1. Development of advanced skill in the neuropsychological evaluation of patients, and consultation to patients and professionals sufficient to practice on an independent basis.
2. Development of advanced understanding of brain-behavior relationships via clinical and didactic experiences, as well as completion of a medical neuroanatomy course.
3. Scholarly activity (e.g., submission of an empirical study for publication, conference presentation, submission of a grant proposal or outcome assessment).
4. Pedagogical activities (e.g. teaching contributions to Neuropsychology Case Conference, Fundamentals of Applied Neuropsychology, Functional Neuroanatomy didactic seminars, and Neuropsychology Professional Development Series).
5. Development of professional supervision competency by providing tiered supervision of psychology interns or externs as well as supervision of technicians

This is a two-year residency consistent with Houston Conference Guidelines. Three days (60%) of the postdoctoral fellow’s week will be spent engaged in providing clinical service, including assessment and treatment activities. The remaining two days (40%) will be spent in research and educational activities.

The Neuropsychology Service provides outpatient and inpatient neuropsychological assessment for purposes of differential diagnosis, treatment/rehabilitation planning, and pre-neurosurgical intervention (e.g., cerebral bypass; resection surgery). Referral sources are diverse, including the medical center’s Departments of Psychiatry (Neuropsychiatry), Neurosurgery, Neurology & Rehabilitation, Medicine (Geriatrics), and other General and Specialty Medical Clinics, as well as from outside physicians and hospitals, and schools. These referrals span the entire list of neurological, medical, and neuropsychiatric conditions, including dementia, cerebrovascular disorders, tumor, HIV, epilepsy, degenerative disorders, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental disorders and traumatic brain injury. Opportunities for exposure to forensic/medicolegal work are also incorporated into the fellowship. Fellows receive supervised experience to facilitate advanced competency in test selection, administration/scoring, and interpretation, implementing, and writing up integrative neuropsychological evaluations using a broad range of tests and procedures, as well as oral communication of test results to patients, family members, and referral sources.

•  Major focus in adult outpatient neuropsychology
• Primary support for the Neuropsychology Inpatient Consultation Service
• Medical Neuroanatomy course with concurrent half-time major rotation over 3 months
• Twenty-four hours of assessment per week are required. These will typically consist of 3 outpatient evaluations and 1 inpatient evaluation per week although this requirement will be reduced substantially during the 3 months of the Neuroanatomy course
• 2 minor elective rotations over the course of the year (see below) can be arranged
• Submission of a small study (e.g., archival or part of faculty members’ research program) or literature review for presentation and publication in the first year. Outline of original research project, grant proposal or outcome assessment written in first year and carried out in second year. Presentation at national or international meeting is encouraged

The composition of this year will depend on the resident’s clinical interests and career trajectory. This additional year could be utilized for further clinical sub-specialization.

• Continued major focus in adult outpatient neuropsychology
• Continued support of inpatient consultation service
• Two minor elective rotations over the course of the year
• Conduct and complete original research including paper submitted for publication
• Devote more time to the neuropsychological consultation service

Major Rotations:

• Adult Neuropsychology Clinic
• Inpatient Consultation Service

Elective Minor Rotations:

• Neurology Bedside Rounds
• Neuropsychiatry Consultation Rounds
• Memory and Aging Clinic
• Epilepsy Surgery Clinic
• Vascular Neurology Clinic
• Other specialty neurology clinics (e.g., neuro-oncology, movement disorder, muscular disorder)

Research is an important component of this residency, with fellows expected to devote a minimum of 20% of their time in order to take advantage of the rich research opportunities provided within the educational and research programs of the Department of Psychiatry. This can be accomplished through a variety of means including archival studies and involvement within current research protocols. Some of the research opportunities are detailed below:

Neuropsychological Effects of Electrical Injury

This research program is devoted to clarifying the biologic mechanisms that underlie neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric changes seen following electrical injury. Clinical, psychiatric and neuropsychological data have been collected on over 250 electrical injured. Residents are welcome to engage in archival studies of this database or become involved in the current clinical-research protocol.

Performance Validity Assessment

This research program is devoted to understanding the psychometric and diagnostic accuracy of various performance validity tests (PVTs) for detecting invalid neuropsychological performance, particularly in the context of complex medical and neuropsychiatric patient populations.

Neuropsychological Effects of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

This research program is devoted to investigating the cognitive and emotional/behavioral sequelae of ADHD, particularly among undergraduate and graduate students, but also among community referrals. A standardized battery of neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic test data are available with this clinical population.

Adult Neuropsychology Clinic Database

The Neuropsychology Service maintains an active and rather diverse research database from patients receiving assessment services for a variety of neurological (e.g., dementia, epilepsy), medical, neurosurgical (e.g., pre/postsurgical cerebral bypass for Moyamoya disease, presurgical spinal cord stimulator), and psychiatric conditions that would be available to the fellow to formulate a research project based on their specific interests.

Pediatric Neuropsychology Clinic Database

Opportunities for research collaboration with the Pediatric Neuropsychology Service also are available based on fellow interest(s). Neuropsychological and clinical data are available for children, adolescents, and young adults with a variety of medical, neurological, and neuropsychiatric conditions, particularly sickle cell disease and pediatric oncology.

Seminars

• Neuropsychology Case Conference
• Fundamentals of Clinical Neuropsychology
• Functional Neuroanatomy
• Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds (optional)
• Department of Neurology Grand Rounds (optional)

Course

•  Medical Neuroanatomy (January – March daily during Year 1)

Teaching/Training Requirements

The resident will make regular teaching contributions to the weekly Neuropsychology Seminar and facilitate the Functional Neuroanatomy series. Residents also facilitate the Neuropsychology Professional Development Series in collaboration with neuropsychology faculty and trainees from Rush University Medical Center. There will also be opportunities for supervision of psychology interns or advanced externs to facilitate development of advanced supervision competency.

Supervision

The resident will meet weekly with the residency director and will also meet regularly with a research supervisor and/or rotation supervisor. There are also at least 5 hours of structured educational activities per week, including group supervision as outlined above.

1. Formal evaluation of competency at the end of the residency indicates advanced skill in neuropsychological evaluation, treatment and consultation.
2. Eligibility for state licensure or certification for the independent practice of psychology.
3. Eligibility for board certification in clinical neuropsychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology.

• Neil H. Pliskin, Ph.D., ABPP
• Jason R. Soble, Ph.D., ABPP
• Woojin Song, Ph.D.