Fellowship Structure

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Neuropsychology education goals and program structure

Our two-year Neuropsychology Fellowship offers in-depth training rooted in the Houston Conference Guidelines, designed to prepare you for independent practice. You’ll engage in assessment, intervention, and consultation, gaining hands-on experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Our curriculum is built around the core competencies defined by Smith (2019), emphasizing a well-rounded clinical and research education that aligns with today’s neuropsychology practice standards.

Exit criteria for program completion

Successful completion of the fellowship is assessed against the following benchmarks, as outlined by the Houston Conference Guidelines:

  1. Demonstration of advanced skills in neuropsychological evaluation, treatment, and consultation with patients and professionals sufficient to practice on an independent basis.
  2. Demonstrated advanced understanding of brain-behavior relationships.
  3. Demonstrated sufficient scholarly activity via meeting the research requirements.
  4. Evaluation using a competency-based model every six months.
  5. Eligibility for licensure in the fellow’s intended state/province where they intend to practice.
  6. Completion of requirements for board certification eligibility in clinical neuropsychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

Program-specific requirement: Fellows are expected to complete Part 1 of the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) by December of the second year of fellowship. Completion of Part 1 is mandatory for program graduation.

Sample rotation schedule

Fellows will complete two major rotations, each lasting one year, as well as minor rotations.

Sample fellow rotation schedule organized by the first and second year of the fellowship.
First Year Rotation Acquired brain injury inpatient (one year)
Month-long SCI rotation
Selected month-long minor rotation
Second Year Rotation Shepherd Pathways post-acute (one year)
Outpatient rotation (5-months, 1 day/week)
Selected month-long mintor rotation

Primary rotations

As a fellow, you’ll complete two 12-month primary rotations that provide in-depth experience across diverse neurorehabilitation settings. One rotation immerses you in inpatient neurorehabilitation, where you’ll work with individuals managing various neurological disorders. Alongside this rotation, you’ll maintain a minor rotation caseload, dedicating one day a week to outpatient neuropsychological testing. The second rotation shifts focus to post-acute care, treating patients with acute and chronic neurologic conditions.

Fellows are embedded members of the team and work with patients, families, and staff regarding cognitive, behavioral, and emotional issues.

  • Population: Inpatient neurorehabilitation of traumatic brain injury,
    stroke, anoxic brain injury, tumors, cerebral infection, and other acquired neurologic disorder populations. Primarily adult populations but serve adolescents as well. Fellows have the opportunity to work with patients in Disorders of Consciousness (DOC)
  • Assessment: Neurobehavioral exams; capacity evaluations;
    neuropsychological evaluations (i.e., test selection, administration, scoring and interpretation, report writing, and provision of feedback); Coma Recovery Scale-Revised and Individualized Quantitative Behavior Analysis with DOC patients.
  • Intervention: Neurobehavioral treatment plans; individual, group, and
    family therapy; family and patient educational programs
  • Interdisciplinary Systems: Embedded within the interdisciplinary
    neurorehabilitation team, which is comprised of a treating physician, case manager, speech therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, nursing, and other disciplines.

This rotation includes specialized experience with Shepherd Center’s Disorders of Consciousness program, including assessing and tracking patient’s level of consciousness using evidence-based assessments and providing education to the family.

The fellow will work with patients, families, and staff as a member of the interdisciplinary team to provide assessment and intervention services at Shepherd Center’s post-acute program. Fellows develop a comprehensive understanding of the long-term sequelae of cognitive and emotional function following ABI on this rotation.

  • Population: Post-acute neurorehabilitation of persons with traumatic brain injury, stroke, anoxic brain injury, tumors, cerebral infection, and other acquired neurologic disorders. Primarily adult populations but serve adolescents as well.
  • Assessment: The emphasis of post-acute neuropsychological assessments is aimed toward characterizing residual cognitive strengths and weaknesses, assessing capacity to return to work and/or school, decision-making abilities/capacity, medico-legal issues, and readiness to drive.
  • Intervention: Individual, family, and group psychotherapy, provision of psychoeducation related to ABI and substance use, as well as design, execution, and monitoring of neurobehavioral plans.
  • Interdisciplinary systems: The fellow serves as a consultant to various interdisciplinary neurorehabilitation teams, which are comprised of a treating physician, case manager, speech therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, nursing, and other disciplines.

The fellow will complete neuropsychological evaluations for a wide range of referral questions.

  • Population: Internal and external referrals related to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. May include dual diagnosis (SCI/TBI). Primarily adults, some adolescents.
  • Assessment: Neuropsychological evaluations (i.e., interview, test selection, administration, scoring and interpretation, report writing, and provision of feedback).
  • Intervention: Therapeutic interviews and feedback.
  • Interdisciplinary systems: Provide feedback to internal and external referring providers. As appropriate, communicate with rehabilitation teams, referring providers, and/or Workers’ Compensation case managers.

Minor rotations

You’ll have the opportunity to expand your expertise through two minor rotations, each lasting one-month.

Fellows have the unique opportunity to observe the various disciplines and unique programs within the spinal cord injury (SCI) inpatient unit which could include driver evaluations and sports specialists. Additionally, if the fellow has prior experience with the SCI population, there is possible opportunity to conduct psychotherapy within a rehabilitation psychology model with individuals with dual ABI and SCI diagnoses. In this case, the fellow will follow some patients throughout their rehabilitation treatment as an integrated team member.

This rotation emphasizes consultation opportunities, allowing fellows to participate in an interdisciplinary team and shadow physicians, mid-level providers, and therapists. Fellows may also manage a small therapy caseload for individuals with multiple sclerosis. Additionally, fellows have the option to engage in research and community programs offered by the Multiple Sclerosis Institute staff.

SHARE Military Initiative

The SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Center is a comprehensive rehabilitation program dedicated to assessing and treating active duty service members, veterans, and separated service members who have served in the U.S. military since September 11, 2001. This program is specifically tailored for individuals who have sustained a mild to moderate brain injury and have a co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis.

As a fellow, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Provide individual and group therapy.
  • Conduct neuropsychological testing.
  • Offer educational support to clients and their families.
  • Participate actively in the interdisciplinary treatment team.
  • Implement behavioral interventions as needed.

Additionally, fellows can directly observe other disciplines within the treatment team, as well as attend clinic visits with physicians.

Complex Concussion Clinic

The Complex Concussion Clinic provides comprehensive assessment and treatment for individuals experiencing persistent symptoms following a concussion, with a focus on facilitating return to play, return to learning, and/or return to work.

In this clinic, fellows will:

  • Provide individual and group treatment.
  • Conduct neuropsychological testing.
  • Educate clients and family members.
  • Engage in the interdisciplinary treatment team.
  • Apply behavioral interventions as necessary.

Fellows also have the opportunity to observe professionals from other disciplines within the treatment team and attend clinic visits with physicians.

The Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit (CRU) team works with patients who have experienced catastrophic injuries, such as amputations, multiple traumas, spinal cord injuries, and/or acquired brain injuries. As a fellow, you will gain exposure to interdisciplinary activities, including patient education classes (e.g., bladder and bowel management), participation in interdisciplinary team meetings, and shadowing physicians and therapists. Additionally, fellows will have opportunities to conduct both individual and group psychotherapy sessions.

Gain experience in the assessment of children with various neurologic disorders, participating in programs provided by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), including brain mapping and WADA testing of children referred for epilepsy surgery. Goals for exposure and education will be discussed with interested fellows to ensure the neuropsychology training experience meets their needs. For example, past fellows have arranged to focus on sports neuropsychology with an emphasis on brief cognitive assessments and return-to-play protocols. Fellows may also participate in ongoing research.

Gain experience in neuropsychological assessment and forensic/medico-legal evaluations within a busy private practice setting in the Atlanta community with a board-certified neuropsychologist.

Research requirements

At Shepherd Center, research is a core component of our scientist-practitioner model and is integrated across all programs. Fellows participate in a wide array of research projects, including those within the ABI program, with opportunities in additional areas such as SCI, multiple sclerosis, and the SHARE Initiative.

With support from a dedicated research mentor, fellows gain access to our extensive neuropsychology registry (REDcap) for independent studies and are welcome to collaborate on faculty-led research as part of their two-year research rotation. Interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged, allowing fellows to explore projects with allied health, vocational rehabilitation, and other clinicians. Fellows also join regular research meetings focused on project development, article critiques, and updates on ongoing research initiatives.

Fellows will produce one research project prior to the end of fellowship. Available types of research projects will be based on level of prior research experience and determined with research mentor. Fellows may be eligible to complete a case study, scoping review/meta-analysis, retrospective analysis using existing data, or original research. The timeline for completion will be established based on the project type Fellows may also have opportunities to collaborate on each other’s projects.

  • Watorek, V., Shwartz S., & Day, C. (2021, November). Examining self-awareness in acute stroke and traumatic brain injury populations [Virtual poster presentation]. National Academy of Neuropsychology
    Conference. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acab062.121
  • Elie, F., & Nitsch, K.P. (June, 2023). Associations between self-awareness and executive functioning in acute rehabilitation post stroke. Poster presented at American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology
    conference, Washington, DC, June 7-10, 2023.

Recent fellow’s projects

  • Examining neuropsychological evaluation a a predictor for return to driving in ABI populations.
  • Examining the role of different executive functioning profiles on learning and memory in ABI populations.

    • Supervision of doctoral students conducting research within the department, pending fellow development and availability of research students.
    • Assisting in the management of the department’s neuropsychological research database in REDcap.
    • Assisting with Institutional Review Board submissions and maintaining institutional research compliance.
    • Participation in reviews of manuscripts submitted to peer-reviewed journals under a faculty member’s supervision.

Didactic training opportunities

Our fellowship provides a rich array of didactic opportunities designed to expand your expertise in neuroanatomy, neuropathology, and the neurosciences, fostering your growth as a neuropsychology scientist-practitioner. Through both classroom learning and hands-on experience, you’ll deepen your understanding of brain-behavior relationships and advance your knowledge of core psychological principles, research methodology, psychometrics, and clinical practice. Below is a sample of the didactic training available to fellows.

This is a collaborative, joint training seminar for the clinical neuropsychology fellows, rehabilitation psychology fellow, student trainees, and faculty. Fellows and faculty regularly present on foundational neurorehabilitation topics, present relevant cases, and discuss and critique neurorehabilitation psychology literature. Board certification preparation activities are also completed during this time. Fellows will present several times per training year.

The diversity seminar meets monthly and is open only to trainees. The objective of the seminar is to provide trainees with the sensitivity, awareness, knowledge, and skills for multi-culturally competent clinical care.

Fellows will meet with faculty to discuss issues pertaining to career development, job search and experience, and other matters of relevance to development as an independent clinician. Fellows will also meet with the training directors monthly to review professional development scenarios, discuss adjustments to fellowship, review any concerns, and provide feedback.

In the summer following the first year of training, the fellows have the opportunity to attend an intensive neuroanatomy course (“Neuroanatomical Dissection: Human Brain and Spinal Cord”) at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All associated travel and course fees are covered by Shepherd Center. In the event that this course is not offered, other resources will be identified.

Fellows have the opportunity to attend virtual classes through National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) to build a working knowledge of the basic neuroanatomic structures of the central nervous system. This course is typically offered from January through April. Topics include review of the motor system, somatosensory system, cranial nerves, cerebellum, basal ganglia, limbic structures, ventricles, meninges, and the vascular supply of the brain. This course is optional given the associated time commitment and workload. Fellows must be in good standing and requests to participate must be approved by the training director and department director. If approved, associated fees are covered by the Psychology Department.

Supervision

Supervision is provided in all aspects of the fellow’s clinical, research, and teaching activities. All supervising faculty are licensed in Georgia. All fellows are assigned a primary supervisor or supervisors for each clinical rotation. Each week, the fellow will receive one to two hours of individual supervision, in addition to approximately two hours of group supervision obtained through clinical and didactic activities. Additional informal supervision regularly occurs as the fellow manages the demands of clinical services. Styles and modes of supervision vary according to setting. The fellow receives supervision on case presentations, performance in team meetings and seminars, consultative/supervisory work, writing skills, and overall professional conduct. Professional development, career planning, and interviewing skills are also addressed during supervisory sessions. By the completion of the fellowship, all fellows will have more than the requisite 1,500 hours of supervised work experience needed for licensure in Georgia and all other jurisdictions of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

Diversity

Shepherd Center is deeply committed to training future neuropsychologists from a culturally competent framework and fostering an environment that is highly sensitive to and appreciative of all aspects of diversity. We believe that increased self-awareness and appreciation for other viewpoints and cultures make psychologists more effective practitioners, scientists, supervisors, and teachers. For this reason, sensitivity to individual differences and cultural humility are integral aspects of our training philosophy. Our overall objective is to provide residents with the awareness, knowledge, and skills to provide clinical services across cultures and diverse settings. Training is focused on the integration of diversity-related knowledge into clinical services. A specific emphasis is placed on incorporating diversity-related concepts and knowledge into evidence-based assessment and intervention practices. As such, our fellowship is committed to the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology’s Relevance 2050 Initiative.