Clinical Neuropsychology Internship

Neuropsychology Clinical Experience

Training in neuropsychology occurs in several venues under the direction of faculty adult neuropsychologists (Phillip Martin, Ph.D., ABPP and Ryan Schroeder, Psy.D., ABPP) and a faculty pediatric neuropsychologist (Kelli Netson-Amore, Ph.D., ABPP). Geriatric neuropsychology training is provided in collaboration with KUSM-W faculty on the Senior Behavioral Health unit at Ascension Via Christi Medical Center. Clinical services include:

Outpatient: KUSM-W Neuropsychology Clinic

Outpatient evaluations are conducted for patients with a wide range of neuropsychological insults including traumatic brain injury, vascular disease, encephalopathy, epilepsy, HIV, anoxic brain injury, seizure disorder, brain tumor, normal pressure hydrocephalus, Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and conversion disorder. Pediatric evaluations are conducted for children with genetic, developmental, neurologic, behavioral, and emotional disorders including autism-spectrum disorders, genetic syndromes, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, prenatal drug and alcohol exposure, and pediatric cancer. Referrals to the neuropsychology clinic at KUSM-W come from general physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, pediatricians, psychiatrists, attorneys, insurance companies, schools, and rehabilitations hospitals. There is significant diversity with regard to race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, urban vs. rural dwelling, and educational background of patients.

Our outpatient clinic is structured to meet the needs of our patients and referral sources in the most efficient manner possible. Evaluations are comprehensive but completed within one day with a feedback session typically provided one to two weeks later. Reports are brief, evidence-based, and tailored to meet the needs of the referral source. Interns take responsibility for their own patients and provide care from interview to feedback, including test selection, administration, scoring, and report-writing.

Interns have the opportunity to be involved in civil litigation and workers’ compensation cases including interview, record review, test selection, and report writing. When available, interns are invited to observe deposition testimony by neuropsychology faculty. Cases generally include forensic referrals involving civil litigation, Independent Medical Evaluations for insurance companies, and some criminal litigation.

Inpatient: Via Christi Hospitals

Consultations are conducted primarily with patients admitted to the Senior Behavioral Unit. These consultations frequently involve opinions regarding the patient’s ability to make reasoned decisions regarding finances, healthcare, and/or management of one’s estate. Interns are trained in legal issues/state laws related to capacity, and they are taught how to make decisions that will meet the burden necessary in a court of law.

Recommendations are frequently sought regarding the level of care needed by the patient due to cognitive impairment and for placement of the patient after dismissal from the hospital. Special care is given to ensure the patient’s safety while providing the greatest degree of independence in functioning. Some of these inpatients are subsequently seen for follow up evaluations in the outpatient clinic as well.