Alumni Spotlight: Ivy Hall, MS & PhD

Class of 2013 - Staff Psychologist at VA N. CA Healthcare System

Ivy Hall entered the Palo Alto University M.S. Psychology Ph.D. Prep program in 2007. From there, she transitioned into the PAU Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program, earning her Ph.D. in 2013. She is now a licensed psychologist employed as a staff psychologist at the California Department of State Hospitals in Vacaville, CA.Having previously earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Psychology from University of California San Diego, she was seeking a program that would enable her to continue working while becoming acclimated to the demands of graduate studies.

“The M.S. Psychology Ph.D. Prep program at Palo Alto University (PAU) gave me flexibility to continue working while gaining valuable experience that contributed to my growth as a clinician. In PAU's M.S. Psychology Ph.D. Prep program, all course work is delivered online, and the residency requirement at the Palo Alto campus is only one week. Students only relocate to the residential Ph.D. program after they have completed their master's-level coursework.

Through Master's and Doctoral studies at Palo Alto University, an APA internship at the Southern Arizona Psychology Internship Consortium, and postdoctoral training at the California Department of State Hospitals, Dr. Hall has become a skilled professional with extensive clinical experience across multiple modalities with diverse populations. She has treated individuals with substance abuse and dual diagnoses, anxiety, depression and mood disorders, chronic pain and illness, PTSD, and end-of-life issues. Populations she has served include veterans, dually-diagnosed, Axis II, young adults and families, and incarcerated persons in inpatient, residential, and outpatient settings.

"The M.S. Psychology program provides an opportunity for students, like me, who wonder if a Ph.D. or Psy.D. program would be a good fit for them. I am glad I did the program and would recommend it to others. I initially entered the M.S. Psychology program with the intention of committing to a clinical psychology Ph.D. program. PAU's program was a perfect match while I was a working professional in pharmaceutical research for trauma disorders. Due to my education at PAU, I was able to achieve professional success through promotions to a clinical data associate then regulatory data specialist. I also came to realization that I was not interested in the therapeutic aspects of clinical psychology, and decided to pursue further development in research and statistics. Within weeks of graduation, I accepted a position in user research at one of the most successful surgical, medical device companies in America. The education and skills that I learned at PAU set me up for success and were instrumental to my success in the industry."