Internships and fellowships
VA Palo Alto health care provides training programs for students at the college, university, and postgraduate levels. Explore our training programs to find out about how we can help you start your career as a health care professional.
Take the first step toward a career at VA
Your career is just beginning. Now is the time to make the career decisions that will define your life. Take your first step on your new journey with VA.
Our Pathways program provides internships, training, fellowships, and more to recent graduates.
We can help Health Professions Trainees find positions that fit their skills and lifestyle, with personalized support that will advance their careers.
The Technical Career Field (TCF) program offers 2 years of training in critically identified positions within specific career fields in accordance with VHA’s Succession Workforce Plan. Program participants receive paid salary/benefits, training/travel stipend, access to a preceptor/mentor, and hands-on training.
Internships, residencies, and fellowship programs
Clinical Affiliates – Trainees
The Anesthesia (Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care) Service at VA Palo Alto offers outstanding training program opportunities for anesthesia residency, fellowship (Critical Care, Pain Management and Regional Anesthesia) and Allied Health Professions programs (Anesthesia Assistant and Respiratory Therapy). Our national and internationally recognized cohort of anesthesiologists, pain specialists, critical care intensivists, and respiratory care professionals are dedicated to providing world-class teaching in a variety of clinical settings, to include simulation-based learning.
The goal for the Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care Service is to ensure that as our trainees graduate, they are ready to practice independently and are prepared to manage any challenging and complex clinical situations they may encounter in their professional lives. We are also dedicated to promoting mentorship, open up scholarship opportunities, and foster an atmosphere of inclusion and diversity.
Dental General Practice Residency Program
The objective of the 52-week General Practice Residency (GPR) program is to provide advanced training in clinical and hospital dentistry beyond the level of pre-doctoral education.
This hospital-based program enhances resident communication with adjunct health care professionals in the management of patients, advance dental and medical knowledge, and augment skills in clinical dentistry. It provides clinical experience and training in preventive dentistry, implantology, operative, fixed, and removable prosthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, and oral pathology.
Learn more about our Dental General Practice Residency Program
Integrated Clinical Practice Chiropractic Residency Program
The Integrated Clinical Practice Chiropractic Residency Program at VA Palo Alto health care focuses on the provision of chiropractic care in integrated health care systems, collaborating with primary care, specialty care, and other medical and associated health providers and trainees.
The residencies provide advanced clinical training in multimorbid case management, allowing recent graduates to increase their scope and depth of clinical knowledge, experience, and acumen. Residents are mentored by senior VA chiropractors, who are national leaders in integrated chiropractic practice. These clinicians share their expertise in patient care, academics, and research to provide a robust educational experience.
Learn more about our Integrated Clinical Practice Chiropractic Residency Program
National Center for PTSD - VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment at VAPAHCS
The NCPTSD D&T Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is a 2-year program sponsored by the Office of Academic Affiliations, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and provides an academic affiliation with the Stanford University School of Medicine.
The fellowship is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
Learn more about our NCPTSD D&T Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Training Program
The Nuclear Medicine Technologist Training Program (NMTTP) is a full-time, 15-month, hospital-based educational endeavor. The program features a mixture of traditional didactics and active clinical participation.
Learn more about our Nuclear Medicine Technologist Training Program
Nursing internships and VA-STEP program
VA Palo Alto health care has a variety of nursing internships and training opportunities at different levels for aspiring new nurses who seek fulfilling careers improving the lives of those who've served our nation.
Pharmacy Residency Program
The PGY1 pharmacy residency at VA Palo Alto is a 1-year postgraduate program that provides training and experience in pharmacy practice and education. Patient care responsibilities are foremost; residents also receive instruction and experience in management, managed care, and quality improvement process. Residents are provided with ample opportunities to teach in clinical clerkship and didactic settings. A residency project is required and a focus on economics, outcomes analysis, or health care policy is encouraged.
The residency offers an optional teaching certificate program through the University of the Pacific.
Physical Therapy Residency in Geriatrics Program
VA Palo Alto proudly offers a post-professional physical therapy residency in geriatrics. The program has accreditation from the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship.
Learn more about our Physical Therapy Residency in Geriatrics Program
Physical Therapy Residency in Orthopedics Program
VA Palo Alto received approval from the VA Office of Academic Affiliations to offer a post-professional physical therapy residency in orthopedics. The VA Palo Alto orthopedic residency has received full accreditation from the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education. This innovative program emphasizes the development of its participants as providers in primary care settings.
Two physical therapy residents in orthopedics are chosen for each academic year. Residents rotate through diverse clinical environments in our health care system. Clinics are located in Marina, CA, and our main campus in Palo Alto, CA. The residency is 12 months in length with program start date on or about August 1 each year.
Application for the program is done through the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS). The application period opens in November and closes in early February.
Learn more about our Physical Therapy Residency in Orthopedics Program
Psychology
VA Palo Alto offers psychology residents and postdoctoral fellows a wide range of psychology training across our complex health care system. Our strengths in training include a large staff of distinguished psychologists who represent a broad range of areas of expertise and are dedicated to training and supervision of our future psychology colleagues.
Supervision at VA Palo Alto emphasizes a developmental approach, evidence-based practice, and overall professional development within a supportive, training-focused environment. VA Palo Alto supervisors represent a range of theoretical orientations, with a preponderance of CBT, “third-wave,” and integrative approaches. Supervisors are highly invested in trainees’ professional development and provide a supportive yet challenging training environment. We are committed to providing training that values connection and relationships between supervisors and residents/fellows, among team members, and within each training class.
The Psychology internship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.
The VA Palo Alto psychology internship and postdoctoral fellowship training program descriptions, application and selection information, and training staff information are updated yearly in the fall. While some information will change from year to year, please note that the majority of the training program information on this website remains the same and can inform you about the training opportunities available at VA Palo Alto even before the final updates are posted for the next internship and postdoctoral training year.
VA Palo Alto Psychology Training Program is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC), which organizes the manner by which internship and fellowship offers and acceptances are conducted. We participate in the APPIC internship match and the postdoctoral selection guidelines, and follow all APPIC policies. We take the guidelines seriously, and are committed to implementing them fully.
Recreation Therapy Internship Program
The Recreation therapy service at VA Palo Alto offers exciting internship opportunities year-round for students nationwide pursuing a degree in recreation therapy.
Interns will be placed in a dynamic internship experience with unique opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Recreation Therapy Practicum Student Program
The Recreation therapy service at VA Palo Alto trains and utilizes practicum students to further the student's learning and assist with delivery of services throughout the health care system.
The practicum student program is an opportunity for students to observe recreation/art or music therapists in their clinical practice treating Veterans and gain supervised experience observing and conducting treatment interventions.
Learn more about our Recreation Therapy Practicum Student Program