Board certified clinical neuropsychologist currently serving as Program Manager for the Primary Care Behavioral Health program in the Office of the US Army Surgeon General. Prior to this position he served as the Director of Neuropsychology for the Traumatic Brain Injury Service at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, MD. He received his doctorate from The Ohio State University and completed his postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington DC. He has served as a commissioned officer in the USAF, worked with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, and is currently a commissioned officer in the United States Public Health Service.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. Seeking board certification in neuropsychology just seemed the logical next step after completing my post-doctoral fellowship. Because specialization in psychology is not well regulated by states, I considered board certification through ABPP the best way to convey to peers and the public that I had the qualifications to work competently in the field. It was my belief that ABPP board certification would be the gold standard with which to measure professional competence, and I wanted to ensure that I measured up.
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. Board certification was a daunting process, and the greatest misconception I had was that the goal was to exclude as many professionals as possible to maintain an “elite” status. The reality was quite the opposite, and many board certified professionals were available to offer support and advice on the process. I was assigned a mentor early in the process and that individual was very generous with his time and gave me encouragement along the way.
Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A. The most challenging aspect of the process was fitting in time for studying while working a full time job and having a family. It resulted in many early morning study sessions and sacrificing a number of weekends, but I have no regrets and feel it was well worth the effort. I was very glad I pursued certification right after I completed my post-doc, when I was still in somewhat of a “student mode,” and would encourage all post-docs to begin the process as soon as possible.
Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A. In hindsight I wish I had not been as stressed out as I was. I should have had more faith in my training and used that time more productively, rather than worrying.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. One piece of advice would be to take advantage of any mentoring opportunities that arise. I found reviewing cases with a mentor invaluable. I would also stress the need for organization: have a study plan and stick to it. There are also more resources now to take advantage of than when I started, and I would use all of them (such as the AACN book on pursuing certification).
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. Absolutely pursue board certification in neuropsychology. Being a minority should in no way be seen as an impediment to certification, and there are a growing number of minority psychologists getting certified who could attest to this. I believe for the field of neuropsychology to continue to flourish we need representation from all ethnicities not only as clinicians in the field but in leadership positions.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. Completing the board certification process definitely increased my confidence in my abilities. Going through the process involved me (and some mentors) looking very critically at my work; while that was not always a pleasant experience, I know it made me a better clinician.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board?
A. Having spent almost my entire professional career in the uniformed services, board certification did not change my clinical practice, per se. It definitely increased my self-esteem, and also allowed me to speak more authoritatively about the process with psychology interns and post-docs with whom I worked. I also did notice an increase in requests from outside agencies for my services, despite the fact that I did not advertise myself in any way. Although I do not currently have a civilian practice, it is encouraging that consumers are seeking out board certification as a desired quality in a clinician.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. Attaining board certification has opened doors to new opportunities (invitations to work on boards, give lectures, review others’ work, etc.) that may never have manifested otherwise. These opportunities are intellectually stimulating, and have also allowed me to meet very interesting colleagues and develop invaluable professional networks.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A. By far the most rewarding aspect of my work as a neuropsychologist is to serve military service members. I feel privileged to work with men and women who have been injured while in service to their country and am inspired by their drive to not only recover to the best of their abilities, but to continue to serve in whatever capacity they can.
Is on the faculty in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and practices at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She earned her doctorate from the University of California San Diego and did her internship at Brown University and her fellowship at Columbia University. Dr. Byrd’s research is in HIV-associated cognitive dysfunction and the influence of culture and ethnicity on neuropsychological test performance.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. I considered board certification in neuropsychology a natural progression in my professional training. Many mentors, including my dissertation chair, were board certified and communicated to me the importance of gaining certification. In my graduate program, it was an implicit expectation. As such, I always planned to gain board certification in neuropsychology.
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. I misperceived ABPP/ABCN as an older, elite and exclusive group that was not very interested in extending membership to young professionals. However, what I learned about ABPP/AACN members via firsthand experience couldn’t have been farther from the truth! Members, including examiners, were very interested in expanding the number of board certified neuropsychologists and were exceptionally supportive of applicants.
Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A. The entire process was more challenging than any other process I had encountered in my training. This was especially true for the oral examination. Gaining board certification is not for the faint of heart or for persons who cannot dedicate significant amounts of time to preparation. What surprised me most was how much I appreciated the knowledge gained from my preparation at each stage. The refinement and expansion of my skill as a neuropsychologist was tangible at each step, so much so that I knew that even if I did not pass, I was already a better neuropsychologist than I was at the outset of the application process. I was also pleasantly surprised at the number of smiling faces among the examiners at the orals.
Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A. I would have started the examination process much earlier than I did. Persons considering board certification now can take advantage of a wonderful early entry application opportunity for which they can qualify as early as graduate school.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. I would advise an informed, early, group-centered approach. There are many resources for candidates to take advantage of including mentorship programs, a terrific book, the BRAIN listserve, manuscripts, etc. By tapping into existing resources and forming a study group, candidates can gain a realistic perspective on the requirements and demands of the examination process and increase their chances of passing all steps the first time.
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. Trust that the examination process is fair and standardized. Unlike some other settings, I honestly had not a single worry that my skin color impacted my chances of becoming board certified. Also, be inspired by the knowing that they are setting a wonderful example. Of all my mentors, Dr. Tony Wong, an Asian-American neuropsychologist, was the most aggressive about ensuring that I gained board certification and I honor his memory for that. He knew that this was important for all professionals but especially for ethnic minorities to demonstrate to consumers and students our level of expertise. Tony never let a chance meeting go by without asking me about where I was in the process and making me promise that I would complete it.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. Even though I received a high quality graduate and post-graduate education in neuropsychology, the board certification process revealed weaknesses in my training that were strengthened through the examination process. I was also reminded of the need to take personal charge of refreshing my knowledge base in the discipline. All too often we become content in just knowing what we already know.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. I value the mere fact of earning the right to join the ranks of so many of my mentors. Board certification is an honor that is not granted but earned only after very hard work. It has also been beneficial to see an immediate increase in referrals and consultation requests. The ability to increase my private practice fees didn’t hurt either.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. Becoming board certified has significantly enhanced my level of practice and the quality of my reports. I have also noticed increased respect from colleagues and referrals from new sources.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A. I get the most reward from introducing people, adults and children alike, to the science and practice of neuropsychology. Sadly, our discipline is not well publicized so the general public misses out on the opportunity to consider brain-behavior relationships in healthcare and in everyday life.
Q. What would readers be most surprised to learn about you?
A. I am a pretty good rollerblader! Helmeted, of course.
Received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed her internship at the University of Illinois-Chicago and her fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her professional career began at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis where she gained valuable experience working with a highly diverse and complex patient population. She recently transitioned to the Minneapolis VA where she works with adult and geriatric populations who are referred for outpatient evaluation from a variety of sources. Dr. Glass is also developing her role as a mentor and supervisor by incorporating a larger training component into her practice.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. The importance of a standardized assessment of knowledge and peer review process that emphasizes quality and standards of practice has been ingrained in me since I began my neuropsychology training. Board certification has thus always been a goal for me. I truly believe in this model that not only reinforces that I have met standards set forth by advanced neuropsychology practitioners but also provides a public benefit. Just as medicine has a board certification process, I feel that ABPP provides valuable information to the public to help make consumers aware of our level and specificity of training.
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. I did not have any real misconceptions, just difficulty fully believing certain points that are frequently mentioned by previous candidates and all over the prep materials (i.e., ABCN website, BRAIN website, Oxford book). First off, while the oral exam is by no means a casual walk in the park, I found it to be a truly collegial experience. I felt that the examiners were there to assess my knowledge and observe my process and contrary to my worst fears, I had no sense that they were looking for any excuse to fail me or trip me up. Second, the board certification process does not move quickly and the longer you drag it out, the longer it will take. It is very easy to let a few months slip into a year to find the “perfect” work sample, which is a fruitless task to begin with. There is no “perfect” work sample. You only need to pick cases that best represent the scope of your practice.
Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A. I think the most challenging part of the process for me was the written exam, both in terms of setting up and maintaining a reasonable study schedule and accepting that I was simply not going to be able to learn everything. I think all neuropsychologists tend to be anxious overachievers, but when you get to the point where you are scouring medical texts to understand the microbiology of cell layers, it’s time to take a step back and remember the big picture. Studying with others can be very helpful in both regards (i.e., keeping you on task and for occasional reality checks).
Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A. As mentioned above, I think that I may have over studied a little bit for the written exam. Even so, I do thoroughly appreciate all the knowledge I gained as this is information that I use very regularly. Everyone will be different in terms of what feels right, but remember that there are no bonus points for a high score. You only need to pass. If you have the time and inclination, go for it, but try not to make yourself crazy either.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. Don’t do it alone! For the written exam, find at least one study partner and ideally a whole study group. Peers are great for camaraderie, commiseration and accountability. Try to include at least one group member with expertise in a different lifespan area. If you focus on adult neuropsychological populations, find a pediatric counterpart. You will definitely appreciate the different developmental perspective and also the help with understanding syndromes that you know less about. Also give yourself enough time to enjoy the study process. This is your field and almost everything you are studying will be relevant to your everyday work.
For the orals, practice as much as you can. Maybe start with colleagues and members of your study group to practice timing. Be sure not to underestimate the importance of attention to the clock during the fact finding. Being able to appropriately budget your time takes practice. Also try to do a couple of practice orals with a colleague who is currently boarded and really try to do at least one with someone you do not know. Personally, I would prioritize the fact finding in these practice sessions. But it is a great bonus if you can also get someone to do a practice session with your work samples.
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. I find it difficult to offer advice in an area where everyone’s experiences are so unique and where my own minority status is not so readily apparent. But I can speak out of my own experience. Generally people are very surprised to learn that I am Hispanic, raised with both heavy Mexican and Cuban influences. My ethnic background is not immediately obvious because I have albinism. Despite my Latin roots, I appear to be Caucasian and thus am not familiar with the day to day experience of being perceived as an ethnic minority. I am, however, very familiar with the daily experience of an individual living with a disability. Another feature of albinism is that I am legally blind. I am not totally blind and do not require a cane, but I must hold regular print fairly close to read it. I do not drive and I will not recognize you waving to me from across the room.
It has taken some time, but I have come to appreciate more and more that I am not going to change anyone else’s mind about me, only they can do that. All I can do is be myself and have faith that my professional interactions and clinical work will speak for themselves. I think that a particular area of personal difficulty has been in overcoming my own preconceived notions as to what I am, or am not capable of. The best solution has been to push myself and to challenge my self-imposed limits. Feedback and support from friends and colleagues has proved invaluable in this regard. Through this process I feel that I have worked to become the best neuropsychologist I can be right now. There is always room for growth over time and I look forward to being able to continue to refine my skills while still working to the best of my capabilities in the moment.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. An increased sense of pride and self-confidence have been great gifts courtesy of the board certification process. I now feel quite honored to consider myself part of a broader community of nationally-recognized neuropsychology specialty providers. I will also say that as someone who has recently been on the job market, I feel that board certification bestowed an increased sense of confidence in my abilities, allowing me to more easily present myself as a capable provider and potential asset to new employers. I also believe that having the knowledge that I had already demonstrated a nationally-recognized level of competence, could only serve to improve my position as a qualified candidate in the eyes of potential employers.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. I feel a great deal of satisfaction in having accomplished a goal I set for myself way back in graduate school. I take pride in being recognized by more experienced practitioners in my field as conducting a solid practice. I am honored to now call myself a board certified neuropsychologist, practicing at the highest level of standards in my field.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. My confidence in my skills as a neuropsychologist has definitely increased. I am also more comfortable acknowledging when I do not know something and accepting that as reasonable because I feel fully confident in my ability to seek out relevant information as needed. The board certification process definitely widened my knowledge base but amazingly enough, being boarded does not mean I have mastered the field of neuropsychology! Rather, board certification indicates that I have the skills necessary to be a competent practitioner. I think one of the most valuable lessons we can learn is to understand our own knowledge and competencies and be able and willing to seek out additional information or consultation when we move beyond those limits.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A. I began my graduate training on track to be a researcher. I love being presented with a problem or question, strategizing ways to go about answering that question, collecting data and then making sense of it all. When I found that the clinical world rather than academia was my calling, little did I know that neuropsychology would fit me perfectly. I relish the puzzle that each patient represents. All aspects of my evaluation represent a piece of that puzzle and every day I get to dive into the fun challenge of putting it together and revealing the hidden picture. But I always remember a very wise statement a mentor shared with me early in my training: While we are neuropsychologists, we are first and foremost psychologists. For all the fun and excitement in the puzzle and its solution, I feel the true value comes from taking that information and making it meaningful to my patients and their families. I find it very satisfying to help them understand how neurological functioning translates into everyday functioning and the various factors that mediate that relationship.
Q. What would readers be most surprised to learn about you?
A. I had not even heard of neuropsychology until rather late in graduate school and I was very concerned about my ability to “catch up” and be competitive with those who had been immersed in the field from the beginning of their graduate training. There also was the not so small problem of administering tests with my visual disability. Thus in pursuing a career in clinical neuropsychology, I did have some very concrete obstacles to tackle. I also faced the challenge of overcoming my own perceived limitations, and at times, the limitations others would try to impose upon me. My path to becoming a board certified neuropsychologist has not been easy by any means, but few things worth attaining ever are.
Specialist of the American Board of Professional Psychology in clinical neuropsychology, Director of Neuropsychology Clinics and Training in the Mental Health Care Group of the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, and an Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Conjoint Associate Professor of Neurological Sciences in the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center of Rush University Medical Center. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a specialization in neuroscience from Duke University, and his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He received training in clinical neuropsychology and neuroimaging through various programs of Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He continued his clinical neuropsychology and neuroimaging activities during his internship and postdoctoral fellowship years at University of California San Diego (UCSD) and the San Diego VA Healthcare System, and as a junior faculty member of the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Han is interested in the study of factors that affect cognition and decision-making in aging. He also has special interests in using novel neuroimaging and statistical approaches to better understand these factors. Dr. Han is the recipient of the Paul B. Beeson NIH K23 Career Development Award in aging research, which is supported by the National Institutes of Aging, the American Federation of Aging Research (AFAR), the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Atlantic Philanthropies and the Starr Foundation. He is actively involved in peer review of grants and manuscripts, and has committee or mentorship roles in the International Neuropsychological Society (INS), the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN), the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN), and Division 40 (Society for Clinical Neuropsychology) of the American Psychological Association.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. I first learned about board certification as a practicum student from my first mentor in clinical neuropsychology, Dr. Aaron Nelson, ABPP-CN, who is the neuropsychology director at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. I remember vividly a conversation with him where he expressed one of the biggest challenges to the profession of clinical neuropsychology was standardization of practice excellence. As a young, impressionable, and developing clinical neuropsychologist, his words had a big impact upon the development of my own views of the profession. Mentors at other stages of my training, Dr. Mark Bondi, ABPP-CN, and Dr. Marc Norman, ABPP-CN, both at UCSD, also stressed the importance of board certification. When I was a staff clinical neuropsychologist at Rush, Dr. Chris Grote, ABPP-CN, was another strong advocate for board certification. These were mentors and colleagues that I wanted to professionally emulate, so I knew board certification would be a professional goal.
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. I felt like my understanding of credentialing was generally accurate given the strong mentorship I received about the process. I will say that as a supervisor of practicum students, clinical interns, and postdoctoral fellows in clinical neuropsychology, I come across a number of misconceptions about the process among trainees. One misconception is that some believe their training experiences alone would be enough to pass the credentialing process. The process is rigorous, and preparation is required. The BRAIN listserv (brain.aacnwiki.org) is a tremendous resource for preparation. Another misconception I often hear is that some do not believe it is important. It is becoming more common that board certification is a prerequisite for getting or maintaining employment, particularly among clinical positions. In some instances, such as the VA system, it also leads to greater income generation.
Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A. For me the written exam was the most challenging aspect. I felt like my knowledge of behavioral neurology, psychometrics, and pediatric neuropsychology expanded significantly during my preparation for it. The most interesting aspect was the oral exam, which I felt was simultaneously both challenging and supportive of my developed abilities as a clinical neuropsychologist.
Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A. I would allot more time in preparation for the written exam. The questions often are complex and involve integration and application of multiple knowledge bases.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. My strong advice is to seek out as many mentors who have gone through the process as possible and ask for their advice. Dr. Mark Bondi, ABPP-CN, was particularly supportive in helping me navigate through the early stages of the process, and Dr. Chris Grote, ABPP-CN, was particularly supportive in helping me navigate through the end stages of the process. I am very grateful for their help and guidance.
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. I would strongly encourage applicants from an under-represented minority groups to apply early and to seek out mentors to help guide them through the process. The more neuropsychologists from under-represented minority groups that become board-certified, the more they are able to exert their influence in the profession.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. Attaining board certification is the highest credential for a clinical neuropsychologist. In a sense, there is no higher badge of honor for a practicing clinical neuropsychologist.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. Board certification is a significant reason why I was appointed Director of Neuropsychology at the VA Long Beach. All clinical postdoctoral fellowships funded by the VA have to pursue APA accreditation, and APA stipulates that an APA-accredited neuropsychology postdoctoral fellowship needs to have someone ABPP board-certified.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. As I stated above, my current position as Director of Neuropsychology at the Long Beach VA was a direct result of being board-certified. I also enjoy the network of AACN colleagues and mentoring others through the process.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A. I think the most interesting part about being a clinical neuropsychologist is being able to understand and explain the association of cognitive and psychological symptoms to a clinical condition when there might be some uncertainty.
Q. What would readers be most surprised to learn about you?
A. In an alternate universe I would be lead guitar player in an 80’s hair-band. I’ve been in bands that have played in front of large groups of people and have written and recorded my own music.
Received his doctorate from the University of Windsor in 2001. He has been board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology since 2012. He has conducted independent neuropsychological assessments as part of the team at Expertise NeuroSciences in Montréal since 2005. He has also been actively involved in clinical supervision and training for several years, including a temporary position as professor at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) for the year 2014-2015. From 2008 to 2013, he was Director of the Clinique universitaire de psychologie at the Université de Montréal. Prior to that, he worked as a clinical neuropsychologist in a number of settings, including in TBI rehabilitation (Institut de Réadaptation de Montréal, Centre de réadaptation Lucie-Bruneau) and a more general hospital setting (Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal). He has collaborated on a number of scientific publications, most notably in the area of TBI rehabilitation and the influence of cultural factors in neuropsychology.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. The idea of board certification was always present during my graduate training, both at the University of Windsor (especially with Byron Rourke) but also during my clinical training in Detroit (with the likes of Joseph Ricker, Scott Millis, and eventually Robin Hanks). Since then, and in spite of relatively little recognition in my home province of Québec, the thought kept coming back. Meeting Mary-Ann Mountain, a fellow Canadian from Thunder Bay, Ontario who had gone through the process, finally convinced me to go ahead and sign up for the written exam.
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. The idea has circulated for many years about how difficult the ABPP process can be. Although it was certainly rigorous (as it should be), my sense was that the overall process was fair. At no point did I feel that what was asked was unreasonable. Indeed, having participated at the Practice Sample Reviewer Cadre training session at the AACN meeting in 2014, I am even more convinced of the overall fairness of the process, and that certain elements have been put in place for this to be improved over time.
Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A. Given the fact that ABPP credentialing is not formally recognized in Canada – and even less in the French-speaking province of Québec, where I live and work – there wasn’t much external incentive for board certification. From the beginning, obtaining ABCN certification was much more personal journey than a professional obligation. What was surprising, especially once it was completed, was the extent to which the process has been useful in developing my own professional identity and self-confidence. During the waiting period following the oral examination, I was shocked how easy it was for me to convince myself that all the studying and preparation had been worth it, regardless of the eventual outcome. Admittedly, this may also have served as a self-serving a coping mechanism, but not that much. The added letters at the end of your professional signature are nice, but more importantly, the process was rewarding, in and of itself.
Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A. Not that much. Given the fact that there are no other board-certified neuropsychologists in the region, it was necessarily more difficult to arrange face-to-face meetings with potential mentors or fellow candidates. Having said that, it would have been useful to be able to touch base with others, especially in the months leading up to the oral examination. Given the increased availability of such assistance (even at a distance) for those going through certification now, I would strongly recommend reaching out and getting that support.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. Enjoy the ride. There will not be that many other opportunities to challenge yourself professionally in this manner, particularly when it comes to your clinical decision-making skills. Although there will necessarily be a measure of stress and confrontation, I would suggest that the process should be viewed as a stage in your professional development and certainly not a “hoop” to jump through. Just like in graduate school, these stages should, as much as possible, be viewed not in terms of their finality (i.e., the test score or diploma), but for the learning that they represent.
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. Historically, it must be said that neuropsychology has not always done a particularly good job at acknowledging certain realities with respect to cross-cultural or minority issues. However, for a number of reasons, I believe this is changing, quickly, as can be seen both in the content of related research and the makeup of our professional societies. It thus becomes essential for clinical neuropsychologists as a group (and most notably professional “guilds” such as the ABCN) to be a better reflection of this diversity.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. I truly love my work as a clinical neuropsychologist – board certification contributed to this appreciation, and continues to do so through the association. As mentioned previously, my experience was that the process of certification was in many ways inherently rewarding, and served as a potent reminder of the complexity of our profession and the necessity of ongoing learning.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. As mentioned previously, I live in the province of Québec, Canada. As of 2012, clinical neuropsychology has become a legally restricted professional act, with a recognized subset of psychologists having the exclusive right to perform neuropsychological assessments. As a result, there have been essential ongoing discussions, both at the legislative and training levels, as to what exactly constitutes a clinical neuropsychologist. In these discussions, it has been extremely useful for me to hold up the ABCN certification as the most rigorous example of how neuropsychologists should be credentialed and recognized.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. As mentioned earlier, board certification may not have directly contributed to any professional recognition here in Québec, at least not yet. However, in doing Independent Medical Examinations, I have the distinct impression that certification has helped, if only in having others ask me about it. More generally, the process has greatly contributed to my own view of the profession and how it should be recognized within society as a whole.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
By far the most rewarding and challenging aspect of my work has been my involvement in training, mostly in the form of clinical supervision of graduate students doing practica in university settings. Witnessing the excitement, wonder and intelligence that these future colleagues exhibit as they discover their chosen profession contributes greatly to my optimism with regards to the future of the profession.
Q. What would readers be most surprised to learn about you?
A. French is the language of the majority in the province of Québec, Canada. Although all of my professional training was done entirely in English, the vast majority of my clinical assessments (i.e., well over 90%), and all of the clinical supervision and training, is now conducted in French. Some work has been done regarding the translation and validation of neuropsychological tests in French, but this has been done mostly in Europe rather than in North America. For several possible reasons, including among others some very different rates of bilingualism, these norms are often quite inappropriate in Québec. As a result, this situation has created a number of important, ongoing challenges in my professional practice.
Received his doctorate from Brigham Young University, completed his internship at the University of California San Diego (UCSD)-VA Medical Center, and did an NIH funded postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Dean Delis. Dr. Norman is a faculty member in Psychiatry at UCSD. He provides neuropsychological services to patients with a variety of neurological conditions including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and brain neoplasm. His research is in the impact of medical disorders on cognition, normative issues in neuropsychology, and the influence of demographic factors on neuropsychological test performance. Dr. Normal has served on Advisory Boards for the Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He has been active in providing mental health services to disaster victims and has served in a leadership capacity with the American Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter Disaster Mental Health Team.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. Throughout training, my mentors emphasized the importance of board certification so the desire was imprinted into my neuropsychological DNA. Ultimately, I felt as though I would only “feel” like a true neuropsychologist once I went through the process of peer review and board certification. I did not seek board certification until several years after licensing and saw many of my training cohort become specialists. I told myself, “It is time.”
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. Now that I have gone through it and have helped mentor others, I hear a tremendous number of misconceptions about the requirements at every level of training and practice. I encourage candidates to ask the ABCN leadership to clarify questions. The other thing I encourage applicants to do is use the tremendous resources, including books, online materials, and board certified specialists.
Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A. My greatest surprise with board certification is the number of phone calls and emails I receive from people who found me on the AACN website. The other surprising aspect are the connections and friendships I have made and how much I continue to learn from my distinguished colleagues. I feel a special connection to those who go through this process and know that they have been peer-reviewed as a specialist in neuropsychology. These connections have led to many professional and practice opportunities, which have been rewarding and fulfilling. Another surprising aspect of this has been in teaching. I did not appreciate the strong desire for students to train with a board certified neuropsychologist.
Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A. I would have completed board certification much earlier in my career. I waited several years after licensing before attempting the process. I studied on my own but this fits my personal style. Many others use study groups at various points in the process.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. I continually encourage everyone who wants to be called a neuropsychologist to go through this process. The process is fair and respectful, and candidates will undoubtedly learn a tremendous amount. I encourage applicants to use the tremendous resources, including books, online materials, and board certified specialists in preparation. Challenge yourself with getting feedback from critical thinkers. You will learn a lot through this process.
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. I HIGHLY encourage minority applicants to go through this process. You will find others willing to cheer you on and support you throughout this. Board certification gives specialists a certain inner peace and sense of accomplishment as the “final hurdle”. It is very rewarding, and you will find that there are a large number of other minorities that have gone through this and are waiting to hear from you to help you through.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. The timing for my completing the exam was not optimal. There were many things going on in my life, but then again, there is rarely an ideal time to take on a challenging opportunity. The feedback from individuals I truly respect helped me to better understand myself as a neuropsychologist.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. As stated above, the connections and colleagues I have met through this process and belonging to an esteemed group of specialists is incredibly rewarding. I have a new set of friends and colleagues I can consult with. It is rewarding to feel a significant sense of self-confidence and completion afforded through board certification.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. Board certification allowed me to earn accelerated promotions within my department. This, in turn, opened up other opportunities. Outside of the university, I met and then worked with colleagues I would have only met through this process. This has been professionally and personally rewarding.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A. The most rewarding aspect of my work is having the privilege and opportunity to help individuals who are in need. Many of them have life-threatening illnesses or will undergo high-risk procedures. Because of my knowledge, in part, gained through this process and the connections I have made, I am able to better assist my medical and surgical colleagues in decision-making.
Born in central California to immigrant farm laborers who had limited educational and economic opportunities. She was very motivated to escape the backbreaking work endured by her parents and grandparents. After high school she earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from Loyola University Chicago. She became a board certified clinical neuropsychologist in 2013. She is currently in private practice and also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She does research and lectures on cross-cultural issues in neuropsychology. She is a past president of the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. I was trained by board certified neuropsychologists who always stressed the importance of an ABPP to demonstrate one’s expertise. So right at the start of my training this became a long-term goal for me.
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. I was really intimidated by the process; however, I found the entire experience to be very fair. I actually enjoyed myself during the oral exam. It was a very collegial experience. I felt like the examiners wanted us to succeed.
Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A. I was surprised at how vulnerable the process sometimes made me feel. During my preparation I had many peers review my work and was nervous about the feedback I would receive. However, this turned out to be extremely helpful as it boosted my confidence and helped me to identify areas of weakness.
Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A. I would try to finish the process much more quickly. I dragged my feet on submitting practice samples and regret that it took me as long as it did.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. Don’t waste any more time! Submit your application and get started. Join the BRAIN listserv and peruse their wiki. At the next conference attend the series dedicated to board certification. Seek out a mentor that can help guide you. Join a study group that will help you prepare and keep you motivated.
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. Pursuing higher education and professional goals always made me feel isolated. Some family members just didn’t understand the need for so much schooling and training. In fact, my grandmother never learned how to read. Many times I could have sorely used a role model who knew where I was coming from to get me through some of the challenges I met along the way. I’m happy to lend an ear to any minority applicants who are considering board certification. Nothing should hold you back.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. I’m proud of myself for voluntarily completing a rigorous examination process that is not required to practice neuropsychology. It makes me feel more confident about the quality of my work.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. Being recognized by my peers has been the most rewarding aspect about board certification. It feels like you are part of a new family.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. Attorneys don’t question my expertise as much as they did before. I’ve also been getting more work comp referrals than I did previously.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A. My first language was Spanish. Growing up I served as an interpreter for my parents whenever we went to doctor appointments. As a child I struggled to translate medical terms I wasn’t familiar with. It was a frustrating experience. For me, it’s very rewarding to be able to serve the Spanish speaking community. Eyes light up when I’m able to greet a patient in Spanish and they are able to express how they are feeling and be completely understood.
Q. What would readers be most surprised to learn about you?
A. I lived in Alaska for two years. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I walked on a glacier, soaked in hot springs in well below zero degree weather, visited the kennels of an Iditarod dog sled musher, encountered a herd of moose (and later tried moose meat) and gained exposure to the people and culture that are native to Alaska. Alaska’s a lovely place to visit…especially in the summer.
Staff neuropsychologist at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. She is the primary neuropsychologist within the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation where she provides neuropsychological assessment services to both veteran and active duty service members on the inpatient and outpatient services. She is also actively involved in the training and supervision of pre-doctoral interns and residents in neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. She was a neuropsychology pre-doctoral intern at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center prior to completing her two-year postdoctoral residency at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She attained board certification in 2011. Her clinical and research interests include sports-related concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, performance and symptom validity, and multi-cultural/diversity issues. She has authored or co-authored multiple papers and book chapters and is an ad hoc journal reviewer for The Clinical Neuropsychologist and the Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. Dr. Sim is also actively involved in APA’s Society for Clinical Neuropsychology, including past service on the Ethnic Minority Affairs, Program, and Women in Neuropsychology subcommittees.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. I was fortunate enough to have been mentored and supervised by board certified neuropsychologists throughout my training experiences, so seeking board certification myself was just another expectation like getting licensed. On a more personal level, however, I wanted board certification to know that I had sought out and “passed” the highest test of our profession.
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. Again, with the good fortune of having excellent mentorship, any misconceptions that I may have held were often quickly dispelled. However, I do believe the biggest misconception applicants often have is how much additional studying is necessary to successfully navigate through the process. I think that, too often, applicants forget that they have already been “studying” for many many years through graduate school, their various practicum experiences, internship, and residency training experiences in neuropsychology. I try to remind applicants that this is not an examination to become a neuropathologist, but for clinical neuropsychology. I try to demystify the process and to assuage people’s anxieties or insecurities by reminding them that all of their efforts thus far has brought them 80-90% of the way there. Lastly, I think it is important for most applicants to know that everyone who is involved in the examination process truly does want you to succeed.
Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A. I was most pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the process despite the fact that parts of it were certainly stressful. Like many full time clinicians, I do not always have the luxury to just quietly sit and read the newest neuropsychology book that I just picked up or read more about neuropsychology-relevant topics that I don’t always routinely encounter in my clinical practice but want to know more about. Studying for the exam forced me to set aside the time to do these things, and I surprisingly found it to be a lot of fun.
Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A. In retrospect, one thing I would do differently is to just pick a date and sign up for the exam. I eventually did this, but up until then, my preparation was very stop-and-go. This was very inefficient as I would start studying, and then stop for a while. When I would return to studying, I would invariably have to backtrack and review what I had already studied. I only began preparing in a continuous and earnest fashion once my exam date was set. A second thing I would have done differently is to earmark any potential practice sample cases as I saw them versus having to go back and go through them all.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. I would advise candidates to either join a study group or try and round up some friends with whom you can go through the process. Although I did not join a study group per se, going through the process with friends helped me stay on track and allowed us to support one another. You’re much less likely to keep pushing the exam date off or delaying your work sample submissions when all your buddies are on track to complete these things by a certain date.
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. Firstly, you can do it! And, secondly, there is a great deal of support behind you, so don’t be shy about seeking it out or even accepting unsolicited help! Many people genuinely want to see you succeed as we recognize that the field of neuropsychology is only strengthened by increased diversity among its members. There are various avenues where someone can seek out mentorship or support. ABCN’s mentorship program or the APA’s Society of Clinical Neuropsychology Ethnic Minorities Affairs are just a few ways to help you get connected.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. I definitely feel like I began carrying myself with a greater degree of confidence once I became board-certified. Many of us have joked about having an “impostor syndrome” or feeling as though we were mistakenly granted admission into graduate school based on a clerical error. We can carry anxieties about our competence and our know-how. Attaining board certification helped me to feel more confident and to speak more assertively about my thoughts on a patient whether it be to other professionals or in my interactions with the patient him- or herself.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. As a VA employee, a tangible and immediate award was that I received a step increase (i.e., salary increase). What I found most rewarding, however, was knowing that I had objectively demonstrated my competence as a member of this specialty. This brought a tremendous sense of PEACE! While other providers and I could certainly have disagreements about my conclusions or other matters, there was little doubt about the sufficiency of my training or practice knowledge.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. Professionally, board-certification has helped to provide distinction. It distinguishes me from my peers as someone who has objectively demonstrated competence in the specialty. It also helps me provide reassurance to my patients. It also helps me feel respected among my physician colleagues.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A. I’ve always loved mystery or detective novels. What I find most interesting about neuropsychology is that we often get to play “detective” as we investigate and integrate multiple pieces of data to try and arrive at an accurate conceptualization about a patient.
Q. What would readers be most surprised to learn about you?
A. That I am married to another board-certified neuropsychologist. And if our daughter should happen to become a neuropsychologist, she’ll be supported in becoming board certified too!
Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the University of Toronto School of Medicine, and the Director of Psychology at the Hospital for Sick Children. She has 25 years of experience providing clinical neuropsychological services to children with cancer and her research program addresses the late neuropsychological effects of treatment for childhood cancer. Her professional service and leadership has focused on ABPP, and ABCN in particular. She attained ABCN board certification in 1996, became an oral examiner for ABCN in 2003, was elected to the ABCN board in 2005, served as Vice President from 2007-2011, and as President of the Board from 2011-2013. She has been closely involved with the creation of the first subspecialty within ABPP, ABCN’s pediatric neuropsychology subspecialty, and currently serves as the chair of the subspecialty practice sample review committee.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. My mentor was ABCN board certified and so it was a natural career goal for me. There were few ABPP boarded neuropsychologists in Canada when I moved here in the mid-1980s, so I wanted to bring board certification to light as an important credential for neuropsychologists in my new home country. This is an ongoing challenge! For many years, I was engaged in part time private practice conducting medical-legal assessments with children who had sustained brain injuries in motor vehicle accidents so I knew it would be an important credential should I ever have to testify in court. But most important, it remains clear that clinical neuropsychology is a highly specific specialty within psychology and if we seek to practice shoulder-to-shoulder with our medical colleagues, we need to attain board certification in an analogous manner.
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. For a long time, there was a ‘myth’ that ABCN board certification was not pediatric-friendly. Future applicants should understand that every attempt is made to ensure that the process is fair and open for those who specialize in pediatrics. This has become increasingly true over the years since I became board certified. Having said that, I continue to believe that it is important for all neuropsychologists to be educated about life span issues that affect the brain and behavior; i.e., knowledge of adult conditions is important for pediatric neuropsychologists as we learn more about early aging in long-term survivors of childhood conditions. And vice versa, adult practitioners must understand the etiology and natural history of pediatric conditions in order to assess, diagnose and treat adult survivors.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. Don’t be devastated if you have to repeat a step (if you don’t pass the written exam the first time, for example). Just study up, or re-do your practice samples and have another go! Anxiety is your worst enemy. The oral examiners are well-trained to help you ‘strut your stuff’.
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. Find a mentor who you trust and with whom you feel comfortable to guide you through the process.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. My struggle with ‘impostor syndrome’ was reduced after I became board certified. I proved to myself that I really did know a lot about brain development, brain injury, and behavior!
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. It allowed me to take on leadership positions locally and nationally, experiences that have led to many new friendships, much learning and the opportunity to make a difference for my profession.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. I have grown as a leader as a result of the opportunities that have opened up for me. My confidence has increased as a professional.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A. The opportunity to help children, families, teachers and medical teams understand the impact of medical conditions and their treatment on brain development, behavior, learning and psychological adaptation. I’ve had the honor of working with many incredible families over many years and sometimes still hear from some of my (now adult) patients. That is the most rewarding experience of all!
Q. What would readers be most surprised to learn about you?
A. I passed the oral exam on my SECOND try!
Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, where he directs the Emory School of Medicine Division of Rehabilitation Neuropsychology. Dr. Stringer earned his doctorate at Wayne State University, completed internship at Lafayette Clinic in Detroit, MI, and did his fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Florida. He has been board certified since 2004, and was the first African American neuropsychologist to gain certification. He is also the first African American President of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 40/Society for Clinical Neuropsychology) and of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Dr. Stringer is the author of A Guide to Adult Neuropsychological Diagnosis, is the lead editor of Pathways to Prominence in Neuropsychology, and is the developer of the Ecologically-oriented Neurorehabilitation programs. Dr. Stringer has been an invited speaker at national and international scientific meetings related to his research in cognitive rehabilitation.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A. I earned my doctorate at a time when board certification was very new, but achieving this credential was always my goal. Board certification provides the clearest evidence that you have the professional training and experience to serve the public as a neuropsychologist.
Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A. Perhaps because of the kind of competitive academic environments that I was used to, I expected the process of becoming board certified to be adversarial. It was not. Indeed, it was the opposite of adversarial. I count it as one of the most collegial experiences of my professional career.
Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A. I found the oral examination to be both the most interesting and challenging part of the process. The challenge for me was that I am an internal processor. I think a long time before I speak. My examiners wanted me to talk as I was thinking. I tried, but I could not avoid having some fairly long latencies before I said what was on my mind. This may have unnerved a couple of my examiners. Fortunately, what I eventually did say was on target. What made the process interesting was the opportunity it gave me to review loads of material before I sat for the written and oral exams. I learned and relearned a lot about neuropsychology as I prepared for the exams, and many things jelled for me in a new way. Preparing to become board certified actually made me a better neuropsychologist.
Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A. I prepared entirely on my own and I didn’t make much progress at first. A back injury put me on bed-rest for a month. With nothing else to do, I studied for the written exam. If it hadn’t been for that injury, I probably would not have found the time to prepare as well as I did. If I had to do this again, I would join a study group to help me stay on schedule. I’ve advised all my junior colleagues at Emory to do that, and it seems to have paid off. We have more board certified neuropsychologists at Emory than at any other institution in Georgia.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A. Resist the temptation to skip doing a fellowship. Resist the temptation to leave fellowship early for a job. You need to complete a 2-year fellowship to become board certified, and frankly, you need to do this to become a competent neuropsychologist. Work hard to get a good fellowship. A program affiliated with the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN) is ideal. If that isn’t possible, then make sure the fellowship you do follows Houston Conference Guidelines. The compromises you make in this area will come back to haunt you. So don’t compromise. Do what is required.
Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology. What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A. Do not allow yourself to feel intimidated by the process. Both ABCN and AACN are committed to attracting under-represented minorities to neuropsychology. Both organizations have Diversity Committees. I have been a member of both these committees and have served as chair of one of them. The entire time I have been associated with ABCN, my top priority has been making the examination process accessible to minority candidates. There are board certified neuropsychologists of European American, African American, Hispanic, Asian, Indian, and other backgrounds, who voluntarily serve as mentors to applicants. Don’t be shy about requesting a mentor who shares your ethnic or cultural background, if you think that will help you. And don’t be shy about contacting ABCN with questions about your future options while you are still a student, intern, or post-doc. It is a lot easier to help a graduate student avoid a future mistake about their training, than it is to help someone whose mistakes are already in the past.
Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A. I felt confident in my professional abilities before becoming board certified. If you asked me then whether my confidence would have increased as a result of board certification, I would have said no. However, to my surprise, it did.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. While I have never done a lot of forensic work, every deposition I had ever done prior to board certification included a half-dozen questions challenging my credentials as an expert in neuropsychology. These days, I just say I am certified by the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, and no further questions are asked. That feels good. Or as good as anything can feel while you are being deposed. And, without question, I have developed many new collegial relationships through AACN and my work on the ABCN board.
Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A. Perhaps the biggest change is that I have now served on the ABCN Board. It has been an incredible amount of work, but it has also brought far more satisfaction than I expected. It feels as if I am making an important contribution to my profession.
Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A. I love the fact that every patient potentially can teach me something new about the human brain. I love the creative opportunities that come from figuring out how to help sometimes catastrophically injured patients put their lives back together. There is no work I would rather do, and no job I feel better suited for.
Q. What would readers be most surprised to learn about you?
A. Besides being a neuropsychologist, I was once a fairly decent drummer. I auditioned and was chosen to play drums as part of a drum core in the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. I was on the field while Muhammed Ali lit the Olympic Torch. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life.