Clinical Rotations – Neuropsychology track

Clinical Rotations – Neuropsychology track

Neuropsychology intern rotations are within the Neurology Department at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and located at two hospitals, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital. The rotations will be available as 1 or 2 day per week placements, for 6 or 12-month rotations, based on availability and preference. Some rotations may also offer opportunities to provide supervision to more junior trainees. The neuropsychology track intern may have the option to take one 6-month rotation outside of the neuropsychology track, based on availability and training goals.

Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center (PD&MDC) Rotation: The PD&MDC at the University of Pennsylvania has been recognized by the National Parkinson Foundation as one of 45 worldwide "Centers of Excellence" and is among the largest of its kind in the country. Our center provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and management for a range of movement disorders, including but not limited to Parkinson’s disease, atypical and secondary parkinsonism, Huntington’s disease, essential tremor, ataxia, functional movement disorders and etc. Neuropsychological evaluations are conducted to assess cognitive and neuropsychiatric functioning and to assist with clarifying diagnosis and treatment planning, such as appropriateness for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery and other interventional procedures. In addition to weekly supervision, the intern will be involved in monthly DBS case conference meetings, presenting findings of the neuropsychological evaluation when their patients are discussed in surgical conference. The intern will also participate in feedback sessions with patients and their caregivers, providing recommendations for evidence-based interventions specific to the movement disorders population. Supervisor: Baochan Tran, PsyD, Clinical Director, Neuropsychology Division

General Neuropsychology Rotation: Penn Neurology has 17 divisions and programs, including divisions of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cognitive and stroke, neurodegenerative disease specialty centers (e.g. Penn Memory Center and Frontotemporal Degeneration Center), a neuro post-COVID clinic, and a specialty center for evaluation and treatment of patients with Traumatic Brain Injury. This rotation will include assessment of patients referred from across the department for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations. Interns will be involved in all aspects of the evaluation, including interviews, testing, report writing, and feedback. Supervisor: TBD

General Neuropsychology Rotation with Bilingual option: Penn Neurology has multiple specialty centers for assessing and treating patients with neurodegenerative disease (e.g. Penn Memory Center and Frontotemporal Degeneration Center), a dedicated neuro post-COVID clinic, and a specialty center for evaluation and treatment of patients with Traumatic Brain Injury. This rotation will include assessment of patients referred from these clinics for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations. Interns with be involved in all aspects of the evaluation, including interviews, testing, report writing, and feedback. Bilingual (Spanish speaking) interns will have the opportunity to perform evaluations with Spanish-speaking patients alongside the bilingual supervisor. Supervisor: Katya Rascovsky, PhD

Penn Memory Center, Psychotherapeutic Intervention in MCI Rotation: The Penn Memory Center (PMC) is made up of a multidisciplinary team with expertise in neurology, gerontology, psychiatry, neuropsychology and social work. The PMC serves as a unified Penn Medicine source for those age 65 and older seeking evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, information, and research opportunities related to symptoms of progressive memory loss, and accompanying changes in thinking, communication and personality. The Cognitive Fitness Psychotherapy Group is an 8-week intervention group for individuals with MCI, who are experiencing symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. The group employs an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach to address distressing thoughts and feelings and incorporates compensatory strategies to implement use of ACT tools. This is a one day/week position. Supervisor: Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton, PhD, ABPP/CN, Chief, Neuropsychology Division

Penn Memory Center, Brief Assessment Rotation. Brief Assessment Rotation. The Penn Memory Center (PMC) is made up of a multidisciplinary team with expertise in neurology, gerontology, psychiatry, neuropsychology and social work. The PMC serves as a unified Penn Medicine source for those age 65 and older seeking evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, information, and research opportunities related to symptoms of progressive memory loss, and accompanying changes in thinking, communication and personality. This one day/week position includes brief clinical screenings for individual's with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. The intern will attend weekly consensus conference and present the brief cognitive screening to the multidisciplinary team. Primary Supervisor: Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton, Ph.D., ABPP-CN

Research Opportunities: The neuropsychology track intern will have the opportunity to engage in a research project once their dissertation is complete. There are ample opportunities within the Neurology Department, associated centers (e.g. Penn Memory Center, Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center) and with several rotation supervisors to find a match for the intern’s area of research interest.