The Clinical Neuropsychology Track is a one-year program designed to provide extensive clinical training and lay the foundation for academic careers in neuropsychology. The goal is to provide interns with supervised training experiences that enhance their professional development in neuropsychological assessment, psychiatric and neurologic diagnosis, neuropsychology research, and general competency in clinical psychology. This track is developmentally-oriented and trainees will gain experience with both child and adult populations.
 
Clinical Training:
 
Clinical training takes place in outpatient settings at MGH. The core of clinical training takes place in the Psychology Assessment Center (PAC) at MGH. Interns will gain experiences in outpatient neuropsychological assessment of children and adults. Interns will spend approximately 18 hours per week in the PAC, including supervised neuropsychological assessments and report writing.
 
One goal of this internship is to further the intern's general training in clinical psychology, especially in relation to the ability to diagnose mental disorders and make referrals for appropriate treatment. With this goal in mind, interns are provided with supervised experiences in emergency consultation and psychiatric diagnosis. Trainees will spend 4 hours per week evaluating and assessing emergency walk-in patients in the MGH Acute Psychiatry Service (APS). Interns will be supervised by attending psychiatrists and will work closely with psychiatry residents and other psychology interns. In addition, interns will spend approximately 4 hours per week conducting supervised clinical psychology diagnostic evaluations of inpatients in the Blake-11 Inpatient Psychiatric Unit and outpatients in the PAC.
 
 
Seminars:
 
 
1) APS-Experience Meeting This seminar provides an opportunity for interns to review and discuss their training experience and clinical work in the APS. Meetings are held weekly throughout the summer and then follow a biweekly schedule for the remainder of the academic year (Drs. Mark Blais and Michelle Jacobo).
 
2) Proseminar This year-long weekly seminar serves several functions. It provides a format for the presentation and discussion of numerous professional issues relevant to interns in all four tracks. In addition to a wide range of content areas (e.g. the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse, HIV, sleep disorders, managed care, etc.), special topics such as ethics, confidentiality laws and transition to practice are also covered. Presentations from speakers within the hospital and the greater Boston area who are involved in "cutting edge" work in psychological practice and research are an integral component of this seminar. Also, monthly meetings are set aside for discussions with the Training Director (Dr. Sheila O'Keefe).
 
3) Research Lab Meetings The intern may attend lab meetings of his/her primary research mentor. The frequency of meetings varies by group.

4. Child Psychology Seminar: This weekly seminar provides an opportunity to discuss relevant issues in child psychology. The course includes a wide range of content areas (e.g., diagnosis, treatment, normal child development, the role of allied health professionals, current research) and provides the opportunity for child interns and fellows to present and discuss cases. (Dr. Braaten)
 

Electives:
 
Numerous elective seminars and experiences are available. Some examples include:
 
1) Dissertation Seminar This seminar provides a forum for interns to receive support and consultation in completing their dissertations. The goal is to provide an integration of clinical and research activities, and to help produce Boulder Model clinicians capable of conducting clinical research. This seminar is strongly recommended for interns who have not yet completed their dissertations as well as trainees interested in obtaining assistance with publishing their dissertations and/or other research projects. This seminar has scheduled meetings twice per month with the option of individualized meetings with the instructor as needed throughout the year (Dr. Lee Baer).
 
2) Psychopharmacology Conference This conference involves psychopharmacologists from the Outpatient Psychiatry Department presenting on the latest in medication treatments for psychiatric disorders. Biological and medical models for specific disorders, the treatment outcome literature and relevant dosages and side effects in the treatment of various disorders are presented. This conference helps assure that the intern is aware of the range of available drug treatments, the effectiveness of these treatments, common side effects, and common dosages that will be encountered in professional and research practice. (MGH Psychiatry Staff).
 
3) Human Nervous System and Behavior Interns may attend lectures from this course, which is the core neuroscience course for second year medical students at Harvard Medical School (HMS). It is held at the main HMS campus (connected via shuttle bus).
 
4) fMRI Brain Mapping Seminar This seminar meets weekly during the academic year. Faculty, from inside and outside MGH, present functional imaging research and describe recent advances in technology. This meeting is held in the MGH research facility in the Charlestown Navy Yard (connected via shuttle bus).
 
5) Other Neuropsychology Electives There are numerous other elective experiences available through the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology. Examples include: Clinical neuroimaging conference, brain cuttings, WADA testing (in children and adults), opportunities to observe neurosurgery, behavioral neurology conference, and Psychiatry and Neurology Grand Rounds.
 
6) MGH Psychology Internship Electives There are also elective experiences available through the core internship program.
 
 
MGH Neuropsychology Faculty:
 

Cathy Leveroni , Ph.D. Track Director, Neuropsychology; epilepsy;funtional neuroimaging
Ellen Braaten, Ph.D. Pediatric neuropsychology; learning disabilities.
Mark Blais, Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, personality assessment.
Gretchen Felopulos, Ph.D. Pediatric neuropsychology.
Amy Morgan, Ph.D. Pediatric Epilepsy
Dennis Norman, Ed.D., ABPP-Cl. Developmental/Clinical Psychology, personality assessment.
Lauren Pollak, Ph.D. Neuropsychology; movement disorders.
Margaret Pulsifer, Ph.D. Tuberous Sclerosis, Pediatric Oncology.
Janet Sherman, Ph.D. Pediatric neuropsychology; developmental language and learning disabilities.
Gretchen Timmel, M.Ed. School Consultation 
 
 
Postdoctoral Training Opportunities:
 
The internship year is a first step in professional training in clinical neuropsychology. Additional postdoctoral training will be required to complete specialization as a clinical neuropsychologist. Interns will be encouraged to apply to the two-year joint program in clinical neuropsychology offered by MGH and Brigham and Women's Hospital. This program is accredited by the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN). Interns can also apply to other programs of their choosing and entry into the MGH/Brigham fellowship is neither mandatory nor guaranteed. One goal of the internship is to produce trainees who will be competitive for any postdoctoral program.
 
Track Summary and Approximate Hours:
 
1) Clinical Experience (approx. 28-32 hours/week)
 
a) Outpatient Neuropsychological Assessment: MGH Psychology Assessment Center (15-20hrs/week)
b) Clinical CBT Psychotherapy: WACC Outpatient Dept. ( 2hrs/week)
c) Emergency Psychiatric Service: MGH Acute Psychiatry Service (APS; 4hrs/week)
 
2) Research (approx. 4 hours/week)
 
a) Mentored research experiences: Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience (4 hrs/week)
 
3) Seminars ( 3-5 hours/week)
 
a) APS-Experience Meeting (Weekly in summer, then biweekly)
b) Proseminar (Weekly)
c) Research Lab Meetings (Frequency varies by group)
d) Child Psychology Seminar (weekly)

4) Electives
 
a) Dissertation Seminar (Biweekly)
b) Psychopharmacology Conference (Weekly)
c) Harvard Medical School Clinical Case Conference (Weekly)
d) Human Nervous System and Behavior (Core neuroscience course at Harvard Medical School)
e) fMRI Brain Mapping Seminar (Weekly)
f) Other Neuropsychology Electives (Individually determined)
g) MGH Psychology Internship Core Electives (Individually determined)