Clinical Neuropsychology

Training Model

The training approach is largely an apprenticeship model conforming to Houston Conference guidelines, in which the fellow is supervised closely during the first year with increasing autonomy as the fellow gains the skills and knowledge to function independently.  Performance feedback is provided on a case-by-case basis in supervision and more formally on a semiannual and annual schedule. 

The fellow's first year is structured to provide breadth of exposure to numerous patient populations and neurological conditions seen through UK Medical Center including neurodegenerative disorders, movement disorders, pre-surgical cases (epilepsy, deep brain stimulation, transplant), dementia differential diagnostics, cerebrovascular disease, traumatic brain injury, and more. The fellow’s second year includes specialization and advanced training with a clinical concentration focused on a particular patient population or populations.  The fellow will work closely with supervisors at the end of the first year to individually tailor a second-year training plan befitting the career goals and training needs of the fellow. 

Clinical Experience 

Fellows are offered experience in a variety of medical settings including outpatient and inpatient neurology such as general neurology, epilepsy monitoring, neurosurgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, sports medicine, trauma surgery, and behavioral sciences.  Fellows may have the opportunity to observe and/or take part in ISAP/Wada procedures, brain mapping and intracranial grid placement, and medicolegal capacity evaluations if scheduled, in addition to numerous other specialty areas and procedures. Particularly during second year, the fellow may elect to participate in multidisciplinary team meetings associated with their specialty population.

Clinical Expectations:  Fellows are typically scheduled three to four patients per week and are responsible for every aspect of the evaluation, including interviewing, testing and scoring, interpretation, and report writing.  Each evaluation requires approximately 4 to 5 hours of interviewing and testing.  

Clinical Supervision:  Supervision is provided weekly for case discussion and professional needs.  Additional opportunities for supervision are ample, with frequent supervisory contact during clinic operations.  In addition, formal supervision is provided for quarterly and annual feedback and goal-setting throughout the fellowship. 

Scholarship

Research:  Neuropsychology faculty members are extensively involved in many areas of research.  Fellows are also expected to participate in research during their training.  Many opportunities in a variety of topic areas are available, including (but not limited to) dementia, stroke, epilepsy, movement and neuromuscular disorders, and brain injury.  Fellows may have the opportunity to participate in secondary analyses of large data sets or design their own study and pursue grant funding to support that project.  There is also a wealth of clinical data available that could be utilized for a number of original analyses.  Past fellows' research endeavors typically resulted in 2 to 5 publications by the end of their two-year residency.  Such opportunities exist with collaboration with Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, UK Multidisciplinary Concussion Program,  and the UK Stroke Affiliate Network.   

Didactics:  Formal and informal clinical didactics are available throughout the training years.  Clinical-translational and bench-based neuroscience didactics are also strongly encouraged.  Based on individual interests and training needs, fellows are expected to choose didactics to attend regularly within the neurosciences and related departments, including (but not limited to): 

Salary and Benefits

This position will be employed under the postdoctoral scholar designation identified by University of Kentucky's Human Resources guidelines.  Health insurance along with other benefits will correspond to this designation.  Salary is competitive with similar training sites and will be comparable to the application year's NIH postdoctoral fellow stipend rates.  

Eligibility

The applicant must be trained from an APA-accredited clinical doctoral program and predoctoral internship.  Dissertation must be completed.  The applicant also must be eligible for temporary licensure in the Commonwealth of Kentucky by the time fellowship begins.  More details are available through the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology website.