Graduate School news
Department of psychology student named ‘Intern of the Year' in Florida
The State of Florida department of corrections named Graduate School's
department of psychology student Brian Chichester, MPH, MA, "Intern
of
the Year" at an awards function earlier this summer. Mr. Chichester was
representing Loma Linda University as a clinical intern there, while finishing
his doctor of psychology (PsyD) degree.
A fifth-year doctoral candidate, Mr. Chichester is the department of psychology's
former PsyD student representative.
As "Intern of the Year," Mr. Chichester was given a wood-
finished award plaque by Sandra Hinko, PsyD, clinical training director, Zephyrhills
Correctional Institution.
Zephyrhills Correctional Institution is a mid-sized, high-security, psychiatric
prison located north of Tampa, Florida. It is the site of Mr. Chichester's
year-long internship training, which is part of the process of obtaining a doctorate
degree in clinical psychology.
Dr. Hinko heads the four-year-old, statewide training program, which is slated
to receive American Psychological Association accreditation this year. Dr. Hinko
announced the "Intern of the Year" award on June 11 at a small awards
ceremony held by the prison warden.
" It was quite an unexpected honor to be named ‘Intern of the Year,'" Mr.
Chichester says. "My Internship has been an outstanding learning experience,
and my supervisors have given me the support and latitude I need to do my best.
I'm thankful and grateful for being recognized by the State of Florida
department of corrections for making some type of small, positive contribution."
According to Dr. Hinko, this was the first time the department of corrections
bestowed the award on a psychology Intern. The "Intern of the Year" is
a statewide honor open to all intern-level trainees working for Florida's
department of corrections. Social workers, correctional officers, and other trainees
are eligible.
At the ceremony, Dr. Hinko said Mr. Chichester was awarded "Intern of the
Year" for showing commendable initiative, professionalism, and creativity
in his work as a professional psychologist-in-training, as well as for his apt
clinical skill and proficiency as a therapist.
During his time at Zephyrhills Correctional, Mr. Chichester designed and created
several theory-based psychotherapy groups; spearheaded a district-wide ethics
presentation; and designed, edited, and wrote an "insider's guide" handbook
for future interns. His first training rotation was a six-month stint at the
Correctional Mental Health Institution, an in-house psychiatric hospital housing
the correctional population's most seriously, chronically mentally ill.
His second and present rotation is in outpatient mental health, where he conducts
group therapy, sees individual patients, and conducts psychological assessments
and evaluations.
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