Overview
Training Co-Directors: Melissa Sutcliffe, PhD, ABPP and Amy Letteri, PhD
Current Fellow: Amy Magallanes, PhD
This 2-year fellowship program will provide advanced level of clinical, didactic, and academic training in the recognized specialty practice of Clinical Neuropsychology. At the completion of the fellowship, fellows will be ready to be licensed as a psychologist and begin the board certification process of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in Clinical Neuropsychology. Candidates should have successfully completed an APA/CPA accredited doctoral education and training program as well as an APA/CPA accredited internship that includes substantial training in clinical neuropsychology. Fellows must obtain their doctoral degree prior to beginning the fellowship.
- Education Activities
- Three days (60%) of the fellow’s week is spent engaged in providing clinical service, including assessment and treatment activities. The remaining two days (40%) are spent on research, departmental meetings, and educational activities.Year 1
- Major Rotation: Six months Pediatric Neuropsychology (July – December). This typically consists of up to three outpatient evaluations per week with some psychometrist support. Six months in Adult Neuropsychology/Rehabilitation Psychology (January – June). This includes at least 1 outpatient evaluation per week, and 1-2 days with a primary faculty member on one of the inpatient rehabilitation units.
- Minor yearlong rotation in diversity, equity and inclusion. This rotation features a combination of program development and/or outreach projects, didactic learning, guided reading, and discussion.
- Graduate Medical Education curriculum as needed
- Submission of a small study/abstract (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 meetings is encouraged and supported.
Year 2- Major Rotation:
- Year-long major rotation dependent on fellow’s interests: Pediatric Neuropsychology or Adult Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology
- Minor Yearlong Rotation in specialty area opposite of fellow’s chosen major rotation.
- Continuation of yearlong rotation in diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Submission of small study/abstract at national conference
- Graduate Medical Education curriculum as needed.
Year 3- For fellows interested in a primarily academic career, an optional 3rd year may be available depending on funding and availability of primary research mentor.
Required Seminars
Professional Development Seminar – This seminar occurs weekly for Neuropsychology Rehabilitation Fellows and other trainees as appropriate. Topics are generated, evaluated, and updated each year based on competency requirements, Fellows’ needs, and timeliness/relevance for their professional development. The speakers involve a rotation of faculty presenters and guest speakers as well as an opportunity for each Fellow to present job talks and research projects for supportive critique from and discussion with faculty. (1 hour)Neuroanatomy Review Series – This series occurs weekly during the first six months (20 weeks) of each year of the Fellowship. In the first year, Fellows will present with relevant faculty on different systems of Central Nervous System (CNS) to all trainees, including neuropsychology externs, psychology externs, and PM&R residents and Fellows. In the second year, Fellows take more responsibility for each presentation and lead the discussion. (1 hour)Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar – This weekly Seminar replaces the Neuroanatomy Review Series in the second six months of the training year. Each year topics are chosen to provide relevant information about different CNS disorders, and the talks are presented by faculty or guest speakers. Fellows are participants unless there is a specific topic that they would like to present to all trainees. (1 hour)Neuropsychology Case Conference – This hour long, weekly didactic involves case presentation done by fact finding method as a mock group oral exam in preparation for ABPP Certification in Clinical Neuropsychology. However, multiple disciplines participate and contribute to the discussion. Many of the cases reflect the application of topics presented in the Neuroanatomy Series and Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar. Fellows are participants in their first year and the first part of the second year. In the last six months of the second year, the Fellows present with a neuropsychology faculty member. (1 hour)Clinical Neuropsychology Intensive Seminar – This monthly seminar focuses on specific areas of neuropsychology (lifespan) to ensure that all Fellows have competency in knowledge that will be assessed on the written Clinical Neuropsychology ABPP exam and on the yearly Fellowship Exam (produced by APPCN (American Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology)). Topics have included dementia, psychology of aging, advanced statistics, advanced report writing, psychometrics in neuropsychology, cultural competency, and neuroimaging. (1 hour)Pediatric Neuroradiology Rounds (variable requirements) – Required for Fellows who choose the hematology/oncology minor rotation. For all other Fellows, attendance is optional. Presented by the Neuro-oncology department, this weekly conference is multidisciplinary featuring oncology, neurosurgery, endocrinology, neuropsychology, and neurology. Providers discuss relevant cases, reviewing imaging, and pathology as needed to facilitate clinical decision making.Courses
Graduate Medical Education Curriculum (as needed) – ACGME at UPMC and University of Pittsburgh and North East Pennsylvania Medical School offer research courses, wellness activities, professional development seminars, and support meetings. All Fellows have opt-out confidential counseling offered free of charge. - Clinical Activities
- Pediatric Clinical Activities are supervised service delivery experiences that promote the development of clinical interview skills, case conceptualization, neuropsychological test administration and scoring, neuropsychological evaluation report writing, communication with inter-professionals or agencies, intervention, and verbal communication of results and recommendations to families and patients. These activities are completed by direct clinical service to patients in infancy to approximately 26 years of age with known or suspected CNS disorders or diseases that impact CNS functioning. Other clinical activities include participation in telehealth intake and service delivery, consultation with school personnel via virtual meetings.Adult Clinical Activities are supervised service delivery experiences that promote the development of clinical interview skills, case conceptualization, neuropsychological test selection, administration, and scoring, neuropsychological evaluation report writing, communication with interdisciplinary team and outside agencies, intervention, behavior management, service delivery to family members and verbal communication of results and recommendations to interdisciplinary team, patients and their families. These activities are completed by direct clinical service to patients typically from ages 16 through older adulthood, with varied neurological and other general medical conditions requiring rehabilitation. Other clinical activities include participation in interdisciplinary team meetings, observation of other disciplines, co-treatment, and monthly support group facilitation.Major Rotation:
- Pediatric Neuropsychology Clinic (Outpatient)
- Adult Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology (Inpatient and Outpatient)
Pediatric Elective Rotations:- Acquired Brain Injury Clinic
- Cardiac Neurodevelopment Care Program
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinics
- Epilepsy Surgery Clinic including WADA testing
- Hematology/Oncology Clinic
- Inpatient Rehabilitation (2nd year only)
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders Clinic
- Sickle Cell Clinic
Lifespan Elective Rotation:- PATH (Pediatric Adult Transitions to Healthcare) program – Spina Bifida pilot
- Guardianship evaluations/ADA evaluations
Adult Elective Rotations:- Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
- Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation
- Inpatient General Rehabilitation
- Inpatient Brain Injury Rehabilitation
- Outpatient General Neuropsychology Clinic
- Outpatient Rehabilitation Psychology Clinic
- Research Activities
Research is a vital component of this fellowship, with fellows expected to devote 10-20% of their time to take advantage of the rich research opportunities provided within the educational and research programs of the Department of PM&R. This can be accomplished through a variety of means including archival studies and involvement within current IRB research protocols. Some of the research opportunities are detailed below in the selected faculty section. For fellows interested in a primarily academic career additional research opportunities are available up to 50% of the fellow’s time. Fellows that choose this option must have a dedicated interest in academic medicine and will need to meet with primary research mentors to discuss funding and availability to complete an optional third year focused entirely on research.