Psychologist - Department of Psychiatry amp; Behavioral Health, Health Psychologist- Bariatrics Emphasis (Open Rank/Track Faculty)

The Ohio State University College of Medicine and the Wexner Medical Center seek a clinical health psychologist to join the Department of Psychiatry amp; Behavioral Health. Academic rank and track commensurate with academic record and experience.

Position Overview

At OSUWMC, we are committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care. The mission of the Department of Psychiatry amp; Behavioral health is to improve, advance, and innovate behavioral healthcare and foster resilience in our patients and our communities. Our emphasis across conditions is on delivery and development of empirically supported treatments and approaches. We are interested in candidates that complement our current strengths and support our tripartite mission patient care, education, and clinical research. The psychologist provides health psychology services for The OSU Comprehensive Weight Management, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center. The academic/reporting unit for this position is in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Responsibilities include conducting pre-surgical psychosocial evaluations, providing pre- and post-surgical health psychology interventions, and collaboration with providers on the multidisciplinary weight management team. The psychologist must be competent in evidence-based clinical skills and possess cognitive and interpersonal skills appropriate to the role. The health psychologist will be expected to work with other populations to complement the work in bariatrics. Secondary area of specialization is open, as is general health psychology. Particular areas of strength within the Department include Geropsychology, Womens Behavioral Health, Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Pain Psychology, Transplant Psychology, and Cardiac Psychology. The psychologist is expected to practice within the established Medical Center and standards of practice (policies, procedures, protocols), and adhere to key results areas of the Medical Center.

Department/Division Overview
The successful candidates will join a 60+-member Section of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry amp; Behavioral Health. Our Section offers robust training opportunities, including externship experiences, psychology pre-doctoral internship, and several fellowship programs. We offer a collaborative environment and an engaged Psychology faculty. To learn about our department, go to http://psychiatry.osu.edu/.

Duties and Responsibilities
The psychologist will provide pre-surgical psychosocial evaluations for patients in the OSU Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery program. Clinical areas of focus include mental health, eating behaviors, adherence to medical regimens, cognition, substance abuse, and social support. There are also opportunities to provide psychotherapy for pre-/post-surgery patients and patients pursuing non-surgical weight management who are experiencing challenges with eating behaviors or health-related psychosocial distress. This individual will collaborate with the Comprehensive Weight Management and Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery teams consisting of advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, dieticians, exercise physiologists, and surgeons. In the secondary area of emphasis, the psychologist will provide services consistent with their expertise in our outpatient clinics or another appropriate setting. The individual selected for this position will have ample opportunities to contribute to training, research, and other scholarly pursuits. Other duties include but are not limited to representing OSU at professional meetings and community speaking engagements; academic responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

Doctoral Degree in Psychology. Licensed or license-eligible in the state of Ohio. Applicants must be from an APA- or CPA-accredited clinical or counseling psychology doctoral program (with an accredited clinical internship), preferably with at least one year of relevant post-doctoral experience. The psychologist must be licensed in Ohio by the time of appointment. Candidates with previous training or experience in bariatrics and/or health psychology will be given preference.

How to Apply
To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday. Questions can be directed to Kristen Carpenter, PhD (kristen.carpenter@osumc.edu), Chief Psychologist and Director of Ambulatory Services. Application materials must include cover letter and Curriculum Vita. Three letters of reference can be sent directly to Dr. Carpenter by the writers (kristen.carpenter@osumc.edu). Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Start date is anticipated as soon as possible but can be adjusted to meet the candidates needs. All inquiries and nominations should be directed in confidence to: Natalie Kessinger, Physician and Faculty Recruitment, Natalie.Kessinger@osumc.edu.

Faculty Defined
Clinical faculty (regardless of rank)- Persons with titles of assistant professor-clinical, associate professor-clinical and professor-clinical. These faculty will have earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), doctorate (PhD) orother terminal degree in the relevant field. Clinical faculty members are not eligible for tenure and areappointed for terms of three to five years. They may be reappointed to successive terms. Their principal careerfocus is the delivery of exemplary clinical care, and may include teaching, and/or research.

Tenure-Track faculty (regardless of rank)- Persons with the titles of assistant professor, associate professor, orprofessor who are eligible for tenure or who have obtained tenure. These faculty will have earned a doctorate(PhD), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) or other terminal degree in the relevant field of study. Their primary careerfocus centers on research, service, and teaching.Tenure-track faculty with MD, DO or MD/PhD degrees may also beinvolved in clinical care.

Research Faculty (regardless of rank)- Persons with the titles of research assistant professor, research associateprofessor, or research professor. These faculty will have earned a doctorate(PhD) or other terminal degree inthe relevant field of study.Research faculty members are not eligible for tenure and areappointed for terms ofone to five years. Their principal careerfocus is research.

The Ohio State University College of Medicine
The Ohio State University College of Medicine, with more than 5,000 learners, is the only academic medical center in central Ohio. Recognized as a Tier 1 school for research in the 20252026 U.S. News amp; World Report Best Medical Schools list, it ranks among the top 16 medical schools for research in the nation. It also remains in Tier 2 for primary care, further demonstrating its strength across the academic spectrum. Known for its innovative curriculum, cutting-edge research, and excellence in clinical care through The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the college continues to advance its mission of education, discovery and community impact. With more than 2,700 faculty across 20 clinical departments, eight basic science departments, and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State is shaping the future of academic medicine - locally, nationally and globally.

The Wexner Medical Center
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center consists of The Ohio State University Health System, the College of Medicine, the Health Sciences Library and the Faculty Group Practice. The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is committed to providing world-class care. At the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, we're proud to be celebrating our 33rd consecutive year ranked in the U.S. News amp; World Report Best Hospitals list. This year, the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center has 9 nationally ranked specialties out of 15 and four selected as high performing. U.S. News amp; World Report consistently ranks the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center as the top hospital in Columbus. The Wexner Medical Center is rated as high performing in 17 out of 22 common procedures and conditions, including abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve surgery, arrhythmia, COPD, colon cancer surgery, diabetes, gynecological cancer surgery, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, lung cancer surgery, pacemaker implantation, pneumonia, prostate cancer, spinal fusion, and transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Our new hospital tower, scheduled to open in 2026, is the largest single facilities project ever undertaken at Ohio State. Its designed to enhance a unified Ohio State Wexner Medical Center campus providing world-class patient care, leading-edge research and outstanding clinical training.

820 large, private rooms to elevate patient-centered care, nearly doubling the number of beds we have today
Enhanced connections between the new inpatient hospital and the OSUCCC James
More than half an acre of terrace space and a quarter acre of green space for a small park
148 additional beds for patients of the OSUCCC James
51 neonatal intensive care unit bassinets
State-of-the-art diagnostic, treatment and inpatient service areas; imaging; operating rooms; and critical care and medical/surgical beds

The University
Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of Americas leading academic health centers and recently ranked No. 4 on Forbes list of best U.S. employers for diversity. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established Dual Careers and Faculty Relocation (DCFR) to focus on supporting new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual careers partner consultations, identifying potential employers and/or employment opportunities, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are provided to support the partners of new and prospective faculty as they are considering or transitioning to The Ohio State University.

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is an NSF ADVANCE institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC).

Columbus, Ohio
Located in Ohios capital city, Ohio States Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and diverse metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. In addition to its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to Ohio State ATI in Wooster.