Current Landscape of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers: Roles and Structural Models

With mental health needs consistently increasing in our communities and medical centers, we want to ensure that institutions are aware of the benefit and value that psychologists bring to their system and provide several pathways for consideration and structure to understand how to support the salaries and careers of psychologists working within AHCs. Leadership and administration within Academic Health Centers (AHC) often do not understand the value and measurement of productivity for psychologists being added to the medical teams. The current article aims to present varied structural models and demonstrate how productivity is reviewed for psychologists across different institutions and departments. The authors will outline the many roles that psychologists serve within academic health centers as well as the value those roles bring to the system. The overarching goal is to provide an educational article that serves as a tool for recruitment of psychologists that leaders and faculty can refer to when approaching administration in AHCs to understand the systems and roles of psychologists within medical settings. This information can be utilized to help create new positions for psychologists, aid in recruitment efforts and provide transparency for faculty currently working within AHCs who may not be aware of the varied opportunities.