VISN 20 MIRECC | Learning Opportunities
Learning Opportunities at the VISN 20 MIRECC
The Veterans Affairs Northwest Network (VISN 20) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) promotes the implementation of effective treatments for military posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its complex comorbidities, including mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), substance use disorders, chronic pain, and dementia by providing educational opportunities to psychologists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, nurses, mental health professionals and others who provide care to Veterans and active-duty US military service members.
VISN 20 MIRECC Activities:
➤ Disseminates best practice treatments, current research findings and the latest pertinent knowledge related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mild traumatic brain injury, and their complex comorbidities through both web-based and face-to-face educational offerings.
➤ Collects and implements feedback from participant evaluations to ensure quality programing.
➤ Serves as a national resource for expertise in mental health education.
MIRECC Presents Webinar Series
Northwest MIRECC applies modern genetic, neurologic and clinical trial methodology to the discovery and development of new and more effective treatments for major and often treatment resistant mental disorders afflicting Veterans and the active-duty combat personnel who will become Veterans. Contributing to this mission is MIRECC Presents, a twice monthly webinar series that is designed to translate current scientific and clinical research into thoughtful and accessible information that can be used to enhance care of Veterans.
In this way, MIRECC Presents empowers mental health providers to integrate cutting-edge treatments and timely research into their daily clinical practices, thereby raising the quality of care for Veterans who experience mental health challenges. The target audience includes, but is not limited to, Physicians, Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers and other professionals supporting Veteran care.
Learning Objectives of the MIRECC Presents Series:
➤ ENHANCE your knowledge and skills in assessment, differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans' mental health
➤ IMPROVE the connection between contemporary research and clinical care of Veterans
➤ FACILITATE biopschycosocial multidisciplinary team management of Veterans' mental health conditions
Because it is provided online, the MIRECC Presents continuing education series is accessible throughout the United States. The knowledge produced by NW MIRECC research efforts is disseminated through EES web-based learning platforms and face-to-face educational offerings, and directly implemented in clinics throughout the Northwest and throughout the country.
Advanced Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRECC Fellowship)
The Veterans Affairs Northwest Network (VISN 20) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) Advanced Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mental Illness Research and Treatment is a two-year postdoctoral training program. The primary goal of the NW MIRECC Advanced Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship program is to train and equip physicians, psychologists, and other allied health professionals with the knowledge and expertise to lead clinical research efforts that make lasting contributions in the lives of Veterans experiencing mental health challenges. The Advanced Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship has a variety of novel training opportunities:
1. Participation in weekly research-oriented videoconferences with fellows from the national VA Advanced Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mental Illness Research and Treatment.
2. Collaboration with clinical researchers who share a common interest in polytrauma, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury.
3. Presentation of research to various disciplines of health practitioners in academic and community settings and the MIRECC Presents videoconference series.
4. Participation in the design and implementation of CME conferences and distance learning programs for VA and non-VA professional staff, and programs for Veterans and their families, throughout the Pacific Northwest.
5. Optional participation in Oregon Health & Science University’s Human Investigations Program (HIP), which offers an integrated clinical and translational research education curriculum and results in a Certificate in Human Investigations.
6. Training opportunities with the VA Portland’s PTSD Clinical Team (PCT), a multidisciplinary outpatient team that provides evidence-based treatments to Veterans experiencing PTSD related to their military service. Postdoctoral fellows have the opportunity to provide individual and group psychotherapy, supervise doctoral-level trainees, and actively participate in weekly team meetings and PTSD consultation as junior colleagues.
In collaboration with their mentors, the Advanced Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows will develop and implement research projects, publish and present findings, write grants, and utilize the latest technology for educational activities and clinical service delivery. Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows devote 75% of their time to research and education activities and 25% to clinical training. Over the course of the two-year program, fellows are trained in clinical and health systems research, advanced clinical care service delivery, and program administration in an interdisciplinary setting. The VA Portland Health Care System NW MIRECC Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship site is linked electronically to other national MIRECC sites for didactic, academic, and research efforts.
VISN 20 MIRECC Partnerships
The VISN 20 NW MIRECC applies modern genetic, neurologic, and clinical trial methodology to the discovery and development of new and more effective treatments for major and often treatment resistant mental disorders afflicting Veterans and the active-duty combat personnel who will become Veterans. As part of the NW MIRECC mission to enhance access to mental health expertise, the NW MIRECC collaborates and consults with other MIRECCs and Centers of Excellence, as well as with other VA, DoD, Federal, State departments of Veterans Affairs, community agencies, and experts. For Washington, the academic affiliate and primary research center for VA Puget Sound Health Care System is University of Washington. For Oregon, the academic affiliate and research center for VA Portland Heath Care System is Oregon Health and Science University.
About NW MIRECC Research
Current/Volunteer for Research
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Research Publications
Research Tools and Resources
Education at NW MIRECC
MIRECC Presents: Overview
MIRECC Presents: Schedule
MIRECC Presents Archive
Accreditation and CEU
Tech Support
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Fellowship Presentation Archives
Explore VA.gov
VA has a variety of mental health resources, information, treatment options, and more — all accessible to Veterans, Veterans’ supporters, and the general public. Explore the pages below to learn more about a specific mental health topic. Each of these pages includes resources, information on treatment options, and more.
Stories of Support
Telehealth Therapy
For Daniel, Don, and Jennifer, convenient video counseling made it easier to put their health first. Adjusting from military service to civilian life can be both exciting and challenging. Make the Connection
1-800-273-8255
Confidential, toll-free hotline, online chat, and text-messaging service for Veterans, Service members, and their loved ones. Connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Mental Health Updates
Explore the latest mental health news, resources, and real-life stories of mental health recovery.
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The Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (NW MIRECC) of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 20 seeks to improve the mental health and well-being of Veterans through research and dissemination of information to providers both within the VA and the general public. The NW MIRECC mission is to contribute to better treatment of the unseen wounds of war (PTSD, mild traumatic brain injury, and their comorbidities). The VA VISN 20 Northwest Health Network consists of four states across three time zones; Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. The primary research center located in VA Puget Sound Health Care System is affiliated with the University of Washington. VA Puget Sound serves Veterans from a five-state area in the Pacific Northwest with two main divisions: American Lake and Seattle. In addition to the main medical centers, VA Puget Sound provides health care services in Washington state at six community-based outpatient clinics in Bellevue, Bremerton, Federal Way, Mount Vernon, Port Angeles, and Seattle. The research center located at VA Portland Heath Care System is affiliated with the Oregon Health and Science University. VA Portland serves Veterans from Oregon and Southwest Washington with two main divisions: Portland and Vancouver. In addition to the main medical centers, VA Portland Health Care System provides health care services in Oregon state at ten outpatient clinics in Bend, Fairview, Hillsboro, North Coast (Camp Rilea), Newport, Lincoln City, Portland, Salem, The Dalles, and West Linn. Vet Centers in the VISN 20 Health Care Network are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active-duty Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families.
