Health Psychologist - Oncology

Health Psychologist - Oncology

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Salary Range: $86455 - $160190 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Major Duties:

• Clinical responsibilities: In conjunction with oncology Social Work, implement psychosocial distress screening for all new oncology patients and at established intervals in keeping with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer's recommendations. This will include providing support and training to oncology staff to implement screening Provides direct clinical care including evidence-based treatments in the area of health psychology and behavioral medicine specific to oncology populations. Specific clinical services offered will include: Individual, group and telehealth-based psychotherapy Patient/Family Education Group Individual and group psychotherapy Mindfulness Based Cancer Recovery Meaning Centered Psychotherapy Dignity Therapy CBT oriented interventions Health psychology/behavioral medicine interventions tailored to oncology Tobacco cessation Stress Reduction Coping with sleep problems Coping with Cancer Pain Problem solving Whole Health services to empower and equip each Veteran to live their life to the fullest and assist them in setting personal and treatment goals around their MAP Assessment and facilitates engagement for Veterans in need of more intensive MH treatment, including SUD and PTSD Conducts functional assessments, based on 30-minute appointments and will triage/refer to specialty care services as appropriate. Other psychosocial services: Connection with community support groups Survivorship care planning Patient and family education/resource center Relaxation room for patients and families On-site relaxation practices to be implemented during infusions and in radiation service Enhanced collaboration with PC and MH teams around behavioral health needs Coordination and collaboration with PACT teams/PCMHI (locally known as BHL) and with BHIP teams for Veterans engaged in specialty MH Aware of resources and treatments available in both PCMHI and BHIP. Connecting directly with the Veterans treatment team to discuss needs identified and/or potential changes to the course of treatment Coordination and collaboration with the Suicide Prevention Team Assistance to Palliative Care team in offering specialized groups for palliative care/hospice patients Fully accountable for practice including entering patient visits, completing encounters and notes within 24 hours, resolving consults, appropriate clinical documentation, measuring outcomes to interventions, and meeting productivity standards. Staff Training and Consultation responsibilities: Contribute to Whole Health training by periodically offering Whole Health courses (e.g., Whole Health 102). Consultation to hematology/oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology and inpatient teams Interdisciplinary collaboration via treatment team meetings, tumor boards, unit meetings, oncology committee, etc. Provide training to oncology staff in brief relaxation practices Monthly support group meeting for Oncology staff Administrative/Program Development/Outcome Measurement/Research: Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National committees or task forces, as endorsed by supervisors Participates in Psychology privileging, educational and peer review activities, in accord with Psychology and medical center policies. Participates as a non-voting member of the medical staff, in accord with medical staff by-laws. Participates in support of Whole Health administrative and performance improvement activities, e.g., taking on assigned projects and serving on committees Completes required clinical and administrative documentation in a timely manner and in accord with governing regulations. Program evaluation to include but not limited to same-day handoffs, suicide risk evaluations, unique and encounters for Veterans engaged in psychotherapy, brief interventions and group interventions Assists in monitoring the performance measures, program outcome, and other local data source measurements if/when these become required for the clinical performance and other outcome assessment or best practice guidelines, using a data-driven quality assurance process. Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome and other local data-source measurements if or when these become required for the clinical performance and other outcome assessment or best practice guidelines, using a data-driven quality improvement process. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Approved.

Qualifications: Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology) OR; Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (1) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, (2) The specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship OR; Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internship: Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed OR; New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern ORVHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement OR; Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR; Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program. Licensure: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determination GS-11: There are no additional education or experience requirements above basic eligibility requirements. Grade Determination GS-12: Experience: At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the criteria above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA's; Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team, including research participant relations, research documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration. Grade Determination: GS-13: Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light to moderate lifting, up to 44 pounds; light carrying, under 15 pounds; reaching above shoulder, use of both hands and fingers required, walking/standing 6-8 hours; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability; ability to work alone.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/21/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12866783. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-01-21