Pediatric Psychology Externship, Jacksonville, Florida
- Overview
- Externship Positions
- Benefits & Location
- Leadership & Faculty
- Apply
Advanced Training for Predoctoral Psychology Students
The Division of Psychology and Neuropsychology at 91´óÉñ Children’s Health, Jacksonville offers psychology externship positions for advanced predoctoral students (3rd year students and above) in clinical, school, and counseling psychology. Positions are offered dependent upon the availability of opportunities and the match of interests between supervisors and applicants. In the Division of Psychology, we serve youths of all ages who are referred for behavioral health services from other medical specialists or the community.
Our externs have a rich variety of clinical evaluation and intervention and experiences, under supervision by our faculty. Rotations are organized by training experience (i.e., pediatric psychology, clinical child and adolescent mental health servicesÌý via telehealth), and rotations include a combination of assessment and intervention opportunities. Involvement in quality improvement or clinical research initiatives may be available. Opportunities to participate in didactics (e.g., psychology continuing education, diversity/ethics rounds) will be provided. Externship placements are either 9 or 12 months in duration. Certain rotation experiences are offered on specific days of the week, although some flexibility is possible pending student hour requirements and availability. Students with experience providing evidence-based therapies, working with diverse populations, and experience working with children and adolescents are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to fourth year students and above, however third year students will be considered.
Within the Department of Pediatrics, the Division of Psychology and Neuropsychology includes psychologists, neuropsychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed mental health counselors, and psychometrists. We also offer training through our pediatric psychology postdoctoral fellowship program, which is recognized as an APPIC member program, as well as our Pediatric acute telemental health program (PATH). Opportunities are available to shadow, receive mentorship, and consult with advanced trainees and other licensed professionals.
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Pediatric Psychology
Externs will have the opportunity to provide assessment and intervention services in outpatient multidisciplinary clinics as well as carry a caseload of outpatient therapy patients. Clinical service lines include Endocrinology, Pain/Anesthesiology, Craniofacial/Cleft, Hematology/Oncology, Continence (toileting and bladder and bowel issues), Gender wellness, Neurology/Functional Neurological Disorders (FND), Sleep, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, and Orthopedics; with trainee preferences and clinical needs considered in designing the rotation experiences.
Externs may also participate in consultation and liaison services in a children’s inpatient hospital setting. Concerns addressed frequently include adjustment to new diagnoses, procedural distress/difficulties, medical regimen adherence, and coping with pain.Ìý Inpatient services are provided at our partner hospital, Wolfson Children’s, accessible via walkway from our outpatient medical facility.ÌýÌý
Supervisors: Margaux Barnes, PhD, Shana Boyle, PhD, ABPP,ÌýLisa Buckloh, PhD, Sabrina Gretkierewicz, PhD, Nicole Kahhan, PhD, Amanda Lochrie, PHD, MBA, ABPP, Shreela Palit, PhD, Lindsay Parks, PhD, and Sherine Presley, PhD.
Clinical Child and Adolescent Telemental Health
In this position, externs will gain experience by providing virtual, targeted evaluation, brief evidence-based intervention, and community mental health resources to children and adolescents with depression, anxiety, trauma, behavioral and/or adjustment-related concerns (e.g., coping with medical condition, divorce, or school-related stresses). Therapy intervention is typically limited to 1-4 sessions. Externs will gain experience in evidence-based therapies for children and adolescents, such as brief DBT, ACT, and CBT-informed interventions for a variety of issues, including for mood management, parenting/behavioral management, attentional problems, as well as health-related concerns (e.g., feeding, toileting, sleep). Externs will also determine longer-term mental health needs for families and help them get connected to community services. Date and time of externs’ placement is flexible and can be completed either in the morning or afternoon. Specific day of the week will vary depending on your supervisor. Given that these services are all provided via video, the extern may be able to work from home. Externs in this position may be able to add on a minor rotation, focused in a specific pediatric health area (e.g., sleep psychology, continence/toileting).
Supervisors: Margaux Barnes, PhDÌýand Lisa Buckloh, PhD.
Location:ÌýAll rotations will be offered at the primary 91´óÉñ office, located at 807 Children’s Way, Jacksonville, Florida. Specific clinical services may be offered virtually, as specified in the rotation descriptions. Inpatient hospital services are offered at Wolfson Children’s Hospital (adjacent to 91´óÉñ Children’s Health).
Training at 91´óÉñ in Northeast Florida
91´óÉñ Children’s Health, Jacksonville, sits right on the St. Johns River in the heart of downtown. It’s a hub for pediatric specialty care across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, where outpatient clinics connect seamlessly to Wolfson Children’s Hospital next door. The environment blends the pace of an urban medical center with the personal feel of a program where learners are known and supported.
Clinic & Training Environment
Your training is built on collaboration withÌý, a 250-bed referral hospital for the region’s most complex pediatric cases. Wolfson’s Emergency Department is staffed entirely by fellowship-trained pediatric emergency medicine physicians, and the trauma center is Level III. The ORs stay busy, with surgical cases ranging from the routine to the highly specialized. Learn more about training here.Ìý
And the reach goes further. Trainees rotate with partners like the University of Florida, the Mayo Clinic, and the combined U.S. Army/Navy program. These affiliations expand learning into diverse clinical settings and connect you to a broader academic community.Ìý
Living in Jacksonville & Northeast Florida
Jacksonville has the feel of a major city with the laid-back energy of Florida’s coast. It’s a place where the St. Johns winds through downtown, beaches stretch along the coast, and history lives just down the road in St. Augustine. The cost of living is low, the food and arts scenes are growing, and outdoor spaces make it easy to get outside year-round. The River City offers plenty of ways to recharge.
Research Opportunities
Research at 91´óÉñ often ties directly into patient care, with access to faculty mentorship and multi-institution collaborations. Quality improvement, clinical trials, and interdisciplinary projects are all part of the mix. Trainees may present at local and national meetings, reflecting the program’s emphasis on scholarly growth alongside clinical training.Ìý
Resident & Fellow Life
Your training is more than rotations and research. It’s about feeling supported, finding community, and having space to succeed.
Community & CultureÌý|ÌýYou’ll learn in a setting that values teamwork. Across 91´óÉñ, Wolfson, and academic partners. Mentorship is accessible, and colleagues become friends quickly.
Wellness & Support |ÌýResources are easy to access. Counseling, peer networks, and built-in wellness resources are part of the experience. Training is demanding, but you don’t go it alone.
Everyday Perks |ÌýThe perks are real. Easy parking, walkable downtown, and a setting right on the riverfront make the day-to-day smoother.
Distinctive Setting |ÌýJacksonville offers a mix of river views, city living, and coastal escapes. Add in program-sponsored outings and social traditions, and there’s a lot to see and do outside of training.Ìý
Train With Recognized Leaders
If you’re looking for a rewarding program built on academic excellence and family-centered care, 91´óÉñ 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
Our Leadership & Core Training Faculty
Shana Boyle, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Boyle is the Training Director for the 91´óÉñ, Jacksonville pediatric psychology postdoctoral fellowship program and also co-leads the externship program. In addition, she serves as the Section Chief of Pediatric Psychology at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Team Psychologist for the Snyder Family Cleft and Craniofacial Center. Dr. Boyle specializes in psychological evaluation and treatment of children with GI conditions, cleft and craniofacial disorders, and tic disorders.
Nicole Kahhan, PhD
Dr. Kahhan co-leads the externship program. She has expertise in the psychological assessment and treatment of youth with chronic medical conditions. Her research is focused on psychological screening and treatment in youth with diabetes and their families. She works across the Division of Psychology, the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science, and the Patient Experience Team.
LisaBuckloh, PhD
Dr. Buckloh is the director of clinical training for the PATH program. She specializes in the gender wellness of children and adolescents. She also specializes in the psychological evaluation and treatment of youth with differences of sex development, tic disorders, and urological conditions. She works with the 91´óÉñ Jacksonville Continence Clinic, providing behavioral intervention to youth with elimination disorders and toileting issues.
Meet Our Faculty
How to Apply
Application Requirements
Deadline: January 15, 2027
Please email the following materials to GME coordinator Alexandra Machala:
1. 91´óÉñ Psychology Externship Application Form
2.ÌýCover letter
3. Writing sample and letters of recommendation
4.ÌýCurriculum Vitae
5.ÌýTwo Letters of Recommendation (letters can be included in application packet or writers can submit directly to Alexandra Machala, if needed)
6.ÌýOne de-identified clinical writing sample (preferably with a pediatric patient)
Questions About Applying?
Shana Boyle, PhD, ABPP
Division of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics
shana.boyle@nemours.org