For Ryanne Schaad (PsyD ’26), matching to the Center for Brief Therapy at PCOM felt like coming full circle. The Center offers a unique blend of outpatient services and integrated care rotations through Main Line Health—an ideal setting for Ryanne, who is passionate about health psychology and providing holistic, patient-centered care.
“I was happy, proud, and relieved when I found out I had matched,” she shared. “This internship offers everything I was hoping for—continued growth in generalist competencies, plus hands-on experience working with the populations I’m most passionate about, especially in the areas of reproductive health and integrated care.”
Ryanne credits much of her preparedness to the supportive faculty and mentorship she received through PCOM’s Clinical Psychology program. “They’ve helped me grow not only in my clinical and research skills but also in my ability to collaborate across disciplines. That’s been invaluable in preparing for integrated care work,” she noted. The program’s focus on interprofessional education gave her early exposure to team-based healthcare environments, which she says built her confidence and broadened her perspective on care delivery.
Her advice for students just beginning their journey is to take it one step at a time.
“It’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything ahead of you, but if you stay present, take each challenge as it comes, and allow yourself to enjoy the process, you’ll surprise yourself with how much you’re capable of.”
As she prepares for this next step in her training, Ryanne is excited to continue working within the PCOM community—this time, as an intern, shaping her future as a psychologist through compassionate, collaborative care.
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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