Clinical Neuropsychology Consortium

Virtual Open House recording from 2023

View Recording

Responses to Virtual Open House Questions

1) Could interns from non-neuropsych focused internship sites apply to neuropsych fellowships? 

Yes! Assuming that an applicant has the relevant coursework as well as related clinical and research experiences, we do accept applications from those that completed a non-neuropsych internship.

2) Is it correct that international interns on F-1 visa can apply to the Michigan Medicine positions but not the VAAAHS positions? Thank you.

You are correct that the VA only accepts applications from US citizens. The policy on acceptance of applications at the Michigan Medicine site is listed under the “Program Policies” on the Psychology Postdoctoral Training page: https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/psychiatry/education/psychology-postdoct...

Clinical Neuropsychology (Adult & Pediatric)

The Clinical Neuropsychology specialization within the Training Network in Professional Psychology provides specialty training in the application of knowledge of brain-behavior relationships and of Clinical Psychology for the benefit of patients suffering from disorder, disease, or injury to the central nervous system. The program develops postdoctoral residents’ specialty expertise in Clinical Neuropsychology and prepares them for board certification in Clinical Neuropsychology through the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN) in conjunction with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). This specialty area complies with the training guidelines of Division 40 of the American Psychological Association at the Houston Conference.

Clinical training occurs in a multidisciplinary setting with specialized research emphasis for each resident. In keeping with goals of the broader training program, the Clinical Neuropsychology specialization develops professionals with the specialty training necessary to accurately assess, diagnose, and recommend effective intervention to a broad age range of individuals with CNS impairment. Our program also prepares residents to direct clinical programs, educate professional Clinical Neuropsychologists, and initiate and carry out programmatic research. Opportunities to participate in faculty members' research and further develop research skills and a programmatic focus are available in the areas of adult neuromedical disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, mood disorders/neuroimaging, geriatrics and traumatic brain injury as well as pediatric neuromedical disorders.

Michigan Medicine and the VAAAHS honor the well-being, individuality, and dignity of all who work, learn, and heal here. We champion diversity and inclusion for our patients and our broader community, and we aim to increase diversity in the next generation of health professionals. michiganmedicine.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

While we were one of the founding members of the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN) and our program complies with the training guidelines of the APPCN, we will not be participating in the match. Our application deadline is December 2, 2024.

For 2025-2027, the Michigan Medicine / VAAAHS consortium in neuropsychology will recruit six clinical neuropsychology residents for the following positions:

1 Pediatric Neuropsychology Position at Michigan Medicine

5 Adult or Geriatric Neuropsychology Positions

  • 3 Adult / Geriatric position at Michigan Medicine
  • 2 Adult / Geriatric positions at VAAAHS

MICHIGAN MEDICINE AND VAAAHS NEUROPSYCHOLOGY PROGRAMS

Michigan Medicine Neuropsychology Program

The Neuropsychology Program, under the direction of Carol Persad, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, has a rich tradition in the measurement of cognitive and behavioral characteristics of diverse patient groups and a close working relationship with other investigators in a number of departments, including Psychiatry, Neurology, Radiology, Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Surgery, Oncology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Internal Medicine, as well as other Medical Center programs and other University units, such as the schools of Nursing, Public Health, and Engineering and the Institute of Social Research. The Neuropsychology Program plays an integral role in many clinical research studies and clinical trials. The Program evaluates more than 3000 patients annually based on referrals for neuropsychological sequelae associated with general medical and neurological conditions, dementia, pre-surgical evaluations, mood disorders, and neurodevelopmental and learning/attention problems. 

Michigan Medicine Facilities

The Michigan Medicine Neuropsychology Program is housed in over 3,000 square feet of space and located between the main medical center and the East Ann Arbor medical campus. The Program currently includes 18 faculty members (9 Board Certified in Clinical Neuropsychology), 12 masters level psychologists/psychometrists, 7 postdoctoral residents, research assistants, and other students and trainees. Our facility is equipped with modern psychological test instruments and computers for measurement of psychological and psychophysiological behaviors, including the latest computer-based testing devices. The laboratory facility includes sets of adjacent rooms separated by a one-way mirror for patient observation and video and sound equipment for patient monitoring, a large research area for mobility and driving simulator studies, a computer laboratory for imaging studies, and two conference rooms equipped with video-conferencing capabilities. Fourteen testing rooms are housed in the Program, along with other open laboratory space and faculty, trainee and staff offices. Permanent satellite evaluation rooms are also located at the inpatient Psychiatric Hospital, Psychiatry’s Rachel Upjohn Building, the Michigan Clinical Research Unit, and the Michigan Medicine Med Inn. The Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center also is located in the Commonwealth Building and shares many of the Neuropsychology Program facilities and research space. All postdoctoral residents have individual offices with desktop computers at the Commonwealth Building.

VAAAHS Neuropsychology Section

The VAAAHS Neuropsychology Section has a long history of evaluating Veterans in acute and long-term care inpatient settings, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation units. The Section has a major role in the diagnosis and evaluation of medical, neurological, and psychiatric conditions which affect cognitive and personality changes. The Section is widely integrated into research investigating the interaction between medical disease and injury, cognitive and personality changes in Veterans, and the early detection and non-pharmacologic treatment of cognitive and behavioral impairment.  In recent years this has included studies of the effects of drugs on cognition, the influence of normal aging vs. neurological disease, interactions between depression and cognition, the role of motivation in neuropsychological test performance, and interactive effects of PTSD and mild head injury. Additional ongoing federally-funded studies investigate the impact of cognitively oriented treatments (e.g., cognitive rehabilitation, cognitive training) and non-invasive brain stimulation in older adults with cognitive impairment. The VAAAHS currently employs four post-doctoral residents in Neuropsychology.

VAAAHS Facilities

VA Ann Arbor Hospital is a general medical and surgical hospital in Ann Arbor, MI, with 142 beds, serving Veterans from Southeastern Michigan and Northern Ohio.  It is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). It is also a teaching hospital. Survey data for the latest year available shows that 18,184 patients visited the hospital's emergency room. The hospital had a total of 5,539 admissions. Its physicians performed 1,628 inpatient and 2,856 outpatient surgeries. It provides the full range of inpatient and outpatient services, including neurology, neurosurgery, and geriatric internal medicine in addition to other medical and surgical services. Facilities are newly updated in most areas, including Mental Health, Outpatient, and Nursing Home facilities. Offices for incoming Neuropsychology Residents are housed at our Packard Road location and have modern support facilities, with full computer access to the Michigan Medicine information systems and library, as well as VAAAHS information systems. 

EDUCATION

In addition to core curriculum, residents in the Michigan Medicine/VAAAHS Consortium in the Clinical Neuropsychology specialty area have several unique learning opportunities, ranging from targeted coursework to visiting lectures. Educational opportunities, listed below, include both mandatory training requirements, designed to ensure smooth and consistent progress throughout the training program, and optional training opportunities that can be pursued to enrich the training experience to the extent that time is available.

Required:

  • Michigan Medicine Didactic and Journal Club (Weekly) - this is a mix of didactic training and case conferences with a fact-finding format; sample topics have included: Movement Disorders, Degenerative Conditions, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy/Wada, Pediatric Neuroimaging, Cerebrovascular Disease, Toxin Exposure, Developmental disorders (i.e., ADHD, LD), Aphasias, Neuroanatomy.
  • Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center’s Clinical Pathological Correlation Conference (four times per year): Seminar that integrates the clinical presentation and post-mortem histopathological findings of participants seen in the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center.
  • Grand Rounds in Psychiatry and/or Neurology (weekly)
  • Professional Development Seminar (weekly for first year residents, monthly for second year residents)
  • Staff Meeting (weekly)
  • Bioethics Conference (twice per year)

Optional in accordance with training goals and as time permits:

  • Audited Neuroanatomy lecture and wet lab (taken through University of Michigan Graduate School; first semester of second year of program)
  • Weekly VAAAHS Case Conference (in conjunction with the Clinical Psychology Internship Program at the VA Healthcare System)
  • Cross-cultural seminar (monthly for second year residents): This is primarily done in case conference format, and includes video participation from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University – Igbariam Campus in Nigeria, Makarere University in Uganda, Michigan State University in Lansing, MI, Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
  • Neuropathology Conference (Brain autopsies)
  • Lectures in Neuroanatomy
  • Neuroradiological Conference 
  • Refractory Epilepsy Conference
  • Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center’s Consensus Conference (biweekly multi-disciplinary diagnostic meeting)
  • There are numerous other department specific conferences, such as Surgery, Psychiatry/Depression Center, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Radiology, Oncology, and Institute of Gerontology and can be found on the various Michigan Medicine websites. Residents are welcome to attend.
  • Invited Lecturers throughout the University and VAAAHS

Teaching/Supervision Experiences

Residents are provided with the opportunity to perform clinical supervision of pre-doctoral practicum students and interns. Additional supervision of undergraduate students who work with faculty and residents on a wide variety of research projects is also available. In addition, residents may also provide assistance in teaching seminars with faculty members.

ADULT NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CLINICAL TRAINING EXPERIENCES

Clinical training experiences comprise approximately 50% of the resident’s time.

Michigan Medicine

General Neuropsychology Clinic: The adult neuropsychology resident conducts outpatient evaluations for adult and geriatric patients with a wide array of presenting cognitive, emotional, and behavioral conditions. A psychometrist model is used for the majority of the assessments, with the resident responsible for interviewing, interpreting, writing clinical reports, and providing feedback. Residents are expected, on average, to see approximately 4 cases per week (with a psychometrist). Residents also provide inpatient consultation services on a rotating basis. A goal of this program is to ensure that all residents gain experience with patients across the entire lifespan. As such, all Michigan Medicine residents will complete a 4-month experience that involves assessment of pediatric patients.

Postdoctoral residents regularly staff interdisciplinary clinics with medical residents and attending medical staff. Required experiences for Michigan Medicine residents include Cognitive Disorders Clinic, Epilepsy Clinic, and Pediatric Clinics for ADHD and neurodevelopmental disorders. These experiences include integration of neuropsychological assessment data with neurological and medical evaluations and discussion about aspects of the case along with teaching by attending staff.  Additional experiences are available across institutions (Michigan Medicine and VAAAHS).

Primary Clinic Experiences:

Cognitive Disorders Clinic: This weekly clinic in neurology evaluates cognitive difficulties that can occur with aging. It provides diagnosis and comprehensive management of patients with memory loss and disorders of higher cognitive function and dementia. Neuropsychology residents observe the neurological examination and provide feedback and consultation about patients’ neuropsychological evaluation to the treatment team.

Epilepsy Program: The University of Michigan Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy Programs are a collaborative relationship with the Department of Neurology and Department of Neurosurgery and are recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) as a Level 4 Certified Epilepsy Center, the highest certification available from the NAEC.  Both adult and pediatric programs see patients for treatment of epilepsy, and in cases where treatments have failed, patients are evaluated for consideration of surgical relief of their seizure disorder. Each patient under consideration for surgery participates in a thorough evaluation in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, which includes EEGs, brain imaging (MRI, PET, SPECT), speech and language, social work, neuropsychological evaluation, and potentially Wada and fMRI procedures. Approximately 70-100 epilepsy surgeries are conducted per year. This rotation follows a lifespan model and has the following aims: 1) Pre-surgical neuropsychological evaluation to assess functional brain status—assist in the lateralization and localization of seizure focus, assess for any psychiatric issues, and establish a baseline 2) Assess language lateralization and unilateral memory functions following an injection of Brevital (Wada Procedure) 3) Post-surgical neuropsychological evaluation to evaluate change over time and provide recommendations. Residents on this rotation will also attend the weekly multidisciplinary Refractory Epilepsy Conference.

Pediatric Clinics: To ensure lifespan training, adult residents will complete a 4-month rotation conducting pediatric assessments. During this rotation, they will participate in the ASD and ADHD multidisciplinary clinics. These outpatient clinics are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment management of children with suspected autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as well as common psychiatric comorbidities. Observational opportunities may also be available in the Epilepsy, General Neurology, and the Hematology/Oncology Clinics.

Additional and Optional Clinic Experiences: Throughout training, residents will demonstrate psychological assessment and interview skills by conducting neuropsychological evaluations of patients being considered for bariatric surgery at Michigan Medicine. Residents may also see cases referred from geriatric psychiatry, which primarily involve differentiating neurodegenerative diseases from psychological disorders. Other Neuropsychology Program-supported clinics in which residents may gain experience include the Neurosport Clinic, Movement Disorder Clinic, and several clinics at the VAAAHS (e.g., Community Living Center, Polytrauma/TBI Clinic, Substance Abuse Clinic, Post Traumatic Clinic).

VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

General Neuropsychology Clinic: Services are provided throughout the hospital and on the outpatient service. Referrals vary from assessment for cognitive change related to conditions such as epilepsy, head trauma, substance abuse, ADHD, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic health conditions, and psychiatric disorders. Referral sources commonly include Ambulatory Medicine, Psychiatry, and Neurology services. Residents are responsible for selecting and administering neuropsychological tests, interviewing, interpreting, writing clinical reports, providing feedback, and consulting with referring providers. Over the two-year training period, residents progress from primarily testing their own cases to a mixture of psychometrist and self-administered evaluations. Second year residents are also actively involved in pre/post deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery evaluations. Residents provide training and tiered supervision of current neuropsychology practicum students and interns. Primary supervisors: Robert Spencer, Ph.D., Benjamin M. Hampstead, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, and Andrew Hale, Ph.D.

Primary Clinic Experiences: VAAAHS Residents will have a mixture of clinical experiences that are described below. Some experiences are available only to second year residents. During both training years, residents also have opportunities to supplement outpatient cases to provide a breath of experiences that meet their training goals and interests.

VAAAHS Polytrauma Clinic:  This clinic is primarily concerned with evaluation of Veterans returning from recent theatres of action in the Middle East as well as other areas of conflict. Among more common questions for referral are concerns about cognitive and emotional effects of mild head injury, cognitive and affective correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder, and cognitive and personality changes associated with other sources of service-related physical and emotional traumas. Residents provide consultation-liaison services within the clinic, working closely with Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, social work, and speech and language providers to deliver brief screening of performance and symptom validity and cognitive status, as well as full evaluations for appropriate cases. Residents may also have the opportunity to provide psychoeducation regarding head injury to patients and their caregivers and to follow Polytrauma Clinic veterans in individual therapy. Clinic data are also available for frequent use in related institution-approved research projects. Primary supervisor: Robert Spencer, Ph.D.

Geriatric Neuropsychology:

Geriatric Medicine Clinic: The neuropsychology service is integrated into the VAAAHS Geriatric Medicine Clinic, with the goal of providing accessible, timely, and coordinated assessment and intervention services to patients in an interdisciplinary framework. The resident is present in the clinic one day per week and provides assessment and intervention services, along with general curbside consultation to Geriatric Medicine residents, fellows and attendings. Assessment opportunities consists of cognitive screening and rapid neuropsychological assessment with same-day feedback to the veteran and Geriatric Medicine team. Brief behavioral interventions to veterans and caregivers are also available. Primary Supervisor: Andrew Hale, Ph.D.

Community Living Center (CLC): Residents also have the option of a rotation in the CLC, where they will gain exposure to assessment and intervention services for (generally) older adults admitted to a post-acute rehabilitation unit (known as the Community Living Center). CLC veterans are generally admitted for specific functional needs, often in the context of deconditioning secondary to a prolonged hospitalization, medical management (e.g., antibiotic treatment, cancer treatment, wound healing), along with other cardiac, pulmonary, or neurologic conditions. The resident will learn how to complete brief cognitive/behavioral health screens and focused neuropsychological assessments that meaningfully contribute to the Veteran’s rehabilitation and discharge planning. Residents mays find it helpful to supplement their outpatient experiences with a rotation in the CLC to gain exposure to acute presentations (e.g., delirium, post-intensive care syndrome), and other neurologic and rehabilitation samples (e.g., TBI, stroke). Intervention opportunities are also available, specifically with brief therapy and interventions focused on health behavior change (e.g., smoking cessation, engagement or adherence to rehabilitation recommendations, adjustment to medical illness). Further clinical opportunities may also include consult-liaison assessment/intervention throughout the hospital. There are also opportunities for supervision of AAVA psychology interns.  Residents are also encouraged to attend a weekly geriatric and rehabilitation didactic when available. Primary Supervisor: Andrew Hale, Ph.D.

Didactic opportunities are also available through the VA's Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), including attendance at a monthly interdisciplinary clinical case conference composed of CLC providers as well as VA GRECC research conference.

Other experiences include the Substance Abuse Clinic and Post Traumatic Clinic, and several clinics at Michigan Medicine (e.g., Cognitive Disorders Clinic, Movement Disorder Clinic, Epilepsy/Wada Clinic, Neurosport Clinic, ADHD Clinic, and ASD Clinic).

Optional Training Experiences: In addition to the above clinics, residents have the opportunity to gain other experiences, including: 

Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center (MADC): The MADC is one of 31 Centers funded by the National Institute on Aging to study age- and disease-related cognitive and functional decline. Residents have the option of contributing to, and using data from, the MADC’s flagship study known as the University of Michigan Memory in Aging Project (UM-MAP). This study collects annual neurological and neuropsychological data on a cohort of about 400 participants who span the dementia spectrum (i.e., from “normal” cognition to advanced dementia of various etiologies including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia). An increasing number of UM-MAP participants also have biomarker data available including blood, genetics, MRI (structural and functional), and PET (amyloid and tau ligands). Residents can gain additional assessment experience with UM-MAP participants, assist in providing feedback to participants and their families, and perform research studies using MADC infrastructure. Primary Supervisors: Benjamin M. Hampstead, PhD, ABPP-CN (VA & Michigan Medicine), Annalise Rahman-Filipiak, Ph.D (Michigan Medicine),  and Bruno Giordani, PhD (Michigan Medicine). 

PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CLINICAL TRAINING EXPERIENCES

General Neuropsychology Clinic: 

The Pediatric Neuropsychology resident conducts outpatient evaluations for children and adolescents with a wide array of presenting cognitive and behavioral challenges. The most common referrals include epilepsy, congenital heart disease, hematological/oncological conditions, genetic syndromes, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. A psychometrist model is used for the majority of the assessments, with the resident responsible for interviewing, interpreting, writing clinical reports, and providing feedback. Residents also provide inpatient consultation services on a rotating basis with adolescents and adults who are typically receiving inpatient psychiatric care. One of the goals of this program is to ensure that all residents gain experience with patients across the entire lifespan. As such, all Michigan Medicine residents will complete a 4-month experience that involves assessment of adult and geriatric patients.

Postdoctoral residents staff interdisciplinary clinics with medical residents and attending providers. Experiences for pediatric residents are offered in Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic, Multidisciplinary Developmental Evaluation Clinic, Epilepsy Clinic, General Neurology Clinic, and Hematology/Oncology Long Term Follow-Up Clinic. Experiences include integration of neuropsychological assessment data with a patient’s neurological and medical evaluations and discussion of cases with providers from multiple disciplines.

Primary Clinic Experiences:

ASD Clinic: This weekly clinic conducts diagnostic evaluations of children and adolescents ages 5 and older with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) as well as comorbid psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Assessments follow a comprehensive multi-disciplinary team approach consisting of a neuropsychological evaluation, social work assessment, speech and language evaluation, and full medical/psychiatric examination.

Multidisciplinary Developmental Evaluation Clinic (MDEC): This weekly clinic conducts diagnostic evaluations of children ages five and under with developmental concerns, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Assessments follow a multi-disciplinary team approach consisting of clinical interview and play observation with neuropsychology, speech and language evaluation, and medical/neurological examination. Some patients are referred for further comprehensive developmental evaluation including ADOS-2 or BOSA within the neuropsychology section.

Hematology/Oncology Clinic: Residents may participate in the weekly pediatric hematology/oncology Long Term Follow-Up clinic for children and young adults who are survivors of childhood cancer (e.g. leukemia, lymphoma, solid tumors). The neuropsychologist provides brief consultation with the patient in conjunction with the team educational specialist to review educational and cognitive concerns and provide input regarding need for neuropsychological evaluation and/or follow-up on results from recently completed neuropsychological evaluation if available.

Epilepsy Clinic: Residents may participate in the weekly epilepsy conference for pre-and post-surgical consultation. The multidisciplinary team consists of neuropsychology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, social work, and speech and language pathology. Opportunities for observation of Wada testing are also available.

General Neurology Clinic: Residents may participate in a weekly pediatric neurology clinic to observe neurological examination and treatment of a variety of neurological disorders (i.e. headaches, seizure disorder, global developmental delay, neuromuscular disorders).

ADULT – RESEARCH EXPERIENCES

Applicants with strong research interests are encouraged to apply, as residents are expected to participate in the development and execution of research in collaboration with neuropsychology faculty. Residents will be selected according to program availability and their research areas of interest to focus in the following areas of research: 

Michigan Medicine

Adult Neuromedical: (1-2 Position Available for 2025) 

The Neuropsychology Program has strong ties with many departments in the Medical School including Neurology, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Psychiatry, Cardiology and Obstetrics/Gynecology. The Neuromedical research emphasis is on interdisciplinary research with a translational focus. The opportunities for training will be based upon interest and available research projects at the time of residency. 

Below is a sample of research projects that are currently ongoing:

  • In collaboration with the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, research is investigating the cognitive correlates of epilepsy and outcomes of surgery. Research is led by David Marshall, Ph.D., ABPP-CN and Elise Hodges, Ph.D.
  • In conjunction with the Departments of Oncology and Internal Medicine, research is exploring the longitudinal cognitive and psychological changes associated with bone marrow transplant in order to tailor treatment planning and identify risk factors associated with cognitive decline. This work includes clinical trial investigations of various therapeutic agents, outcomes associated with differing treatment modalities, and effect of nutrition and fitness on improvement after cancer. Research is led by Kristen Votruba, Ph.D., ABPP-CN.
  • As part of the UM STIM Program (Surgical Therapies to Improve Movement), research to develop models to improve successful outcomes and identify risk of cognitive or functional declines after Deep Brain Stimulation in patients with Movement Disorders. Research is led by Carol Persad, Ph.D., ABPP-CN.
  • In collaboration with the Departments of Neurology and Internal Medicine, the Neuropsychology Program is conducting evaluations of patients with metabolic syndrome and obesity prior to and throughout the course of different treatment approaches in order to better understand cognitive and behavioral change in these patients over time. Research is led by Kristen Votruba, Ph.D., ABPP-CN.
  • In collaboration with Psychiatry research programs, specifically the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program, the Michigan Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab, and the Program for Risk Evaluation and Prevention, we offer research opportunities that focus on the clinical neuropsychology of serious mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mood and psychotic disorders. The resident will have access to a large longitudinal bipolar database and multiple extant datasets to pursue their own research themes of interest. Data available include neuropsychology topics related to health/medical comorbidities, psychiatric comorbidities, well-being, sleep, trauma, inflammatory markers, cognitive trajectories, and using novel-technologies to capture real-time assessments of mood and cognition. Additional areas include use of brain stimulation (tDCS and TMS) and computerized cognitive training to improve cognitive functioning in SMI, as well as use of behavioral, electrophysiological, neuroimaging, and computational methods to better understand the neural basis of SMI. Primary mentors are Cynthia Burton, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, David Marshall, Ph.D., ABPP-CN and Kelly Ryan, Ph.D., ABPP-CN.
  • In conjunction with Ob/Gyn and Psychiatry, research is underway to understand cognitive and neuroactivation changes associated with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in peri- and post-menopausal women. Neuropsychological outcomes, PET and fMRI data are combined to assess risks and benefits of ERT in this population. Research is led by Carol Persad, Ph.D., ABPP-CN.
  • Since the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty, staff, and residents have created a task force to collect data and develop projects related to the feasibility and validation of Teleneuropsychology (TeleNP). Current projects include evaluations of the impact of TeleNP on diagnostic decision-making and confidence, patient perceptions of TeleNP, and a national survey of TeleNP and decision-making among neuropsychologists. Research is led by Annalise Rahman-Filipiak, Ph.D.

Geriatric/Dementia: (1-2 position available for 2025)

The Neuropsychology Section maintains a strong research program related to the early identification of neurodegenerative disorders. The program is closely related to the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center (MADC) housed in the same building as the Neuropsychology Section. The MADC aims to:  a) conduct and promote research on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders; b) enhance the clinical care of patients and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias; and c) provide information and education on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. In close collaboration with the MADC, the Neuropsychology Section conducts innovative memory and aging research to enhance our understanding of a) biomarkers used for early detection; b) disease modifying treatments; c) basic disease mechanisms in AD and other dementias; and d) effective strategies to help individuals with memory loss and their families. Several large databases provide numerous opportunities for research and provide well characterized data for postdoctoral resident and faculty-initiated research projects. Recent and ongoing projects in the Neuropsychology Section include:

  • Comparisons of healthy controls, MCI, Alzheimer’s, and other dementias on:
  • Techniques to enhance driving using the Section’s driving simulator
  • Simple and complex walking conditions involving increasing cognitive load using the Section’s Mobility Laboratory
  • The relationship of neuropsychological performance and positron emission tomography measures
  • Caregiver burden and service utilization
  • The utility of neuroimaging, ERP measures, and computer-based neuropsychological screening in the early identification of cognitive difficulties in community dwelling African Americans.
  • The effects of cognitively oriented treatments (e.g., Cognitive Rehabilitation, Cognitive training) and/or non-invasive brain stimulation on cognition and functional connectivity in older adults.
  • Alzheimer’s Disease biomarker identification and risk communication.
  • Health behavior change following diagnostic feedback and/or biomarker disclosure in racially diverse older adults and their families.

Residents also participate regularly in scholarly publication related to aging-related topics such as healthy cognitive aging, differences in age of onset and prognosis of neurological and psychiatric disorders, and the interaction between cognitive and psychological change in older individuals. Research in aging / geriatrics is led by Bruno Giordani, Ph.D., Benjamin M. Hampstead, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Annalise-Rahman-Filipiak, Ph.D., Amanda Maher, Ph.D., and Anson Kairys, Ph.D. with additional projects led by other faculty members.

VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System 

Adult/Geriatric Neuropsychology: (2 Positions Available for 2025)

Academic track:
Residents can participate in ongoing federally funded research studying the effects of cognitively oriented treatments (e.g., Cognitive Rehabilitation, Cognitive training) and/or non-invasive brain stimulation on cognition and functional connectivity in older adults across the dementia spectrum. Residents will have access to a growing database of neuropsychological and neuroimaging data (both structural and functional MRI; amyloid and tau PET data collection began in Fall 2018). Opportunities for both prospective and retrospective neuromodulation and neuroimaging work are available and will be developed based on mutual interests. Residents will be expected to present research at national or international meetings and to publish study results. The primary supervisor is Benjamin M. Hampstead, Ph.D., ABPP-CN.

Generalist track:
Residents can participate in neuropsychological research that is more general in nature. In recent years, this has included studies evaluating factors predicting cognitive performance in polytrauma, psychometrics, and sleep. Specifically, studies have broadly focused on measurement theory, performance/symptom validity, and psychological testing. Primary supervisors include Robert Spencer, Ph.D., Michael Ransom, Ph.D., Ben Hampstead, Ph.D, ABPP-Cn, and Andrew Hale, Ph.D.

PEDIATRIC– RESEARCH EXPERIENCES

Michigan Medicine

Pediatric Neuropsychology: (1 Position Available for 2025)

Applicants with strong research interests are encouraged to apply, as the resident is expected to participate in the development and execution of research in collaboration with the pediatric neuropsychology faculty. Current research in the division involves multidisciplinary projects focused on autism spectrum disorder, oncology, cardiology, and sleep disordered breathing in children. Primary research mentors are Kimberley Heinrich, Ph.D. ([email protected]), Elise Hodges, Ph.D. ([email protected]), Annette Richard, Ph.D., ABPP-CN ([email protected]), and Kaitlin Oswald, Ph.D. ([email protected]),  as well as support from Bruno Giordani, Ph.D., and Carol Persad, Ph.D., ABPP-CN. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Drs. Heinrich, Hodges, Richard, and Oswald for more specific information. Below is a sample of research projects that are currently ongoing:

  • Neuropsychological profiles of pediatric pre- and post-surgical epilepsy patients via Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium (PERC; https://pediatricerc.com. Primary pediatric research mentor on this project is Elise Hodges, PhD.
  • Neurodevelopmental outcome of children with a history of congenital heart disease. Projects are being conducted in collaboration with the Congenital Heart Center Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Clinic, which includes Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Psychology. Primary research mentor is Kimberley Heinrich, Ph.D. with additional mentorship provided by Elise Hodges, Ph.D., Bruno Giordani, Ph.D., and Carol Persad, Ph.D., ABPP-CN.
  • Neurodevelopmental outcomes of intensive speech therapy intervention in young children with ASD. Primary research mentor is Annette Richard, Ph.D., ABPP-CN
  • Predictors and impacts of education service disparities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary mentor is Annette Richard, Ph.D., ABPP-CN.
  • Neurocognitive outcomes in survivors of pediatric cancer, as well as specifically examining the relationship between cognition and health behaviors (e.g., sleep, physical activity) in survivors and optimal cognitive screening methods in pediatric oncology. Primary pediatric research mentor on this project is Kaitlin Oswald, Ph.D.
  • Driving skills and hazard detection intervention for teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Primary research mentor is Elise Hodges, Ph.D. and Kimberly Heinrich, Ph.D.
  • Neuropsychological Profiles of referred pediatric outpatients. We are currently taking advantage of a large dataset examining profiles for children who have been referred for consensus diagnosis of ADHD and ASD, as well as epilepsy, pediatric cancer, congenital heart disease, and learning disorders. We are particularly interested in neuropsychological profiles in these groups as well as influential covariates.  Primary mentors on this project are Elise Hodges, Ph.D., Kimberley Heinrich Ph.D., and Annette Richard, Ph.D., ABPP-CN.

CURRENT RESIDENTS

Residents beginning their residency in 2023

  • Joshua Fox-Fuller, Ph.D.: UM Geriatrics; Boston University (Ph.D.); Emory University (internship)
  • Aarika Olsen, Ph.D.: UM Pediatrics; Pacific University (Ph.D.); Nebraska Mental Health Centers (internship)
  • Sarah Patrick-Plummer, Ph.D.: VAAAHS; Wayne State University (Ph.D.); VAAAHS (internship)
  • Savannah Rose, Ph.D.: UM Adult Neuromedical; Palo Alto University (Ph.D.); New Mexico VA (internship)
  • Daniel Sullivan, Ph.D.: UM Adult Neuromedical; Hofstra University (Ph.D.), Brown University (Internship)

Residents beginning residency in 2024

  • Claire Alexander, Ph.D.: VA generalist track; Ohio University; VAAAHS (internship)
  • Kylie Kadey, Ph.D.: UM Geriatrics; Wayne State University; VAAAHS (internship)
  • Keara Kangas, Ph.D.: UM Neuromedical; Marquette University; Maryland VA (internship)
  • Craig Miller, Ph.D.: VA generalist; Marquette University; VAAAHS (internship)
  • Brenda Mitchell, Psy.D.: UM Pediatric Neuropsychology; Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Washington DC); University of Texas Health Sciences (internship)

CURRENT TRAINING FACULTY

Neuropsychology Consortium Training Directors

Michigan Medicine:

Kristen Votruba, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Clinical Associate Professor in the Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry; Neuropsychology Training Director at Michigan Medicine. Dr. Votruba completed her undergraduate degree in biopsychology at the University of Michigan and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a focus in neuropsychology from Wayne State University. She completed an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited internship in clinical psychology (neuropsychology track) at the Ann Arbor Veterans Administration, and an APA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Votruba's clinical interests include neuropsychological evaluation across the life span, particularly in individuals with neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and cancer. Her primary areas of research include investigating cognitive and psychological outcomes in cancer and obesity. Current funded projects include clinical trials investigating therapeutic agents in cancer that may affect processing speed or memory consolidation, the utility of nutrition and fitness in cancer outcomes, and the effect of obesity and associated medical comorbidities on neurological outcomes. Email: [email protected]  

Ann Arbor Veterans Administration: 

Robert Spencer, Ph.D., Chief of the Neuropsychology Section at the Ann Arbor VA. Dr. Spencer completed his doctoral degree in Behavioral Medicine / Clinical Psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He completed an APA approved pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral training in neuropsychology at the Ann Arbor VA. His clinical foci are on neuropsychological assessment, traumatic brain injury, and delivering timely and relevant feedback to patients and providers. His research examines issues related to assessment, traumatic brain injuries, and measurement theory. Email: [email protected]

Additional Consortium Principal Training Faculty:

Kenneth Adams, Ph.D., ABPP-CL,CN, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry; Professor of Psychology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.  Dr. Adams completed his undergraduate degree and earned his Ph.D. in psychology from Wayne State University. Internship was completed at Lafayette Clinic (Detroit Medical Center). Dr. Adams’s clinical interests include abnormal aging, long term effects of medical illness on neuropsychological and emotional adaptation, cerebral trauma, and effects of neurotoxic exposures. Research interests include methodology in brain-behavior studies, neuroimaging in studies of neuropsychological issues, long term effects of alcohol and substance abuse, and child neuropsychological risk factors and their effect on adult outcomes. Email: [email protected]

Linas Bieliauskas, Ph.D., ABPP-CL,CN, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry; Professor, Department of Psychology. Dr. Bieliauskas completed his undergraduate degree at Xavier University and earned his Ph.D. from Ohio University. Internship was completed at University of Florida. Dr. Bieliauskas’ clinical interests include general neuropsychological evaluation of adult disorders, closed head injury, dementing disorders, and Parkinson disease. His research interests include cognitive and personality changes with normal and abnormal aging, psychometric indicators of cognitive disorders, depression and dementia, neuropsychological predictors of critical life tasks, and cognitive impact of chronic disease. Email: [email protected]

Henry “Gus" Buchtel, Ph.D., Associate Professor (Emeritus) in the Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Buchtel completed his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College and earned his Ph.D. from McGill University. Clinical interests include epilepsy and epilepsy surgery, dementia, and amnestic disorders. Research interests include brain and behavior relationships, language abilities after anterior temporal lobectomy, attention, consciousness, frontal lobe functions, and brain organization of face recognition. Email: [email protected]

Cynthia Burton, Ph.D., ABPP-CN Clinical Assistant Professor in the Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Burton completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of California, San Diego and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology (neuropsychology emphasis) at the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. She completed an APA accredited internship in clinical psychology at the VAAAHS and an APA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology and clinical psychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Burton’s clinical interests include neuropsychological assessment of adults with neurological and psychiatric disorders, with a particular interest in dementia and severe mental illness (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). Her primary research interests involve cognitive remediation for individuals with schizophrenia, and improving cognition and everyday functioning among those with mental health conditions. Historically her research has focused on skills training, with more recent expansion to include non-invasive brain stimulation and computerized cognitive training. Email: [email protected]

Bruno Giordani, Ph.D., Professor (tenured) of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Psychology, and School of Nursing; Chief Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry; Associate Director for the NIH/NIA funded Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Dr. Giordani is a Fellow in Division 40 (Clinical Neuropsychology) and Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology) of the American Psychological Association.  He completed his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology and psychophysiology from the University of Virginia. He completed an APA accredited internship in clinical psychology and a NIH Training Fellowship in clinical neuropsychology and neuroscience at the University of Virginia and a Health Science Training Fellowship at the University of Michigan and VAAAHS. He completed an APA accredited Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical and Research Neuropsychology at the University of Michigan and VAAAHS. Clinical interests include neuropsychological evaluation across the lifespan with emphasis on impairments associated with neurological and medical disorders and sports injuries. Research interests include development of neuropsychological and behavioral assessment techniques in cross-cultural settings including cognitive enhancement through pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods and identification of early cognitive deficits as revealed by neuropsychological, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging modalities. Currently funded research includes studies in imaging, driving, child and adult HIV, validation of computer-based cognitive assessment, early identification of community-dwelling individuals with cognitive decline using electrophysiological and computer-based testing, and studies of cognitive and behavioral factors in hearing loss and cardiovascular disease. Email: [email protected]

Andrew Hale, Ph.D. Dr. Hale earned his doctoral degree at Western Michigan University, completed his internship at the Ann Arbor VA, and completed postdoctoral fellowships in research at the VA Center for Clinical Management Research and in Rehabilitation Neuropsychology at Michigan Medicine in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Additionally, Dr. Hale is a board certified behavior analyst. His clinical interests include the neuropsychological assessment and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke and the use of Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and applied behavior analysis in feedback and rehabilitation settings. Dr. Hale’s research interests include outcomes of TBI and stroke, research and statistical methods for modeling longitudinal change, and development and validation of embedded measures of performance validity. Email: [email protected]

Benjamin Hampstead, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Dr. Hampstead is a board-certified Clinical Neuropsychologist who earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology emphasis) from Drexel University. He completed his internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Emory University. He is a tenured Professor in Psychiatry at the University of Michigan, Staff Neuropsychologist in the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and both Clinical Core Leader and Neuroimaging Core co-leader of the NIA funded Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Dr. Hampstead’s research focuses on the early detection of cognitive decline arising from aging and neurodegenerative diseases as well as non-pharmacologic approaches to maximize cognitive functioning in older adults. He uses techniques like cognitive rehabilitation and non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance cognition and everyday functioning, typically within the context of a randomized controlled trial. Dr. Hampstead integrates these techniques with functional and structural neuroimaging to predict treatment response, identify neuroplastic changes following treatment, and plan/develop new interventions. This work now includes multiple positron emission tomography (PET) ligands that characterize amyloid and tau as well as cholinergic integrity. Examples of ongoing studies include: 1) the synergistic effects of combined cognitive training and high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) in patients with mild cognitive impairment, 2) HD-tDCS dose-response relationships as measured via cognition and functional connectivity in patients with MCI and dementia of the Alzheimer’s type and whether these effects are mediated by biomarker status, 3) targeted neuromodulation of cholinergic functioning in Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Funding has come from, or is currently provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health, and the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

Dr. Hampstead also directs the Research Program on Cognition and Neuromodulation Based Interventions (RP-CNBI), the mission of which is to identify and provide effective treatments for those suffering from neurologic injury and disease. The RP-CNBI is uniquely poised to provide tangible next steps for the “what now” question that emerges following neuropsychological assessment. Trainees are able to obtain hands on experience integrating clinical data (neuropsychological, MRI, PET, CSF results) to develop targeted treatment plans that address patient-specific needs. Examples include interventions for cognitive deficits arising from post-anoxic leukoencephalopathy, primary progressive aphasia, posterior cortical atrophy, and Dementia with Lewy Bodies.  The RP-CNBI supports a growing list of observational and interventional studies and retains access to hundreds of MRI scans and associated neuropsychological data.
Email: [email protected] 
Website: https://hampstead.lab.medicine.umich.edu/home

Kimberley Heinrich, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor in the Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Heinrich completed her undergraduate degree in biology and psychology at Michigan State University and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Central Michigan University. She completed an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology (neuropsychology track) at University of Florida Health Science Center, and then went on to complete an APA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Heinrich’s clinical interests include neuropsychological and psychological evaluation in pediatric populations, particularly in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer, and congenital heart disease. Her primary areas of research include investigating neurodevelopmental outcome in children with a history of congenital heart disease as well as neuropsychological sequelae of pediatric cancer.. She is also interested in investigating neuropsychological and psychosocial outcomes of children with developmental disorders. Email: [email protected]

Elise Hodges, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor in the Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry; Clinical Director of the Neuropsychology Program. Dr. Hodges completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Michigan and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a neuropsychology specialty from Wayne State University. She completed an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology at the Ann Arbor Veteran’s Administration Healthcare System and then completed an APA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric clinical neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Clinical interests include pediatric, adolescent, and adult neuropsychological assessment, epilepsy, driving skills, transition to adulthood, and neuropsychological sequelae of medical conditions across the lifespan. Email: [email protected]

Amanda Cook Maher, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Maher completed her undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a focus in neuropsychology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She completed an APA accredited internship in clinical psychology (neuropsychology track) at Emory University School of Medicine, and an APA accredited post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Maher’s clinical interests include the neuropsychological evaluation of older adults, with a particular interest in neurodegenerative disease. Her research interests include successful cognitive aging (e.g., ‘SuperAgers’), early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, and investigation of interventions that may minimize cognitive decline. Email: [email protected]

David Marshall, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Clinical Associate Professor in the Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Marshall completed his undergraduate degree at Michigan State University and earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a neuropsychology specialty from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology at Palo Alto University. He completed an APA accredited internship in clinical psychology (neuropsychology track) at Baylor College of Medicine and an APA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Marshall's clinical interests include neuropsychological evaluation in adolescents and adults with neurological and psychiatric disorders. His research interests include investigating features that influence mood disorders as well as cognitive correlates of epilepsy and surgery outcomes. Email: [email protected]

Kaitlin McCloskey, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor in Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. McCloskey completed her undergraduate degree in neuroscience and psychology at Cedar Crest College and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Eastern Michigan University. She completed an APA accredited internship in clinical psychology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and an APA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. McCloskey's clinical interests include neuropsychological evaluation of pediatric populations, including children with neurodevelopmental disorders and medical conditions including cancer, epilepsy, and congenital heart disease. Primary research areas include examining neurocognitive outcomes in children treated for cancer, specifically the relationship between health behaviors (e.g., sleep, physical activity) and cognitive outcomes. She is also interested in examining the clinical utility and outcomes of neuropsychological services in pediatric populations. Email: [email protected]

Kyler Mulhauser, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry; Lead Neuropsychologist, Mary A. Rackham Institute, University of Michigan. Dr. Mulhauser completed his undergraduate degree in studio art (photography) at Wheaton College and earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a focus in neuropsychology at Saint Louis University. He completed an APA-accredited internship in clinical psychology (neuropsychology track) at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and Birmingham VAMC Consortium, and an APA-accredited post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Mulhauser’s clinical interests include differential diagnosis of cognitive changes associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases, characterization of cognitive functioning in adult medical disorders, and evaluation of complex medical cases in which non-credible reporting is suspected. His research interests include executive functioning, impulsivity, and decision making in addiction processes; substance use in older adults; neuropsychological features predicting clinical outcomes associated with aging and dementia; development and psychometric evaluation of novel performance-based tasks; and improving patient care and optimizing clinical practice in neuropsychology. Email: [email protected]

Carol Persad, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry; Director, Neuropsychology Program; Director, University Center for Language and Literacy, Mary A. Rackham Institute. Dr. Persad completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Toronto and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Michigan State University. She completed an APA accredited internship at Henry Ford Hospital and a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Persad’s clinical practice is across the lifespan with a particular interest in movement disorders and dementia. She is the lead neuropsychologist for the multidisciplinary Deep Brain stimulation program. Her research interests include the cognitive and behavioral impact of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease, the relationship between cognition and mobility in older adults including how changes in driving behavior may be an early indicator of dementia, and neuroendocrine factors and cognition. Email: [email protected]

Annalise Rahman-Filipiak, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry and Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center; Faculty in the Clinical Core of the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Dr. Rahman-Filipiak completed her undergraduate degree in biology, psychology, and neuroscience at the College of Charleston in South Carolina and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Wayne State University with an additional certificate in Aging & Urban Health from the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology. She completed an APA accredited internship in clinical psychology (geropsychology / neuropsychology track) and an APA-accredited postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the Michigan Medicine / VAAAHS Consortium. Dr. Rahman-Filipiak’s clinical interests include neuropsychological evaluation of older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementias and functional and decision-making capacity assessment. Dr. Rahman-Filipiak currently co-leads the Michigan Brain Health for Aging Independently (BRAIN) Clinic, an interdisciplinary collaboration with the Department of Geriatrics focused on providing rapid assessment and treatment of individuals with suspected mild cognitive impairment. Primary research interests include disclosure of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers and associated risk for Dementia – Alzheimer’s Type sociocontextual factors predicting disparities in cognitive aging, decisional capacity and neuroethics, and metacognition. Email: [email protected]

Michael Ransom, Ph.D., Staff psychologist in theNeuropsychology Section at the Ann Arbor VA. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota and completed his postdoctoral training in Clinical and Research Neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. His primary clinical interests include the neuropsychology of mood disorders, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and sports concussion. His research activities have focused on cognitive functioning (particularly executive functioning) in individuals with mood disorders, with a focus on depression. Email: [email protected]  

Annette Richard, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Richard completed her undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Eastern Michigan University. She completed an APA accredited internship in clinical psychology (pediatric neuropsychology track) at Henry Ford Health System, and an APA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Richard’s clinical interests include neuropsychological evaluation in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, medical conditions, and psychiatric disorders. Her primary research interests include cognitive and neurophysiological functioning in autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as neuropsychological outcomes of children with medical conditions. Email: [email protected]  

Kelly Ryan, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Clinical Associate Professor in the Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Ryan completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Wayne State University. She completed an APA accredited internship in clinical psychology (neuropsychology track) at the Ann Arbor Veterans Administration and an APA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Michigan. Her clinical interests include adult neuropsychological assessment, dementia, and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Research interests include the use of neuropsychological tests to inform functional outcomes among medical and psychiatric populations, impact of neuropsychological functioning on patient and caregiver well-being, and cognitive, behavioral, and functional decline in aging. She also is interested in using technology to capture cognitive and functional shifts in mental illness. Email: [email protected]

Taylor Schmitt, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Neuropsychology Program, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Schmitt earned her B.S. in Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience concentration) at DePaul University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Saint Louis University. She completed her predoctoral internship (Neuropsychology track) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center/Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System Consortium and her postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the Michigan Medicine/VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Consortium. Clinically, Dr. Schmitt provides outpatient neuropsychological evaluations to patients with a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions, and she has particular interest in neurodegenerative dementias and movement disorders. Her research focuses on cognitive and behavioral outcomes following Deep Brain Stimulation for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Schmitt is also passionate about advocacy and using outreach and science to empower voices of individuals from historically underrepresented and marginalized groups. She is the founding director of “New2Neuropsychology”, which is an organization focused on increasing recruitment of diverse trainees in neuropsychology. She is an active member of the Psychiatry Department’s and Neuropsychology Program’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committees where she helps develop initiatives to support the integration of DEI-informed best practices into clinical and training settings. Email: [email protected]

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