The University of North Carolina’s clinical psychology doctoral program, ranked second nationally in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings, recently saw several students receive internship placements through the Match Day process. Nick Myers, a doctoral student who specialized in obsessive-compulsive disorder research, matched with the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System/University of Maryland School of Medicine Psychology Internship Consortium to complete a VA comprehensive track.
The rigorous five- to six-year program at Carolina equips students with skills to excel in mental health professions, training them as both researchers and clinicians. Hundreds of students apply yearly, and about 10 are accepted. According to program director Jonathan Abramowitz, an expert on OCD, the program aims to train clinical scientists, not just excellent practitioners. The most successful graduates go on to become leaders in the mental health field, benefiting the state and country at large.
Student Research and Experience
Myers earned a master’s degree before joining the program, which gave him more time to design and run experiments. Much of his work at Carolina focused on anxiety and OCD under the guidance of Abramowitz. One of his favorite research projects focused on OCD misinformation on social media, with Myers showing TikTok videos to undergraduate students and asking them to separate fact from fiction. Despite a wide range of interests in his cohort—from anxiety work to substance abuse treatment—Myers noted that the group was tight-knit and supportive.
For Myers specifically, matching with the VA internship represented a return home to Maryland and a continuation of work with military veterans. During his time at Carolina, he worked at the Durham VA and loved the experience. As a relatively new father with another child expected in June, Myers felt grateful about his placement. He reflected that while getting into the program was incredibly intense and competitive, he felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to train at such a renowned institution.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.unc.edu/posts/2026/02/24/clinical-psychology-students-make-a-match/