New

Gastroenterology Clinical Health Psychologist - Assistant Professor

Medical College of Wisconsin
United States, Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Apr 10, 2026
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin is seeking a full-time faculty Clinical Health Psychologist for the Gastroenterology Practice at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The faculty position is housed in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and is integrated in the Gastroenterology program housed in the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The position is expected to entail primarily outpatient work. This faculty member has the opportunity for involvement in the Clinical Health Psychology Fellowship after the first two years of program development. Position Summary This is an academic position, which requires patient care, teaching, and an opportunity for research, as well as administrative activities, that are necessary for the function of the department. The appointment is considered full-time, or 1.0 FTE (full-time effort) with academic time. The successful candidate will be expected to collaboratively develop and manage a GI psychology service integrated within the GI clinic. Teaching opportunities include presenting didactics to interdisciplinary learners and health psychology trainees (internship and fellowship level). Gastroenterology Specialty Practice Motility Disorders and Disordersof Gut-Brain Interaction The GI Health Psychologist will be an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with GI providers to treat patients presenting with motility disorders and Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI). The primary focus of this role is to enhance the quality of life and healthoutcomes for individuals experiencing distressing GI symptoms, including, but not limited to, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic nausea and vomiting, chronic abdominal pain, functional dyspepsia, functional dysphagia, and GI manifestations of anxiety and trauma. Thesuccessful applicant will be a core member of a new academic specialty clinic, working alongside GI physicians, advanced practice providers, dietitians, and a pharmacist to screen and provide comprehensive, integrated care for patients with complex GI and psychiatric comorbidities. The position also offers significant academic engagement through opportunities to contribute to clinical research and the education of fellows, residents, medical students, and other healthcare professionals. Inflammatory Bowel Disease The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) program within the GI clinics at Froedtert/MCW serves adults with Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis (together IBD). The program is structured as a multidisciplinary IBD team, including GI physicians, advanced practice providers (NP/PA), Colorectal surgeons, dedicated IBD triage nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and now a dedicated faculty GI-psychologist who will embed within this IBD team. This psychologist will provide specialist psychological assessment, intervention, consultation and program development in collaboration with GI providers. In the IBD clinic, the successful candidate will assess and treat psychological disorders and psychosocial distress related to IBD to improve health outcomes including quality of life, coping, healthcare utilization, and adherence. The successful faculty-psychologist dedicated to GI/IBD will also have opportunities for involvement in institutional leadership in integrated care, research, education, and innovation in biopsychosocial care. Duties and Responsibilities Assessing coping, adjustment, and psychiatric functioning in patients with GI acute and chronic illness Managing psychiatric disorders common in GI population Assessing and treating barriers to GI treatment adherence Assessing and treating pain and somatic symptoms Assessing and treating functional GI symptoms to improve patient functioning and quality of life Behavioral interventions to improve daily functioning and quality of life Pre- and post-surgical adjustment for patients undergoing colectomy or ostomy Coping with procedural anxiety Assessing and addressing family strain and burnout in patients with chronic illness as well as adults transitioning from pediatric care Support transition services (e.g., adolescent to adult IBD care) from a psychosocial perspective Providing behavioral medicine empirically supported treatments (e.g., CBT, ACT, BA, Gut-directed Hypnotherapy, CBT stress management techniques) Facilitate coordination/referral to other behavioral health services when higher levels of care are required Utilize telehealth/remote modalities as appropriate to increase access for IBD patients Teaching didactics for Health Psychology, Psychiatry, and medical students Ability to potentially train practicum students and psychology fellows Initiating, conducting, and participating in scholarship and research Performing other duties as identified by the Service Chief, Division Leader, and Chair Department/Division Highlights: The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine believes that behavioral health values the whole-person approach. We are committed to developing and sustain a community where everyone is seen, heard and valued; a department community that reflects the wider community, and a department culture that incorporates social justice into all aspects of its mission(s). We are dedicated to creating an ongoing process of systems change aimed at building and improving a culture of inclusion, equity and racial justice and are constantly examining our biases and working to target racial and other disparities so that we can better serve the behavioral health of the community. Qualifications Required Qualifications Eligible for psychology licensure in the State of Wisconsin Doctorate in Clinical or Counseling Psychology from an APA-Accredited program Preferred Qualifications Fellowship experience in gastroenterology psychology Inpatient and outpatient health psychology experience Experience in program development Experience working on a multidisciplinary team Completed an APA-Accredited internship Completed a Clinical Health Psychology Fellowship Procedure for Candidacy To submit your application, please click on "Apply Now." You will create a candidate profile, and you will be prompted to upload your CV and your cover letter, describing your interest and qualifications. References will be required at an appropriate time in the process. All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant. Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For inquiries or to learn more, please contact: Jen Van Abel Thibodeau, Physician & APP Recruiter jvathibodeau@mcw.edu #LI-JV1 Medical College of Wisconsin The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is the state's only private medical school and health sciences graduate school. MCW consists of a School of Medicine with campuses in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin, a School of Graduate Studies, and a School of Pharmacy. MCW is a major national research center ranking in the top third of U.S. medical schools in NIH funding and is the second largest research institution in Wisconsin. Academic medicine is at the core of everything we do at MCW, bringing together scientists, clinicians, students and community members to solve the most complex challenges in health and society. MCW is a diverse group of thought leaders collaborating to pioneer pathways to a healthier world. Every study we conduct and every patient we see leads to new learning and a continuous cycle of life-changing knowledge and innovation. Approximately 1,780 MCW physicians and approximately 905 advanced practice providers care for more than 484,000 patients of all ages annually at Froedtert Hospital, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Children's Wisconsin, and many other hospitals and clinics throughout eastern Wisconsin, representing more than 5.1 million patient visits annually. The beautiful, safe and modern campus of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC) houses Froedtert Hospital, Children's Wisconsin, Curative Care Network, Versiti Blood Research Institute and the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division. These member entities share a common mission of excellence in patient care, medical education, biomedical research and community service. Commitment to MCW Values All of our endeavors at MCW, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: acting inCaringways - engaging inCollaborativeefforts - approaching our world withCuriosity- advancingInclusivepractices - demonstratingIntegrityin all we do - treating everyone withRespect. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in backgrounds, experiences and perspectives through merit-based processes, and in alignment with all applicable laws. We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. Our values define who we are, what we stand for and how we conduct ourselves at MCW. If you believe in embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you. Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, is located on Lake Michigan's western shore. A metropolitan area with more than 1.6 million people, Milwaukee is an affordable, comfortable place to live, work, and play, big enough to be exciting and uncongested enough to get around easily. Milwaukee's many neighborhoods have incredible charm, accommodating a variety of lifestyles, from high-rise apartments to small farms. Nestled along a magnificent bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, Milwaukee's downtown is home to botanical gardens, lakefront museums, a theater district, the world champion Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Brewers, bustling nightlife, and award-winning restaurants. The lake and its harbors are skirted by scenic parklands and provide first-class opportunities for recreation, including hiking, cycling, boating, and more. A recent study ranked Milwaukee as the 15th most walkable of the 50 largest US cities. Milwaukee has all the advantages of a large, vibrant city but without the stress or cost. MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.