How to Apply

THE VA QUALITY SCHOLARS FELLOWSHIP OFFERS SCHOLARS OPPORTUNITIES TO BE LEADERS WHO WILL ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING:

  • Improve health care delivery, health systems organization and management, and health professions education through interventions that exert positive influences in each domain.
  • Apply the knowledge and methods of health care quality improvement to the care of individual patients and populations.
  • Teach health professionals about healthcare improvement.
  • Perform research and develop new knowledge for the ongoing improvement of the quality and value of healthcare services.
  • Enrich VHA’s and the Nation’s clinical workforce with experts in healthcare quality research and the application of healthcare quality improvement skills.

To apply for a VA Quality Scholars fellowship at one of our sites, please contact one of the Senior Scholars at that site. Senior Scholars and their current contact information can be found on their site’s page.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Not be simultaneously enrolled in an accredited clinical training program.
  • Demonstrate interest in pursuing a VA career with healthcare quality as a significant focus.
  • Meet all profession- specific criteria, provided below.
Physician Fellows

Prior to beginning the fellowship, physician fellows must meet the following criteria: 

(i) Completed a residency program accreditedby the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the Bureau of Professional Education (BPE) of the American Osteopathic Association.  

(ii) Fellows may not be enrolled simultaneously in any accredited physician residency/fellowship program. Mid-residency surgeon trainees may be allowed to interrupt their accredited training to participate in this Advanced Fellowship program. 

(iii) Have an active, unrestricted license to practice in any state in the U.S.* 

(iv) Be either board certified or eligible with demonstration of active pursuit of board certification.* 

(v) Be appropriately credentialed and privileged for clinical practice at the local VA facility.* 

(vi) Be a U.S. citizen or possess a current visa suitable for participation in this paid educational activity. U.S. citizens shall be given priority in selection. 

(vii) If a graduate of a foreign medical school, must have evidence of Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification.  

(viii) Demonstrate interest in pursuing a career with healthcare quality as a significant focus. 

* Unless approved mid-residency surgeon trainee per paragraph ii 

Nurse Fellows

Prior to beginning the fellowship, nurse and associated health fellows must meet the following criteria: 

(i) Unless otherwise listed below, fellows must possess an advanced degree from an accredited program that would make them eligible for VA hire. 

(ii) Be a U.S. Citizen. 

(iii) Not be simultaneously enrolled in an accredited clinical training program. 

(iv) Demonstrate interest in pursuing a VA career with healthcare quality as a significant focus. 

(v) Meet all profession-focused criteria as listed below. 

a. Predoctoral nurse fellows  

Prior to beginning the fellowship, must meet the following criteria to be eligible to enter the program: 

1. Possession of an unrestricted valid registered nurse license in any US state or territory.  

2. Demonstration of current active enrollment in good standing or written acceptance in a nursing doctoral program (either Ph.D. or D.N.P) at an academic institution associated with a nursing school accredited by either National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).  

Predoctoral nurse fellows must meet the following criteria to remain in the program:  

1. Maintenance of an unrestricted valid nursing license in any US state or territory,  

2. Maintenance of active enrollment in good standing in a nursing doctoral program (either Ph.D. or D.N.P) at an academic institution associated with a nursing school accredited by either National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), unless terminated due to successful graduation.  

3. Maintenance of at least a 3.0 grade point average or equivalent.   

b. Postdoctoral nurse fellows 

Prior to beginning the fellowship, must meet the following criteria to enter the program: 

1. Possession of an unrestricted valid registered nurse license in any US state or territory. Such license must be maintained to maintain eligibility for participation. 

2. Have graduated (or completed all requirements for award of degree) from a doctoral program at a recognized academic institution.  This can be a doctoral program in a clinical discipline such as nursing (either Ph.D. or D.N.P.), or in a non-clinical field relevant to Healthcare Quality (e.g. education, industrial psychology, anthropology, medical informatics, etc.).   

Clinical and Counseling Psychology Fellows

Prior to beginning the fellowship, clinical and counseling psychology fellows must meet the following criteria: 

(i) Possess an advanced degree from an accredited doctoral program that would make them eligible for VA hire. Applicants can demonstrate that all requirements for such a degree have been completed and award of the diploma is pending but will be completed prior to starting fellowship. Doctoral programs must be American Psychological Association (APA), Canadian Psychological Association (in relevant clinical degree areas), or Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) accredited to ensure eligibility for VA hire.   

(ii) Have completed all requirements to become a staff psychologist at a VA facility. Applicants must have completed an APA or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited internship (or a new OAA funded, VA-based internship that is not yet accredited). If the candidate has not yet completed the internship, there must be convincing evidence from the Director of Clinical Training at the university and from the Director of Training at the internship that completion is on track and expected before the proposed start date of the fellowship. 

(iii) Have an active, unrestricted license to practice in the U.S., if such licenses are required for VA employment in the candidate’s profession.  Any application for a clinical or counseling psychologist who has not completed all training and licensure requirements to qualify for appointment as an independent practitioner must be accompanied by a support letter from either the lead psychologist at the facility or from the Psychology Director of Training. Such a support letter must address the types and amount of clinical experience that the fellow will engage in and the types and amount of clinical supervision that will be provided. At least 4 hours of supervision must be provided weekly, of which 2 hours must be individual, face-to-face supervision by a licensed and privileged psychologist. 

(iv) Be a U.S. Citizen. 

(v) Not be simultaneously enrolled in an accredited clinical training program. 

(vi) Demonstrate interest in pursuing a VA career with healthcare quality as a significant focus. 

All Other Clinician Associated Health Fellows

Prior to beginning the fellowship, an associated health fellow (other than nurses and clinical or counseling psychology fellows as described above) must:  

(i) Possess an advanced degree from an accredited doctoral program that would make them eligible for VA hire. 

(ii) Have completed all requirements to become a fully credentialed independent practitioner (or the equivalent for that profession) at a VA facility. 

(iii) Have an active, unrestricted license to practice in the U.S., if such licenses are required for VA employment in the candidate’s profession.   

(iv) Be a U.S. Citizen. 

(v) Not be simultaneously enrolled in an accredited clinical training program. 

(vi) Demonstrate interest in pursuing a VA career with healthcare quality as a significant focus.