Neuropsychology Elective

The Neuropsychology Elective is designed to provide extensive clinical training and lay the foundation for careers in neuropsychology. The program follows APA/Division 40 guidelines for internship training in clinical neuropsychology.

Assessment & Evaluation

The core of clinical training in neuropsychology takes place in the Mass General Psychology Assessment Center (PAC). This is an outpatient setting in which interns gain experience in neuropsychological assessment and consultation with a variety of neurological and non-neurological patient populations. We contribute to the diagnosis and management of patients referred by neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and other services. Common patient populations include memory disorders, movement disorders, stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor/oncology, autoimmune and infectious disease, toxic/metabolic conditions, neurodevelopmental/genetic disorders, psychiatric disorders, and patients with medically complex presentations.

Neuropsychology interns will evaluate mostly adult (18+) and geriatric patients and are supervised by adult-focused neuropsychologists with a variety of specialties. Interns with an interest in pediatric populations may also have the opportunity to evaluate children and adolescents with supervision from lifespan and/or pediatric neuropsychologists within our institute. Neuropsychology interns typically evaluate two patients per week and are responsible for all aspects of the evaluation under the supervision of clinical neuropsychologists in our Center. Interns will evaluate patients diverse in race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, religion, gender identity, sexual identity, and physical abilities. This includes the opportunity to evaluate patients who speak languages other than English with the assistance of medically trained interpreters.

Consultation

Interns in the neuropsychology 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

Treatment

For the outpatient psychotherapy experience, interns see patients referred through behavioral medicine or cognitive behavioral therapy in the adult outpatient clinic. Neuropsychology track interns typically carry a caseload of two therapy patients at a time.

Research

The track is modeled in the scientist-practitioner model. Interns will integrate research into their practice through literature review on a case-by-case basis. They additionally may have the opportunity to become involved in original or ongoing research at the PAC or in the larger Mass General community, though formal research participation is not required.

Faculty

The Neuropsychology Elective is led by Christina D. Kay, PhD. Interns will have the opportunity to work with Dr. Kay and several other neuropsychology faculty within the Psychology Assessment Center.

Didactics

In addition to the internship core didactics, the following seminars are required:

• Neuropsychology Seminar: This is a 10-month (Sept-Jun) 75-minute, weekly seminar designed to review topics related to the science and practice of neuropsychology. This seminar explores neurodevelopmental and acquired CNS syndromes, and topics related to neuropsychological practice and research, including but not limited to diversity, equity and inclusion, clinical interviewing and feedback, neurodevelopment, dementia assessment, recommendations and interventions for patients of all ages, culturally sensitive assessment and care, forensic issues related to neuropsychology practice, and neuroimaging in clinical syndromes. Speakers include PAC faculty as well as experts in the field from within and outside the MGH/HMS community.

• Clinical Case Conference: This is a 10-month (Sept-Jun), 1-hour, weekly seminar that alternates three separate focus areas. 1) Fact-Finding (2x/month): trainees will participate in mock fact-finding led by faculty with an emphasis on how to collect, evaluate, and integrate information to effectively conceptualize a case, as well as formulate differential diagnoses and recommendations. 2) Case Presentation (1x/month): faculty will present cases that exemplify typical patterns of symptoms, dysfunction, and impairment within a particular disease class (e.g., alpha-synucleinopathies) with an emphasis on differential diagnosis to help identify particular syndromes (e.g., dementia with Lewy bodies). 3) Neuropsychology Grand Rounds (1x/month): faculty and trainees will have the opportunity to briefly present recent/active, highly complex, and/or atypical cases with the goal of soliciting feedback and consultation to assist with case conceptualization and recommendations.

• 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, and Neuroradiology Rounds

Supervision

• Neuropsychological assessment – 2 hours weekly including “real-time” supervision with each case assigned. Supervision is rotated among faculty throughout the year. Supervision is individualized and provided on all cases with an emphasis on fostering interns’ autonomy as internship progresses.
• Individual psychotherapy supervision – 1 hour weekly
• Group supervision through CCC – 1 hour weekly

Candidates

Successful candidates to the neuropsychology track have a strong foundational knowledge of brain-behavior relationships and neuropsychological assessment through applicable graduate coursework and practicum experiences. Candidates should have completed at least one neuropsychology-specific practicum.

We highly encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds to apply. We value diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging in all aspects of our work. Interns are welcome to participate in the PAC Diversity Task Force, whose mission is to raise awareness of the influence of culture and diversity within neuropsychology with goals to support clinic faculty, trainees, and staff in their work with individuals of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Related Links

• Psychology Assessment Center