Health Psychologist - Liver Transplant Program
The Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Center (TRMC) provides specialist care for children under 18 years of age who have undergone solid organ transplantation and who have intestinal failure (Group of Intestinal Failure and Treatment). We are the largest pediatric liver transplant program in Canada performing 25-40 liver transplants per year in children who come from across the country for this life-saving intervention. Our program has a successful and enduring partnership with the Live Liver Donor program at the University Health Network, which is reflected by over 50% of our transplants now done with an organ from a living donor. With long-term survival after liver transplantation in children now the rule rather than the exception, a broader holistic lens to the multi-dimensional health for the transplant survivor is now the focus of all teams providing care for these patients.The median age of the child requiring liver transplantation is under 2 years, and post-transplant care continues until 18 years.
The psychologist within the SickKids Pediatric Liver Transplant program will assess, diagnose, monitor, and treat behavioral and socio-emotional problems in all pediatric transplant survivors within the Liver Transplant program (inpatients and outpatients). The role includes a focus on psychoeducational interventions and psychotherapeutic treatments to support children and families, adjustment to new diagnoses and post-transplant protocols, surveillance of at-risk comorbidities in a child now on life-long immunosuppression, promoting healthy behavior and compliance, enhancing coping, reducing distress, as well as caregiver mental health and coping. This could take place within a traditional individual therapeutic setting, through caregiver support or a therapeutic group setting. The psychologist will work in collaboration with the medical and psychosocial team members to meet the psychosocial needs of the child and family.
More details & application information can be found at: Psychologist PhD, Liver Transplant Program (0.6 FTE, 2-year contract)
