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Neuropsychology Residency
Postdoctoral Program 2010-2012
The Program
The Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at West Virginia University School of Medicine offers training at the post-doctoral level in Clinical Neuropsychology. A PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology from an APA/CPA-approved program with an APA/CPA-approved internship is required. Clinical and research activities are available with both adult (primarily) and child populations. There are two resident positions with one opening each year.
The post-doctoral training follows the scientist/practitioner model and the Houston conference guidelines for post-doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology. The program is a member of the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN). The residency is two years in length.
Although the majority of the training during the residency focuses on clinical activities, the Resident is also required to engage in research activities. Teaching activities under supervision are also required. The Resident is expected to take part in didactic experiences offered in the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, the Department of Neurology and in other departments of the School of Medicine at the Health Sciences Center of West Virginia University. The goal of the training program is to produce individuals who are board eligible in clinical neuropsychology and able to function autonomously as clinical neuropsychologists in the provision of patient care, in conducting professional research, and in training future clinical neuropsychologists.
Due to the variety of professional goals of the different postdoctoral residents, the mix of clinical, research, and teaching activities may be somewhat different across individuals. However, all post-doctoral residents are expected to engage in all areas of activity. The Resident will participate in a major rotation with each of the core faculty members. Interactions with other faculty members may be possible during that time; however, the majority of the experience during each rotation will be with one individual. The amount of time spent with each core faculty and the specific experiences under the supervision of each faculty is determined on the basis of a plan of study developed by Resident and the faculty.
The Setting
West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center is a tertiary care teaching medical center. The campus includes state of the art facilities: Ruby Memorial Hospital (acute care), Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, Center for Advanced Imaging, and Chestnut Ridge Center. The Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, housed in Chestnut Ridge Center, offers residency training in Adult Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry, Internal Medicine/ Psychiatry, Family Medicine/Psychiatry, and postdoctoral training in Child Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry. In addition, the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry offers
an APA-approved internship in clinical psychology with specialty training in clinical neuropsychology and adult psychology.
The Clinical Experience
Clinical experience covers a broad range of medical, neurological, neurosurgical, and psychiatric disease in both inpatient and outpatient settings including head injury, epilepsy, degenerative dementia (Alzheimer’s disease, FrontoTemporal Dementias, Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia), brain tumors, Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, ADHD, substance abuse, toxic exposure, thought disorders, depression, pervasive developmental disorders, and learning disabilities. The primary experience is outpatient. Residents see two cases a week throughout the 2-year residency. In addition, during the 1st year residents spend a day in the Multi-disciplinary Brain Tumor Clinic. During the 2nd year, residents do inpatient bedside consultations at Ruby Memorial Hospital in addition to the two outpatient evaluations per week.
• Outpatient Services:
Outpatient referrals are received from physicians in the University system (Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Trauma Surgery, Medicine, Pediatrics) as well as from physicians in other parts of the state, and surrounding states. Pre- and post-surgical epilepsy evaluations and Wada evaluations are standard responsibilities of the resident. Pre- and post-surgical evaluations for Deep Brain Stimulation are also standard. Other referral sources include psychologists, lawyers, school personnel, and Worker’s Compensation. Outpatient multi-disciplinary specialty clinics include the Brain Tumor Clinic, a Memory Disorders Clinic for elderly patients with suspected dementia, Parkinson’s Disease Clinic, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Clinic. Psychological treatment of brain impaired individuals and their family members is also offered.
• Inpatient Evaluations:
The Neuropsychology Service receives consult requests from the Inpatient Services at Chestnut Ridge Center as well as from Ruby Memorial Hospital.
Chestnut Ridge Center is a 75-bed psychiatric facility with units devoted to General Adult, Psychiatric Intensive Care, Addiction Recovery, and Adolescent services, including two residential units. The patient population ranges from age 12 to the elderly. Reasons for referral include differential diagnosis, the determination of a baseline prior to treatment, documentation of a change following treatment, post-discharge placement disposition, and treatment planning. Throughout the year, the post-doctoral resident will also have primary involvement in an inpatient orientation and communication skills group which is run daily for patients on the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit at Chestnut Ridge Center.
Ruby Memorial Hospital is a tertiary care teaching hospital. Referrals from Ruby Memorial come from the Trauma Service, Neurosurgery Service, Neurology Service, Medicine Service, Adolescent Service, or Pediatrics. The most frequent referral reason for patients from Ruby Memorial Hospital is to assist with differential diagnosis and discharge planning.
• The Didactic Experience:
There are a number of required didactic experiences: Neuropsychology Case Conference, Neurology Grand Rounds, Professional Development Seminar, Brain Tumor Board, Neuroimaging Journal Club, and Epilepsy Surgery Conference.
The Neuropsychology Resident is expected to attend the weekly Neuropsychology Case Conference, which meets for 1 1/2 hours each week. During the conference a member of the neuropsychology group reviews a case and relevant research. The Neuropsychology Resident is expected to attend the Department of Neurology’s weekly Grand Rounds, which involves presentation of a patient and medical workup followed by a literature review given by house
staff and attending physicians. The director of training has a weekly Professional Development Seminar with the residents. This seminar covers a variety of topics including clinical cases, licensure, board certification, and forensic consultation. During this seminar there are series on neuroanatomy as well as neuroimaging. Neuroanatomy is further addressed on an individual basis with readings and observing brain cuttings. The opportunity to learn basic principles of neuroimaging also occurs in the Brain Tumor Clinic, which includes a weekly Brain Tumor Board meeting. This meeting is required during the first year. Neuroimaging is care part of the clinic. Individual training with one of the Attending Neuroradiologists is arranged on an individual basis. Participation in the NeuroImaging Journal Club is required. This conference meets twice monthly and covers a range of research being conducted by the faculty and students in the Center for Advanced Imaging. The resident also attends the weekly Epilepsy Surgery Conference, where surgical candidates are discussed in detail. The Neuropsychology Resident can attend the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry weekly Grand Rounds which are research and clinical topics presented by faculty, interns, residents and visiting guest speakers. Residents are encouraged to attend when topics are relevant. The Neuropsychology Resident will also observe brain cuttings and neurosurgical procedures.
The Resident has the opportunity to observe and learn the neurological examination through Neurology Rounds and/or in the professional development seminar.
• The Teaching Experience:
The Resident has required teaching responsibilities. In the second year the Resident is part of the rotation for Neuropsychology Case Conference. In addition, the Resident presents Grand Rounds in the Department of Psychiatry in the second year. The Resident’s lectures and presentations are evaluated by faculty. Feedback with a plan to address weaknesses is developed as needed to help the Resident meet a basic level of performance. In addition, the Resident is encouraged to participate in an active way in the didactic experiences offered in the department. There are multiple opportunities for the Resident to give didactic lectures. Prospective audiences for these lectures include psychology interns, medical students, psychiatric residents, psychology graduate and undergraduate students, and social work interns. The resident has the opportunity to learn and apply supervision skills in the Neuropsychology Case Conference, working with neuropsychology interns in the Department’s APA approved internship and working with undergraduate practicum students. Formal training and supervision of Resident’s supervision occurs in the second year.
• The Research Experience:
During the residency, the Resident is expected to become involved in ongoing research projects at the School of Medicine. The Resident is expected to participate in a research project first year and a separate project second year. A contract is developed for each project with specific goals and timelines. At the end of each year, the resident makes a presentation to the faculty of the findings and submits the work for presentation/publication. The Health Sciences Center has a PET scanner with an onsite cyclotron and a 3.0T MRI for neuroimaging studies.
Current research projects include Diffusion Tensor Imaging and structural MRI studies of the effects of cognitive training on brain structure and function and epidemiological studies of stroke. Other ongoing areas of study include using MRI and DTI to study the cognitive, behavioral, and psychososocial effects of childhood cancers and cystic fibrosis. Residents have the opportunity to learn grant writing skills.
• Evaluation:
Supervisors complete a standard evaluation form at the end of each rotation, but feedback is ongoing. In addition, residents complete the Neuropsychology Competency Examination, an oral clinical examination based on the ABPP oral examination, on entering the program to assist in the development of the plan of study. The plan of study is modified as needed based upon performance during specific experiences. The competency examination is repeated at regular intervals until the resident reaches a level of independent practice. Evaluations of teaching and research also occur and residents complete an evaluation of their supervisor at the end of each clinical and research rotation.
• Licensure:
Residents are required to obtain a license to practice psychology in the state of West Virginia. Taking and passing the EPPP written examination is required by the end of the first year. Study materials are provided and fees are paid by the department. To complete the residency, the oral examination for licensure in the state of WV must be passed during the second year. Again, fees are paid by the department for the oral examination.
• Salary and Benefits :
The current salary is $36,000 for the first year and $37,000 for the second year. Health insurance is available for family or single at a reasonable rate. The Resident receives a minimum of $750 a year for conference expenses. Vacation, sick leave, and professional leave are standard.
Complete applications include:
• Letter of interest with description of professional goals
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of reference
• Two sample neuropsychological reports
• Official Graduate transcripts
Send all correspondence to:
Marc W. Haut, Ph.D., ABPP-cn
Training Director
West Virginia University School of Medicine
Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry
Chestnut RidgeCenter
930 Chestnut Ridge Road
Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
Telephone: 304-293-5955
E-mail: mhaut@hsc.wvu.edu
Applicants are encouraged to apply well before INS, as interviews are conducted at that time on the interview day at INS. Interested applicants are encouraged to be available on the interview day at INS as that is the only day interviews can be guaranteed. As travel to INS this year may be problematic for some applicants, we will offer internet based video interviews as an option. However, in person interviews are preferred and preference will be given to those applicants who interview in person. Interviews onsite at WVU are NOT required and do not affect rankings.
The deadline for completed applications is January 25, 2010. The program complies with APPCN polices and procedures for recruitment and notification. West Virginia University and University Health Associates are equal opportunity employers.
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