Karen Postal, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, board-certified neuropsychologist, renowned author, and clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School passed away March 20th due to ovarian cancer. She earned her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. An exceptional clinical psychologist, Karen was a friend, mentor, and role model to many in our field. She was a true professional in every sense of the word and was admired by many for her unwavering dedication to her colleagues, her patients, and the professional community.
A tireless advocate for the practice of neuropsychology, Karen made a strong impact as a dedicated and innovative leader. She served as President of Academy of American Clinical Neuropsychology, the Massachusetts Psychological Association and the Massachusetts Neuropsychology Society. Her service extended across organizational boundaries, to also include the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology and American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology. She was a founding member of the Inter-Organizational Practice Committee and propelled pivotal initiatives, including the AACN’s Relevance 2050 and the recent Minnesota Update Conference. She was an exceptional clinical neuropsychologist, who valued and refined the art of communicating neuropsychology in clinical practice with her patients and in the forensic arena as an expert witness. She was the author of three seminal books, “The Art and Science of Expert Witness Testimony: A Multidisciplinary Guide for Professionals” (Routledge, 2022); “Testimony That Sticks: The Art of Communicating Psychology and Neuropsychology to Jurors” (Oxford, 2019); and co-author of “Feedback that Sticks: The Art of Effectively Communicating Neuropsychological Assessment Results” (Oxford, 2013).
But more than that, Karen was a kind and generous woman who always had a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. She had the rare ability to match quick wit and keen observations with an empathic spirit. Patient and warm, yet unrelentingly forward-looking, Karen lifted people up, inspiring them to new heights and allowing them to see the world in a fresh, productive light. She was a passionate teacher and mentor, who was always willing to offer advice, consultation and support. There are countless personal stories of how she went above and beyond to help others. She touched the lives of so many patients and colleagues with her warmth and compassion, and we are all better for having known her.
The AACN and SCN have conjointly established an annual Karen Postal Outstanding Mentorship Award. The award will annually recognize a neuropsychologist who carries forward Karen’s passion for outstanding mentorship. Karen was involved in the development of the award and expressed tremendous appreciation for its creation. The AACN and SCN boards approved the award and named Karen the inaugural recipient a few days before she passed. Sadly, her health precipitously declined before we could present it to her personally.