychologist). Accordingly, the clinical setting is considered analogous to a scientific laboratory in which the scientist-practitioner model is enacted. The model values the scientific skills of intensive observation and problem-solving and their specific application to particular settings and cases. The scientific attitude that is espoused by this model includes the following: there is receptivity to a multiplicity of approaches to a problem, empirical support is tempered by a skepticism about any foreclosed certainty, professional responsibility and knowledge are highly valued, there is an ongoing awareness of personal biases and their impact on observation, there is a need to attune to the ethical implications of interventions, and there is a need for collegial interaction and feedback.

With its emphasis on uniqueness and context, on understanding that is specific to a particular cultural group, the local clinical scientific model captures our training program's focus on the treatment of a culturally diverse patient population from the multicultural community that Beth Israel serves. It also captures our program's inclusion of a multiplicity of treatment modalities and methods, as well as extensive supervision (often involving videotaped material) that serves to cultivate the intern's observational skills, including those which are self-reflective.

The primary goal of our internship program is: To provide an intensive, broad-based training experience that exposes the interns to a variety of clinical settings, populations, and applications of psychological interventions. The specific objectives of this goal include exposing the interns to the following settings and experiences: (a) inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services; (b) multidisciplinary treatment teams (including psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and occupational therapists); (c) child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients; (d) individual, group, and family treatment modalities; (e) psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic models of treatment formulation and intervention; (f) short versus long-term, time-limited versus open-ended treatment models; (g) psychological and neuropsychological testing; and (h) elective experiences in consultation-liaison psychology on various medical services.

Our aim is to develop professional competencies in the delivery of a variety of psychological services in a general healthcare system, including basic competencies in the following: (a) theories and methods of psychological assessment, diagnosis, and case formulation; (b) theories and methods of short-and long-term treatment; (c) theories and methods of consultation and evaluation; (d) understanding issues of cultural and individual diversity; (e) understanding ethical and legal issues in psychology; and (f) functioning within a multidisciplinary team in psychiatry.

During the training year, approximately half of an intern’s time is allotted to the adult outpatient service, where he or she is exposed to an intensive experience involving diagnostic interviewing, psychological testing, and a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches (individual, family, and group modalities). The intern participates in a variety of professional activities on the outpatient services including consultation, disposition, clinical research, program evaluation, clinical seminars and case conferences.

The remaining time for the intern is divided equally among three four-month rotations in child and adolescent outpatient psychiatry; adult inpatient psychiatry (general, general-geropsychiatry, or dual-diagnosis); and an elective.

The elective experiences are chosen from a variety of ongoing services provided at Beth Israel Medical Center and include: Brief psychotherapy research, Neurobehavior, HIV Mental Health, and Behavioral Medicine.
 

Adult Outpatient Rotation 

The Adult Outpatient Rotation represents the core of the intern's experience at Beth Israel since trainees are assigned to this service on a half-time basis for the entire year. At the beginning of the training year, each intern is assigned to several faculty members for one-to-one supervision of individual adult and child cases. Theoretical orientations of supervisors vary and include psychodynamic, interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, family systems, integrative and short-term approaches. The insights gained from this diversity of perspectives are constantly integrated in case conferences and seminars. Great care is taken to provide trainees with a range of treatment cases suitable to the application of different therapeutic approaches. Regular consultation regarding pharmacotherapy and other medical issues is available from an attending psychiatrist.

The typical weekly outpatient caseload for an intern consists of 6-8 hours of individual or couples treatment (some persons are seen more than once a week), one family case, one or two child cases, intake evaluations and one ongoing group. Interns are expected to perform psychological assessment on outpatients who are not part of their caseload. An intern can expect to complete at least six batteries per year, made up of referrals from adult and child outpatient services and from the Yarmon Neurobehavior Center. These assignments may include intellectual, objective, projective or neuropsychological assessment.

Interns are scheduled to conduct weekly intake interviews with new patients throughout the year. The intake process is a closely supervised experience, with live supervision during the initial interview. The interns will be responsible for making differential diagnoses, collecting collateral information, designing treatment plans, and presenting their cases to an interdisciplinary disposition team.

Both the Multicultural Family Therapy Training Program and Brief Psychotherapy Research Program serve as integral parts of the outpatient experience.

As part of the Multicultural Family Therapy Training Program, interns meet as a group one full afternoon every week for live supervision of their family cases. As one intern works with the family, other interns and the supervisor observe behind a one-way mirror, functioning as part of a treatment team in understanding family process within the cultural context, and designing appropriate clinical interventions.

Interns are also trained in a manualized, time-limited treatment model developed in the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program. The training model involves an integration of principles from cognitive-behavioral therapy and relational psychoanalysis. Each intern carries one case that is videotaped, participates in weekly case seminars and receives intensive supervision on their case (also on a weekly basis).

As part of their outpatient experience, interns participate in a four month rotation on the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Service, where they conduct intake evaluations and psychological assessments. Supervision is available from both individual and family perspectives. As part of their work with children and adolescents, interns regularly interface with various members of the school system who come in contact with the child. Interns experience a wide range of child and adolescent pathology from the mood disorders to the disruptive behavior disorders, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. They become familiar with a number of approaches including play therapy, parenting skills training, family systems, and behavior therapy.
 

Adult Inpatient Rotations 

Interns spend four months, half-time, on adult inpatient services. A supervising psychologist on each unit provides regular supervision for all of the intern's inpatient responsibilities. Assignments are made to either a general adult service, a dual diagnosis substance abuse service or a combination geropsychiatric and general adult service.

The typical caseload for interns assigned to these services is two patients at any one time. On all units, interns organize and coordinate the delivery of services for their assigned patients in the context of the multi disciplinary treatment team. Ample opportunities for individual and family intervention as well as psychological and neuropsychological evaluations are available for interns on inpatient rotations. Medication and other biological treatments are managed by the intern's medical back-up, generally a psychiatric resident. Interns' observations and recommendations about such treatment, however, are integral components of patient care. Additionally, interns typically co-lead two inpatient psychotherapy groups, an important aspect of the unit’s milieu treatment program.

The two general inpatient units treat individuals age 14 years and older, although typically a very limited number of adolescents are admitted. Patient problems include affective disorders, schizophrenia and severe character disorders. Emphasis is on rapid resolution of acute distress and return to functioning. Since many inpatients will be referred for outpatient, individual or family treatment, interns sometimes have the opportunity to provide continuing care for these persons following their discharge.

The psychiatric substance abuse inpatient service treats persons with a dual diagnosis of a major psychiatric disorder and substance abuse. On this unit, the psychiatric disorder is complicated by the presence of alcohol and/or drug addiction. Interns on this rotation gain familiarity with psychiatric and neurological disorders specifically associated with substance abuse, e.g. antisocial personality disorder and substance-abuse induced psychosis. Because of the high incidence of HIV in IV drug users, interns gain additional training in AIDS related disorders.

The geropsychiatric inpatient service treats individuals age 55 and older who are diagnosed with a broad range of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression and dementia. Special efforts are made to integrate biological, psychological and social dimensions of the patient's illness.

Electives

A four month elective is chosen from a variety of ongoing services provided at the Medical Center. Potential electives include Brief Psychotherapy Research, Neuropsychology, Behavioral Medicine, and HIV Mental Health.  

Brief Psychotherapy Research Program: All psychology interns participate in the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program through carrying at least one case throughout the year. In addition, the intern may elect to do a four month research elective in brief therapy. In this rotation, the intern will conduct a research project involving data collected under the auspices of the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program. The idea for the project is conceived early in the internship year in collaboration with a supervising psychologist. Since the program is mainly focused on the study of therapeutic relationship in time-limited treatment, projects typically have this focus. They are also usually based on intensive, single case designs. The data base for the Program is rich and extensive, which permits a variety of interesting small-scale projects. The aim of this rotation is to complete a study worthy of presentation and/or publication.

Neuropsychology Training Program: The Yarmon Neurobehavior & Alzheimer's Disease Center is a multi-disciplinary center serving individuals who have neuropsychiatric disorders. All interns participate in a year long weekly didactic seminar focused on neuropsychology topics and are required to complete at least one neuropsychological evaluation during the year. In addition, an intern may elect to participate in a four month neuropsychology rotation that has several core components: neuropsychological assessment, individual/couples/group psychotherapy and case conferences/rounds. The training experience is tailored to each intern’s level of experience in neuropsychology.

The development of neuropsychological assessment skills is the foundation of the rotation. The intern is offered an opportunity to provide psychotherapy to one or two individuals and their families at the Neurobehavior Center. The primary goals of the psychotherapy are to help the individual and his/her family cope with adjustments to a serious illness. There are a wide variety of educational opportunities at the Neurobehavior Center that each intern is welcome to participate in.

Behavioral Medicine: Interns will spend a large portion of the rotation in the Pain Medicine and Palliative Care Department which is located at the Phillips Ambulatory Care Center (PACC). Interns will have the opportunity to receive training in psychological interventions for pain management including biofeedback, CBT, and relaxation, perform intake, and assessment of patients presenting for outpatient pain management and to attend interdisciplinary care conferences and departmental rounds. Co-leading an outpatient psychotherapy group for pain patients is available.

The intern also is encouraged to participate in the walk-arounds and didactic seminars offered by the Consultation Liaison Department in the Department of Psychiatry. This experience allows interns to participate in the evaluation of hospitalized medical patients. Research opportunities are also available.

HIV Mental Health Program: The HIV Mental Health Program is a psychiatric outpatient clinic located within the Peter Krueger Clinic (PKC) for the Treatment of Immunological Disorders. The clinic provides a variety of on site services to meet the needs of an HIV positive population. The Mental Health Program offers mental health evaluations, ongoing individual, group, and family therapies, and psychopharmacological care.The intern will be part of a treatment team comprised of psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers and will work closely with physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff. Training opportunities involve intake evaluations, ongoing individual psychotherapy, and group therapy.

For further information about the program, inquiries can be directed to:
pjames@chpnet.org.

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CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS 

Beth Israel Division of Psychology
Conferences, Seminars & Procedures for Program Application

Summer Seminar Program
Academic Year Seminars
General Information
Procedures For Applications
Internship Offers & Acceptances


Summer Seminar Program

Interns begin their training year by participating in a series of short seminars that are designed to provide the background and technical competence necessary for functioning as a professional psychologist within a psychiatric/medical setting. Seminars are offered focusing on various topics including psychopharmacolology, interviewing and mental status, and general hospital psychiatry. Interns participate in these seminars along with psychiatric residents, beginning a year-long interdisciplinary collaboration.

Academic Year Seminars

The internship program at Beth Israel offers a rich didactic program that provides in-depth study of selected areas, prepares interns to function in a number of new professional capacities and offers the opportunity to discuss, reflect upon and integrate all aspects of the internship program. Some of these seminars meet for the entire year, while others are short courses that meet for 1-6 weeks.

Multicultural Family Therapy: Theories and techniques of family therapy, concentrating on structural and strategic approaches, and the cultural context of couples and family therapy. This seminar meets for the entire training year.

Clinical Neuropsychology: An introduction to brain-behavior relationship from theoretical as well as clinical perspectives with an emphasis on clinical assessment of behavioral changes associated with CNS dysfunction. This seminar meets for 10 months.

Psychology Seminar: This seminar meets for the entire year with a series of short courses for 1-6 weeks. The topics vary but may include

  • Psychological Assessment – Both child and adult testing is discussed in the context of current and relevant testing protocols.
  • Substance Abuse: Overview of diagnostic and treatment issues with dual diagnosis patients
  • Ethical and Professional Issues: Overview of these areas as they pertain to the profession of psychology.
  • Forensic Psychology: Legal issues such as child abuse, custody, duty to warn and prediction of dangerousness and discussed.
  • Gender and Sexuality: Overview of working with Gay, Lesbian, transgendered individuals, examines transference, countertransference and sexual ethics across sexualities.
  • Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychotherapy: Focuses on the role of multi-cultural differences in the psychotherapeutic relationship including working with Latino, Asian, African-American and Orthodox Jewish populations.

Interdisciplinary Clinical Case Conference: On each inpatient service and on the outpatient child and adult services, a case is presented and pertinent aspects of the diagnosis and treatment are discussed weekly. Alternately, an interview with the patient by a senior faculty member or a case presentation by a trainee is scheduled. This seminar runs for 10 months.

Morbidity and Mortality Conference: Once a month all regular case conferences are cancelled so that trainees can participate in this meeting designed to find ways to improve individual skills or departmental functioning by an in-depth study of diverse outcome. This seminar runs for 10 months.

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General Information

Period of Training

The internship requires a full-time commitment for one calendar year. The training year begins on or about July 1, and concludes at the end of June of the following year. Interns receive four weeks paid vacation as well as leave to attend professional conferences.

Requirements for Application

Qualified applicants meet the following criteria:

  • Current enrollment in an APA-approved doctoral program in clinical psychology. Persons who are enrolled in an APA-approved counseling psychology program will be considered.
  • Completion of a minimum of three years of graduate work and all required course work.
  • Demonstrated interest in clinical work with adults and aptitude for working with diverse populations.
  • Sufficient supervised clinical experience delivering psychotherapy and psychological testing services.

MEMBERS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AND MAY VOLUNTARILY INDICATE MINORITY STATUS IN THEIR APPLICATION MATERIALS.

The internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant prior to uniform notification day.

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Procedures For Applications

Applicants should submit three copies of the completed APPIC application form, each including a curriculum vitae, a graduate transcript and three letters of recommendation to:

Elizabeth Ochoa, Ph.D.
Director of Training
Division of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry
9 Fierman Hall
Beth Israel Medical Center
1st Ave. at East 16th Street
New York, New York 10003
(212) 420-4544, ext.3

** Applications must be postmarked no later than November 15th, 2005.

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Internship Offers & Acceptances

As a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral Internship Centers (APPIC), the internship program at Beth Israel fully complies with APPIC's policies regarding internship offers and acceptances.

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EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

Beth Israel offers a comprehensive benefits plan, including:

Health Care Coverage
Hospitalization
Surgical allowance
Major medical
Dental, optical and hearing aid plans
Psychiatric reimbursement

Other Insurance:

Life and accident insurance
Travel accident insurance
New, updated long-term disability plan
Maternity disability plan
Malpractice insurance
Workers compensation

Other Benefits:

Twenty vacation days annually
Sick and condolence leave
Voluntary tax-sheltered annuity
All incoming psychology interns receive a medical examination prior to beginning internship.

Stipend:

Stipends for the internship year, which are reviewed annually, are presently $20,800.

Beth Israel Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer. Federal, State and New York City laws prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, veteran status, religion, color, marital status, national origin, disability, sexual preference or pregnancy-related condition.

For further information about the program, inquiries can be directed to: eochoa@chpnet.org.


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Beth Israel Department of Psychology Faculty



Education Committee:

Lisa Cohen, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Continuing Education
Inpatient Psychiatry Service

  • Orientation: Psychodynamic & cognitive-behavioral therapies
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties: Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, trichotillomania, sexual abuse
   
Michael Friedmann, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Externship Training
Inpatient Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic & cognitive-behavioral therapies
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties: Neuropsychological & psychological testing, learning disabilities, group & family, anxiety, depression and identity issues
   

J. Christoper Muran, Ph.D.
Chief Psychologist;
Director, Brief Psychotherapy Research Program

  • Orientation: Cognitive-behavioral therapy & psychoanalysis
  • Population: Adult
  • Brief Psychotherapy Research Program Specialties: Depression, anxiety & personality disorders, stress management, adaptation to loss & trauma
   

Elizabeth Ochoa, Ph.D.
Director of Training & Education, Outpatient Psychiatry Service Associate Chief, Yarmon Neurobehavior Center

  • Psychodynamic and Cognitive behavioral psychotherapies
  • Population: Adolescent & Adult
  • Specialties: Anxiety, depression, personality disorders, trauma, neuropsychology
   

Mabel Quinones, Ph.D.
Psychologist-in-charge, Multicultural Family Training Program Child Psychiatry Service

  • Orientation: Psychodynamic/interpersonal/family psychotherapy
  • Population: Child, Adolescent & Adult
  • Specialties: Women’s issues, multicultural issues, bilingual psychological testing, group & family.


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Training Faculty:
Hulya Erhan, Ph.D.
Yarmon Neurobehavior Center
  • Orientation: Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, Clinical Neuropsychological Assessent
  • Population: Child and Adult neuropsychological assessment; Adult psychotherapy.
  • Specialties: Neuropsychological disorders, depression, anxiety, personality disorders

 
Lillian Fernandez, Psy.D.
Cultural Diversity, Child
  • Orientation: Child psychology, family systems
  • Population: Children
  • Specialties: Children and developmental disorder


 
Marc Goloff, Ph.D.
Pain Medicine & Palliative Care
  • Orientation: Cognitive-behavioral & psychodynamic therapies
  • Population: Adolescent & Adult
  • Specialties: Chronic pain, medical illness, anxiety disorders
   
Laurie Greenberg, Ph.D.
Medicine/Krueger
  • Orientation: Psychoanalytic psychotherapy
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties: HIV/AIDS
   
Clayton Guthrie, Ph.D.
Medicine/Krueger
  • Orientation: Psychoanalytic
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties: HIV/AIDS
   
Rachel Lee, Ph.D.
Inpatient Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral psychotherapies
  • Population: Adolescent & Adult
  • Specialties: Addiction, HIV Aids, Trauma, Bereavement
   
Chaya Mermerstein, LCSW
Child & Family Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Systemic family therapy.
  • Population: Families, couples, and children
  • Specialties: Family therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, orthodox population.
   
Michael Rothman, Ph.D.
Outpatient Psychiatry Service
Primary Care Medicine
  • Orientation: Psychoanalytic psychotherapy
  • Population: Adolescent & Adult
  • Specialties: Depression, anxiety, trauma, loss, family, relationships, sexual dysfunction
   
Carole Sands, Ph.D.
Child Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic & cognitive behavioral therapies.
  • Population: Child & Adolescent
  • Specialties: Adjustment disorders, parenting, divorce, midlife
   
Donna Bender, Ph.D.
Director, New School-Beth Israel Center For Clinical Training and Research
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic & psychoanalytic therapies
  • Population: Adult & Later Adolescent
  • Specialties: Personality disorders, academic problems.
   
Christopher Stevens, Ph.D.
Child Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic, Cognitive behavioral and family systems.
  • Population: Child, Family & Adult
  • Specialties: Family and couples, personality disorders, multi-cultural and systemic issues
   
Susan Tross, Ph.D.
Substance Abuse
  • Orientation: Cognitive behavioral therapies
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties: Dual Diagnosis


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Other Faculty:

Karen D’Avanzo, Ph.D.
Substance Abuse

Bernard Gorman, Ph.D.
Research and Methods

Dan Guerra, Psy.D.
Mindfulness Group Leader

Suzanne Little, Ph.D.
Alternative Medicine

Jeremy Safran, Ph.D.
Brief Psychotherapy Research Program

Lisa Wallner Samstag, Ph.D.
Director-LIU-Beth Israel Externship Training Program
Brief Psychotherapy Research Program

Jason Staal, Psy.D.
Snoezelen Behavior Therapy

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Voluntary Faculty:

Cathleen Adams, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

Deirdre Barrett, Psy.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

Deborah Berry, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

Brook Hersey, Psy.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

Beth King, Ph.D.
Child Testing

Jon McCormick, Ph.D.

Long-Term Psychotherapy

Vanessa Llyn McGann, Ph.D.

Child Psychotherapy

Neil Newman, Ph.D.

Long-Term Psychotherapy

Souha Nikowitz, Ph.D.
Child Psychotherapy

Heather Silvestri, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

Karen Singleton, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

MacWelling Todman, Ph.D.
Cultural Diversity, Adult

Rosa Vasquez, Ph.D.
Cultural Diversity, Child

Elisa Ventur, Ph.D.
Child Testing

Deborah Waxenberg, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

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Other Contributors:

Harold Been, MD.
Associate Chairman, Educator

Arnold Winston, MD.

Chair, Psychiatry

   

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