Specialty Board & Academy Awards

• Tell us about your current professional roles and activities: 

Board Certified in Rehabilitation Psychology since 2008, I have dedicated my career to clinical practice, leadership, education, and professional service. I spent 18 years at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, providing psychological and neuropsychological services in physical medicine and rehabilitation. In 2015, I founded the Psychological Assessment Center, which is a practice that specializes in evidence-based evaluations and treatment services.

I currently serve as President of Division 22 (Rehabilitation Psychology) of the APA. I have also served on the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology (ABRP) for nearly a decade, holding leadership roles including Oral Examination Coordinator, Secretary, and President, and currently serve as the Board’s representative to the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) Board of Trustees (BOT).

Mentorship and supervision are among the most meaningful aspects of my professional life. I remain actively involved in training and supervising the next generation of psychologists and was honored to receive the Division 22 Mentorship Award in 2023. In addition, I present nationally and internationally on topics including rehabilitation psychology, brain injury, trauma, board certification, and professional development.

• What do you enjoy most about your job?

While I enjoy the clinical, forensic, and assessment work itself, I am equally inspired by my involvement in professional organizations. These opportunities have allowed me to collaborate with some of the most accomplished and innovative psychologists in the field. Their dedication, expertise, and leadership continually challenge me to grow and become a better professional. Perhaps most rewarding are the collegial relationships and friendships I have developed over the years with individuals I deeply respect and admire. Being part of that community has been one of the greatest gifts of my career.

• What inspired you to get board certified?

I pursued board certification because I believe excellence requires continual growth, lifelong learning, and a commitment to providing the highest quality care.

• How has board certification contributed to your professional activities?

Board certification has been immensely valuable throughout my career. Early on, the process challenged me to think more critically, justify my clinical opinions, and hold myself to the highest professional standards. It helped establish the foundation of excellence that has guided my practice and professional development. As my career has evolved, board certification has become an important distinction, demonstrating expertise and commitment to quality that sets me apart from other providers. This has been particularly valuable in my forensic work, where board certification enhances my credibility as an expert and provides additional confidence to attorneys, courts, referral sources, and the individuals I serve.

• What advice would you give to psychologists or trainees interested in pursuing board certification?

I encourage psychologists to pursue board certification as early in their careers as they are clinically eligible. The preparation process itself promotes professional growth, strengthens clinical reasoning, and helps establish habits of excellence that benefit one’s career for years to come.

• Please share any fun facts about yourself:

Outside of work, you’ll usually find me in one of two places: at a wrestling event with my teenage boys or on a plane headed somewhere new. I have a passion for travel and often use long flights to tackle my lengthy reports.

• What are some goals that you are currently working toward?

One of my current professional goals is to help shape the future of rehabilitation psychology. As Director of the Division 22 Strategic Planning Task Force, I have the privilege of leading a dedicated team of colleagues in developing a strategic vision for the specialty. It is a highly collaborative process, and I value the opportunity to work alongside talented professionals who are equally committed to advancing the field.