Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center
(Click on picture for program brochure)
The Clinical Psychology residency program at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center offer a number of exciting training opportunities. Our program offers a wide range of elective rotations including advanced biofeedback, advanced neuropsychology, advanced primary care consultation, and inpatient mental health. We offer supervision of practicum students from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences PhD program in clinical psychology, while being viewed as "junior colleagues" with an emphasis on training and mentoring. This allows interns to transition from graduate students into professional psychologists who become our peers. Additionally, all interns will serve as consultants to the Aeromedical Staging Facility. We have a scientific focus with programs focused on empirical and critical thought as well as case conceptualization skills, covering a wide range of empirically-based practices (EBPs) including assessment, treatment, supervision, and community-based psychology. Throughout the program, residents are supported in their autonomy and professional development through elective rotations, leadership opportunities, supervision, and development of officership skills. None of this would be possible without our strong interdisciplinary teamwork, consultation, and access to mental health and medical expertise afforded by our location in the Washington DC National Capital Region. This offers a multitude of military and civilian agencies related to health care and research, enveloped in a joint service environment necessary in a time of multi-service operations. Last, but certainly not least, our unique position geographically affords our residents notable opportunities including tours of the Pentagon, White House, U.S. Capitol, and other cultural, political, academic, and international attractions. The cultural diversity and richness of this area is an ideal backdrop to the time our residents spend developing their expertise while serving our country. ​More detailed information, including contact information for direct questions about the Malcolm Grow Internship, can be found in the latest edition of the Residency Brochure below!
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Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data (Current As of 15 August 2024)
Program Director
Lieutenant Colonel (DR.) Sonia N. Pons
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Lt Col Pons is the is the Psychology Residency Training Director at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center, 316th Wing, Joint Base Andrews, MD. She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist responsible for one of the three Air Force psychology residency training programs. She coordinates efforts to train new officers to the Air Force standards and is responsible for the implementation of the American Psychological Association competencies for developing scientists and scholar practitioners. The program is the capstone clinical training experience for roughly 25% of all U.S. Air Force psychologist accessions.
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Lt Col Pons completed her Psy.D. from Ponce Health Sciences University in 2006, her clinical experiences include in-patient, out-patient, partial hospital settings and private practice. She joined the Air Force as a direct accession in 2010. She has since held a variety of leadership roles throughout her career, most recently serving as the Director of Operational Psychology for the 480th Intelligence
Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Langley, Virginia. She specializes in treatment modalities for trauma recovery and prevention of mental illness through resiliency training, performance optimization and leadership development.
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EDUCATION
1994 Minor in Music Education at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
1997 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Westfield State University, Westfield, Massachusetts
2006 Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Health and Sciences, Ponce, Puerto Rico
2007 Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD, JB-MDL, NJ
2008 Imago Therapy for Couples, JB-MDL, NJ
2008 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Level II. AMEDD Center and School, Fort Sam Houston, TX
2010 Commissioned Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2010 Virtual Prolonged Exposure Therapy, JB-MDL, NJ
2011 Cognitive Processing Therapy, JB-MDL, NJ
2011 Combat Stress Control, San Antonio, TX
2012 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2013 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Center for Deployment Psychology, MD
2013 Squadron Officer School in residence, Maxwell, Air Force Base, Alabama
2017 Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO) Facilitator, Myers-Briggs Co, San Jose, CA
2018 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2019 Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapy, Wellness Institute, Issaquah, WA
2020 Certified Executive Coach, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), Shrewsbury, N.J.
2022 Certified Design Thinking Group Facilitator, Virginia Beach, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2010- Commissioned Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2. November 2010 - June 2011, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program Manager, 87 Medical Group, Joint-Base McGuireDix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. (September 2011-February 2012 Combat Operations Stress Control, 455 Task Force Med East, Afghanistan)
3. March 2012-July 2014, Chief of Mental Health Clinic, 87 MDG, JB-MDL, New Jersey
4. July 2014-August 2017, Mental Health Clinic Flight Commander, 628 MDG, JB Charleston, South Carolina
5. August 2017-June 2020, Director of Operational Psychology, 480 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
Group, Fort Eisenhower, Georgia (May 2018 – June 2018 International Health Specialists, Panama)
6. June 2020- Current Wing Psychologist, 480 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, JB LangleyEustis, Virginia
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MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal National Defense Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Service Stars
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American Psychological Association Society of Air Force Psychologist
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain Aug 18, 2010
Major May 01, 2014
Lt Col Oct 01, 2020
(Current as of August 2024)