The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology is a two-year postdoctoral specialty training program which includes didactic, clinical, and research activities. The program is accredited by APA as a Residency in the Specialty of Clinical Neuropsychology. The program conforms to the Houston Conference Guidelines for Training in Clinical Neuropsychology. It is also a postdoctoral member of APPIC. The program currently has four full-time postdoctoral positions. Three of these postdoctoral Fellow positions are in adult neuropsychology and one in pediatric neuropsychology. Three Fellows are funded by OU Medical Center and one by the VA Medical Center. The faculty includes eight neuropsychologists.

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center has two separately accredited postdoctoral training programs. Both programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association as residency programs. One program is a specialty program in clinical neuropsychology. Currently, there are a total of 13 fellows in both programs. The other program is accredited as a clinical psychology postdoctoral program. The second program has six different emphases areas including Child and Pediatric Psychology, Addiction Psychology, Primary Care, Health Psychology, Chronic Mental Illness and Combat Stress Recovery. A given postdoctoral fellow in the second program will focus their training mainly in one of the emphases areas. The two programs although separately accredited are closely integrated. This current brochure will describe only the separately APA accredited Neuropsychology Specialty Program. A complete description of the other separately accredited postdoctoral training program can be found on the following web site: http://psychiatry.ouhsc.edu/TrainingPrograms/clinicalpsychpostdocfellow.asp

Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Information:

• Application Information
• The Setting
• Philosphy and Goals
• Design of Fellowship Program
• Training Settings
• Postdoctoral Training Committee

Applicants must have completed all requirements of an APA-approved doctoral program in psychology and a one-year clinical internship. Applications will also be accepted from individuals who have completed all requirements of a university based APA-approved program of postdoctoral education for retraining in clinical or counseling psychology. The program must conform to the guidelines established by the APA Council of Representatives. Applications may be considered from graduates from outside the United States or Canada, on a case-by-case basis. The applicant and their program must, in the view of our selection committee, meet criteria similar to those for APA-approved programs.

As a member of the APPCN, neuropsychology applicants must register with National Matching Services, Inc. It is recommended applicants register with National Matching Services by January 17 of the year the applicant wishes to apply. In addition to registering with National Matching Inc., each applicant is asked to submit:

1. a letter of interest, including career goals, and one copy
2. original and one completed copy of our program's application form
3. original and one copy of a curriculum vitae containing background information, academic and field experience;
4. three letters of recommendation, sealed with signature of the writer across the flap:
5. an official transcript of all graduate academic work plus one copy of the official graduate transcript (if copies are free);
6. if available, two copies of the completed standard APPIC form used when you applied for internship, (If you did not complete the APPIC form when you applied for internship, there is no need to include this form).
7. doctoral Training Verification form, original and one copy.
8. two sample reports - two copies each. A selection committee will be reviewing each application.

As we must limit the number of applicants who interview, all site visits are on an invitation-only basis. Telephone interviews are also available. We normally schedule site visits at least two weeks in advance. Please plan to stay for a full day.

Send all application materials to:

Russell L. Adams, Ph.D. , ABPP-CN
Director, Neuropsychology Fellowship Program
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
920 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Room WP-3440
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104

or

Post Office Box 26901, WP-3440
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73126-0901
Phone: (405) 271-5251, ext. 47680

The fellowship program is offered through the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus, located at 920 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Consortium agencies include OU Medical Center (Presbyterian Tower, Children's and Women’s Hospital and its clinics) the Child Study Center, and Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. Consortium agencies are located together in a large medical complex. A campus map is available here.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has approximately 48 full-time faculty members, including approximately 20 psychiatrists, 25 psychologists, and 3 psychiatric social workers. In addition, there are five part-time faculty, and other supporting staff such as psychometrists, and psychiatric nurses. Faculty members from other academic departments also teach or provide supervision. There are 17 psychologists in the Department of Pediatrics, and one psychologist in the Department of Neurology. All psychologists are on campus and most in full time positions. All together 42 one site psychologist participate in one or both of our postdoctoral training programs.

The educational programs of the department include the APA postdoctoral neuropsychology specialty fellowship, a psychiatric residency, a predoctoral clinical psychology internship, and an undergraduate medical education. The department offers all students, whether they be psychology fellows, psychiatric residents, or medical students, repeated and intense exposure to all the disciplines in the mental health field; thus, the fellows will receive most of their supervision from neuropsychologists, as well as some supervision from neurologists, other psychologists, and medical personnel.

1. Objectives of Training

Our program subscribes to the scientist-practitioner model. Science provides the backbone for our clinical programs and activities. The majority of our faculty members are involved in research projects in their clinical arenas. Much of the fellow's clinical and research training takes place in the same setting. Fellows have experiences in rehabilitation psychotherapy and assessment. Our major goal is to prepare residents for the advanced practice of professional psychology, with an emphasis in clinical neuropsychology.

2. Clinical Orientation

The theoretical orientation of the clinical training program is as diverse as that of the various faculty members contributing to it. This diversity is reflected in the specific settings and activities which comprise the training program. It is the goal of the fellowship to provide fellows with a number of models of professional activity to aid in their search for a professionally meaningful orientation or framework. To that end, the psychology faculty is aware of and utilizes a variety of techniques and approaches for assessing understanding and effecting behavior change and for conducting research. Fellows are encouraged to gain experience in these varied areas and approaches with the expectation that some integration of assessment theory, research, and practice will be achieved by each fellow over the course of their program.
3. Goals

Upon completion of the program, Adult focused neuropsychology fellows will:
1. Demonstrate advanced skills in neuropsychological assessment primarily with adults but with some exposure to children sufficient for independent practice.
2. Demonstrate advanced skills in treatment with neuropsychology patients sufficient for independent practice.
3. Demonstrate advanced skills in consultation with neuropsychological populations sufficient for independent practice.
4. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of etiologic mechanisms and processes in neuropsychology.
5. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of research issues and methodologies in neuropsychology.
6. Have sufficient training and experience to apply for licensure or certification for independent practice of psychology in most states.

Upon completion of the program, child focused neuropsychology fellows will have: goals ii. – vi. above with the addition of the following goal:

7. The child neuropsychology fellow will demonstrate advanced skills in neuropsychology assessment primarily with children sufficient to practice on an independent basis.

The postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology is designed to provide extensive didactic training, clinical assessment, treatment experiences in neuropsychology, and in research skills. Fellowship activities include both general and specific elements. Fellows have the opportunity to choose certain clinical and research activities to fit with their goals and interests. Additionally, fellows work closely with one or more faculty members to develop and execute at least one research project or paper each year.

Scope of the Fellowship Program
The fellowship program includes didactics which are common for fellows in all of the emphasis areas as well as specific didactics for the Clinical Neuropsychology Fellowship. The general didactics include: 1) the Postdoc Forum, a general seminar which addresses common professional issues, ethics, licensure, and cultural diversity, and 2) the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Teaching Conference, which is the Grand Rounds for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and is attended by faculty and all trainee groups. It is our hope and expectation that having some activities in common with other postdoctoral fellows in other emphasis areas will forge collaborative relationships across areas and provide a social/learning net work. .

By the end of a two-year fellowship in clinical neuropsychology, fellows will have all the formal course work and clinical experiences in neurosciences required by medical students after four years of medical school.

The didactics specific to the Clinical Neuropsychology specialty program include (by year):

Year 1

1. Medical Neuroscience (OCNS 5407/8080) which is the medical neurosciences course for all OUHSC first-year medical students.
2. Neuropsychology Case Conference (weekly)
3. Neurology Grand Rounds
4. Neurosurgery Grand Rounds (one per month)
5. Headache Grand Rounds (one per month)
6. Neuropathology Rounds - Brain Cutting (one per month)

Year 2

1. Clinical Neuroscience for second-year medical student (Human Illness Class)
2. Clerkship in Neurology (2-week full-time clerkship in Neurology). All Neuropsychology postdoctoral Fellowship requirements are suspended during this 2-week period. This rotation is required of all third year medical students.
3. Neuropsychology Case Conference (weekly)
4. Neurology Grand Rounds
5. Neurosurgery Grand Rounds (one per month)
6. Neuropathology Rounds - Brain Cutting(one per month)

A fellow's primary training setting is based on the fellow's primary rotation selection: OU Medical Center-Everett Tower, VA Medical Center or Department of Pediatrics. Within each training setting, a fellow may work with several different clinical neuropsychology supervisors for specified periods of time. The specific activities, the time spent with each supervisor, and the portion of a year spent in each setting are identified at the beginning of a year in the Fellow's Training Plan (FTP), which is jointly composed by the fellow and a faculty supervisor. For example, a neuropsychology fellow may spend ten (10) months of a year in an adult oriented assessment setting and six (6) weeks in a rehabilitation setting. Briefer training experiences (e.g. 8-10 hours per week) for a portion of a year in a different setting may also be negotiated.

Opportunities for assessment, psychotherapy, and consultation exist within all major training settings. The relative amount of each type of activity for each fellow is based upon the fellow's prior experience and training needs. All Fellows will have some experience in all three types of activities.

As indicated above, the fellowship consists of (a) clinical placements; (b) required and elective seminars in clinical neuropsychology; and (c) research and other departmental or related activities. The Neuropsychology training sites are as follows:

1. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Neuropsychology Laboratory

This is a minimum of one-year program of intensive clinical neuropsychology training. Primary supervisors are Russell L. Adams, Ph.D., ABPP-CN and James G. Scott, Ph.D., ABPP-CN. Clinical Neuropsychology services are primarily outpatient, but limited inpatient experiences are available. Populations include primarily adults and older adolescents. Some pediatric neuropsychological assessment experiences are available with Jim Scott through the Pediatric Neuropsychology Laboratory. Typical referrals are obtained from physicians within the University Medical Center and from the Oklahoma, North Texas, West Missouri, and Arkansas areas. Fellows will also have ample opportunities to be involved in civil forensic work with Russell Adams. Patient populations include neuropsychiatric disorders, known and suspected dementias, stroke, traumatic brain injury, postconcussive syndromes, toxic exposure, chronic pain, pre- and post-surgical evaluations for patients with medically intractable epilepsy, pre- and post-surgical evaluations for patients undergoing Deep Brain Stimulator, and pre- and post-surgical evaluations for patients with neoplasms. Experiences are designed to provide Fellows with a variety of clinical and didactic exposures, with additional opportunities for supervision, teaching, and administrative experience. Fellows will have the opportunity of supervising practicum students and neuropsychology interns from the OUHSC APA accredited psychology internship program. Fellows will have the opportunity to collaborate with Drs. Adams and Scott on research using the University of Oklahoma Neuropsychology Database.
2. Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Oklahoma City

The Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center is geographically a part of the OU Medical Center and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Faculty are affiliated with the VAMC. The Neuropsychology clinic is part of the Psychology Division. Fellows generally complete a one-year program of intensive clinical neuropsychology training, although minor rotations (part-time placements) may be possible. The primary supervisors are Bill Ruwe, Ph.D. and John Linck, Ph.D. Clinical Neuropsychology services include a mixture of outpatient and inpatient neuropsychological evaluations (approximately 60-40%). Bill Leber, Ph.D, who is a neuropsychologists and also Chief of the VA Psychology Service, may provide some limited supervision. Populations include primarily adult males, although some females are evaluated. Typical referrals are obtained from psychiatry and neuroscience services with the VAMC system. Fellows are valued members of the VAMC-OKC- spinal injury program and stroke rehabilitation program. Patient populations include neuropsychiatric disorders, known and suspected dementias, stroke, traumatic brain injury, individuals with spinal cord injuries, toxic exposure, chronic pain, and pre- and post-surgical evaluations for individuals with neoplasms. Experiences are designed to provide Fellows with a variety of clinical and didactic exposures, with additional opportunities for supervising psychology interns who are part of the APA approved OUHSC psychology internship program. Fellows will have the opportunity to collaborate on a variety of research projects.
3. Department of Pediatrics

The Pediatric Neuropsychology focus training is located primarily in the Pediatric Department at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The Pediatric Neuropsychology Fellowship is a 2-year postdoctoral program which provides advanced training in the clinical and research applications of neuropsychological principles consistent with APA Division 40 and Houston Conference guidelines. Major rotation opportunities are available at the Child Study Center (Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics) and the Jimmy Everest Center (Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology) , both in the Department of Pediatrics. The majority of services are provided on an out-patient basis, although some in-patient consultation opportunities are available. Both clinics provide services to children and adolescents ages 2 through 18. The Neuropsychology Clinic at the Child Study Center provides out-patient tertiary services to individuals with a known or suspected developmental or disruptive behavioral disorder that affects their learning, attention/activity level, academic or emotional functioning. This includes children with a history of seizures, Tourette’s syndrome, fetal substance exposure, brain malformations, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, Asperger’s, complex language disorders, and/or disruptive behavior disorders, etc. Patients seen in the Jimmy Everest Center are referred primarily by physicians with the section of Hematology/Oncology, although patients are also referred by other specialty clinics including general pediatrics, nephrology, urology, cardiology, rheumatology, and otorhinolarygology (for sleep-related disorders). Thus patients with a wide range of medical conditions are seen on this rotation, including brain tumors, blood disorders, sickle cell disease, Leukemia, chronic kidney disease, end stage renal disease, seizure disorders, Lupus, traumatic brain injury, and congenital brain anomalies to name a few. Limited opportunities for forensic evaluation are available. The patient population represents a wide range of cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity. The majority of supervision is under Lori Holmquist-Day, Ph.D, a pediatric neuropsychologist but additional supervision is available from Jan Culbertson, Ph.D., another pediatric neuropsychologist.

Training Plan and Evaluation Procedures
The majority of didactic, research, and clinical activities are within the Clinical Neuropsychology specialty area. The Fellow, working with a faculty supervisor, develops a Training Plan within the first month of the fellowship. The Neuropsychology Training Director must approve this plan. The sections of the Training Plan correspond to the list of general goals for the program. Within each general goal, the track-specific goals are delineated. The Fellow's Training Plan (FTP) specifies clinical activities for the year, the sites where these will take place, and the duration of training at each site. Specialty track-specific didactics, including seminars, conferences and directed readings, are listed. The topic area and a timeline for the Fellow's research are also specified.

The goals and activities identified in the FTP are the basis for evaluation. Formal evaluations of progress take place at least three times per year. The Fellow's progress in each of the activities specified in the training plan is rated according to the following scale:
4 = ability to perform this aspect independently;
3 = needs little supervision for this aspect;
2 = needs some supervision for this aspect;
1 = basic training is needed for this aspect;
U = Unsatisfactory performance for this aspect.

This committee is composed of all of the psychologists who have direct contact with the postdoctoral fellows. The Chairman of the Committee is the Director of the Postdoctoral Training Program, and the Executive Subcommittee consists of the Director, the VA Training Director, and the directors of the various emphasis areas. The training committee oversees the various programs, discusses policies related to the program, and makes recommendations to the Director, who has ultimate responsibility for the program. Each specialty or emphasis area has a faculty committee who addresses the specifics of training within that area.

Postdoctoral Stipends, Benefits, and Support
In 2008-2009 stipends vary from $36,918 - $41,070 depending on emphasis area and funding source. Health insurance is available for all positions. Professional liability insurance is required and is provided for the non-VA trainees. Fellows receive 10 days of vacation leave and five days administrative leave.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FACULTY IN CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

Russell L. Adams, Ph.D., ABPP-CN is Director of the Postdoctoral Program and a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He is also Director of the Neuropsychological Assessment Laboratory at OU Medical Center-Everett Tower and provides clinical and research supervision for residents. His scholarly interests are clinical neuropsychology, individual psychotherapy, and forensic neuropsychology.

Jan L. Culbertson, Ph.D. is Professor of Pediatrics, and Clinical Professor of Director of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She is Director of Pediatric Neuropsychology at the Child Study Center and provides clinical and research supervision for fellows. Her scholarly interests are pediatric neuropsychology, neurodevelopmental disorders, and forensic neuropsychology.

Dr. Lori A. Holmquist-Day, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor and pediatric neuropsychologist at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Pediatrics. Her primary clinical interests are neuropsychological evaluations on children with medical conditions that impact CNS development or function and forensic evaluations. Her current research interests include early screening for children with sickle cell disease at risk for developmental delays and neurocognitive interventions in childhood cancer survivors. Dr. Holmquist-Day serves as a clinical supervisor and mentor for neuropsychology interns and postdoctoral Fellows.

Herman Jones, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He provides supervision of Fellows who seek supplemental Training Experiences in Intracarotid Amobarbital (WADA) Testing as well as other inpatient neuropsychology services within the Department of Neurology. His scholarly interests include epilepsy, delirium, traumatic brain injury, cognitive rehabilitation, somatization disorders, and criminal forensic applications of psychology and clinical neuropsychology.

William R. Leber, Ph.D. is Chief of Psychology and past Director of Clinical Neuropsychology at the VA Medical Center and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He supervises psychology fellows and interns in a Stroke Recovery Group and a limited number of evaluations at the VA.  He could also a serves as a research consultant with interests which include dementia, Persian Gulf illnesses, and neuropsychological aspects of alcoholism.

John Linck, Ph.D. is a neuropsychologist at the VA Medical Center and Assistant Professor pending in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. His clinical interests are in neurocognitive assessment as well as individual and group psychotherapy of patients with neurologic illness. He is involved in clinical supervision of psychology fellows, interns, and practicum students at the VA.

Bill Ruwe, Ph.D. is a neuropsychologist at the VA Medical Center and is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. His clinical interests are in neurocognitive assessment as well as individual and group psychotherapy of patients with neurologic illness. He is involved in clinical supervision of psychology fellows, interns, and practicum students at the VA.

James G. Scott, Ph.D., ABPP-CN is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science. He is Director of Pediatric Neuropsychology Assessment Laboratory and Staff Neuropsychologist in the Adult Neuropsychological Assessment Laboratory. His clinical interests are in assessment of neurosurgical and neurological populations. He is involved in clinical and research supervision of postdoctoral fellows in neuropsychology. He also lectures in the postdoctoral didactic series.

For additional questions, please contact
Russell L. Adams, Ph.D., ABPP-CN