The Section of Psychology: Psychology in an Academic Health Sciences Center's Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry

This paper describes the organization of the Section of Psychology, Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown. The organization of psychology is described in terms of the 10 organizational variables for psychology outlined by the Working Group on Governance and Administration from the 1995 Association of Medical School Psychologists, Georgetown Conference. Several aspects of the Department are highlighted that may account for the success of psychology section model including collegial relationship between the disciplines of psychology and psychiatry. The paper describes in detail how the section works, key successes, major obstacles encountered, and future challenges.