Multicultural Neuropsychology Elective

The Multicultural Neuropsychology Elective is designed to provide extensive clinical training and lay the foundation for careers in multicultural neuropsychology. Our training is based on the scientist-practitioner model that involves an integrated approach that includes training in clinical assessment and clinical research. All aspects of general neuropsychology, professional education and clinical training are provided within a culturally and linguistically proficient lens.

Program goals include teaching and training in the specific body of knowledge and clinical approaches to multicultural neuropsychological assessment, exposure to and understanding of best-practice and available measures for culturally and linguistically diverse patients, and training in interpretation of neuropsychological scores in the context of different sociodemographic and culture-specific patient factors.

The program follows APA Division 40 and Houston Conference guidelines for training and meets requirements for board certification in clinical neuropsychology.  

Assessment & Evaluation

The core of clinical training in neuropsychology takes place in the Mass General Multicultural Assessment and Research Center (MARC). This is an adult outpatient setting in which interns gain experience conducting neuropsychological evaluations with a variety of neurological and non-neurological patient populations including memory disorders, movement disorders, stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor/oncology, developmental/learning disorders, psychiatric disorders, and toxic/metabolic conditions and infections.

Multicultural Neuropsychology track interns are provided with supervised clinical training in neuropsychological assessment by bilingual (Spanish-English) clinical neuropsychologists who have received specialized training in multicultural neuropsychology. The MARC benefits from clinical resources (e.g., multicultural assessment tools) and a very diverse patient base (e.g., non-English speaking patients who are referred by a large number of Mass General Brigham-affiliated community centers and clinics) that allows us to fulfill the clinical, research, and educational goals of our trainees.

Research

The track is grounded in the scientist-practitioner model, and as such, interns will integrate research into their practice through literature review on a case-by-case basis. Interns additionally will have the opportunity to become involved in original or ongoing research at the MARC, the Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP) or in the larger Mass General community.

Key faculty involved in research & clinical training

• Yakeel T. Quiroz, PhD
• Paula Aduen, PhD
• Clara Vila-Castelar, PhD
• Edmarie Guzman-Velez, PhD

Consultation

Multicultural Neuropsychology track interns will serve as consultants in a variety of settings, including:

• Providing diagnostic and treatment planning information through report writing
• Feedback sessions with patients, families and referral sources
• Participation in multidisciplinary treatment team settings

Treatments/Intervention

For the outpatient psychotherapy experience, interns see patients referred through behavioral medicine or cognitive behavioral therapy in the adult outpatient clinic.

Didactics

In addition to the Internship in Clinical Psychology core didactics, the following seminars are required:

• Neuropsychology Seminar: A 10-month, weekly seminar focusing on professional issues related to neuropsychology practice, neuroanatomy and neuroimaging, development and neurodevelopmental syndromes, clinical neurology, acquired CNS syndromes and dementia
• Multicultural Neuropsychology Seminar: A 6-month, weekly seminar focusing on issues related to the assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse patients
• Neuropsychology Case Conference: This is a 10-month, weekly seminar that allows participants to hone their skills in neuropsychological fact-finding and case formulation
• Additional Didactic Experiences: Behavioral Neurology Rounds, Neurology Grand Rounds, Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar, Epilepsy Case Conference/Neurosurgical Rounds, Movement Disorders Surgical Rounds, Joint Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry Rounds, Brain Cutting and Neuroradiology Rounds

Supervision

• Individual Psychotherapy Supervision – 1 hour weekly
• Assessment/Testing – 2 hours weekly including direct supervision with each case assigned
• Group Supervision – 1 hour weekly

Related Links

Multicultural Assessment and Research Center (MARC)

Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP)