Clinical Training Activities - Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship

Fellows will participate in general outpatient neuropsychological assessment of patients aged 18-100 with referral issues primarily including Memory Loss and Dementia, with additional referrals in Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Epilepsy, MS, Movement Disorders, Psychiatric Issues, Infectious Disease, Substance Abuse, and so forth. Outpatient assessments also include pre-surgical evaluations for epilepsy surgery, transplant, and placement of DBS hardware. Outpatient assessments are typically based on a flexible battery approach and are completed with psychometrist assistance, once fellows have demonstrated competence in administration and scoring. Fellows are expected to complete 3-5 outpatient evaluations per week with the option to carry a small therapy caseload.

Fellows will participate in several multidisciplinary clinics throughout their training:

• Huntington’s Disease and at-risk Huntington’s Disease Clinic: The only Huntington’s Disease Society of America Center of Excellence in the Gulf South. Other disciplines involved include neurology, social work, speech and language pathology, and genetic counseling, among others. Fellows will complete interviews and targeted intervention with patients and caregivers and consult with other professionals.
• Memory Clinic: Part of the Brain Health and Cognitive Disorders Program. Collaborative disciplines include neurology, social work, and allied health professionals. Fellows will complete interviews and brief cognitive evaluations with patients and consult with patients, their families, and other professionals.
• DBS Case Conference – Case discussion with neurology and neurosurgery faculty and residents regarding candidates for deep brain stimulation surgery, including pre-surgical workup, surgery decision-making, and post-surgical outcomes.
• Epilepsy Case Conference– Case discussion with neurology and neurosurgery faculty and residents regarding candidates for epilepsy surgery, including pre-surgical workup, surgery decision-making, and post-surgical outcomes.

Fellows will primarily be involved in clinical interview/diagnosis of individuals with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Events (PNEE or Conversion Disorder; 1-2 a week on average), Psychogenic Movement disorders, or Psychogenic Stroke-like events. They will consult on cases with Delirium/Capacity Issues, as they come up.

First-year fellows will begin by observing the attending neuropsychologist via Direct Supervision. They will be observed administering neuropsychological tests, either by Direct Supervision by the attending neuropsychologist or via Indirect Supervision by trained psychometrist. Interpretation of neuropsychological data will occur via Oversight, and all neuropsychological evaluative reports will be reviewed and signed by the supervisor.

Second-year fellows will conduct evaluations with the use of trained psychometrists, with administration of tests when clinically necessary. Fellows will conduct interviews with a combination of Direct and Indirect Supervision. All neuropsychological evaluative reports will be reviewed and signed by the supervisor.

Fellows will have an opportunity to observe and assist in criminal and civil forensic evaluations. Forensic opportunities will be granted on a case by case basis, depending on fellow interest, availability, and progress in meeting clinical requirements. Criminal evaluations may include pre-trial competence to stand trial and criminal responsibility evaluations, aid in sentencing evaluations, Miranda capacity evaluations, and risk assessments. Civil evaluations may include independent medical evaluations, worker’s compensation evaluations, and evaluations related to civil litigation, including personal injury and capacity/guardianship.

Fellows have an opportunity to assist with consultative evaluations at Covington Behavioral Health, an inpatient psychiatric facility in Covington. Consultation opportunities will be granted on a case by case basis, depending on fellow interest, availability, and progress in meeting clinical requirements