Neuropsychology Supplemental Practicum
Neuropsychological Assessment Experience & Goals
San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) is an approximately 100-bed county hospital that provides inpatient and outpatient medical and psychiatric services to low income individuals residing within San Mateo County.
The Neuropsychology Department at SMMC serves a medically-underserved population who faces economic, cultural, and/or linguistic barriers to health care. Fellows and trainees assess patients who are diverse in race, ethnicity, age, culture, socioeconomic status, disability status, sexual orientation, and clinical severity. A vast majority of SMMC’s patient population either receives publicly-funded health insurance (Medicare, Medi-Cal, or the County’s insurance program for undocumented residents, ACE) or is uninsured. Many of our patients are homeless or have limited income, disabilities, and/or educational backgrounds. Some of our patients have no formal education and are illiterate. As such, Neuropsychology Services provides linguistically and culturally sensitive outpatient and inpatient evaluations to not only English-speaking adults and geriatrics, but also to bilingual/monolingual non-English-speaking adults and seniors with a variety of medical, neurological, and psychiatric concerns including vascular risk factors, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, dementia due to HIV, and TBI. Patients generally present with complex medical and psychiatric histories. As about 50% of SMMC’s patient population is non-English speaking, trainees work with a medical interpreter in assessing these patients utilizing normative data and measures (if available) designed for the specific population. Common languages include, but are not limited to, Spanish, Tagalog, Arabic, and Chinese. Neuropsychology Services receives referrals from SMMC as well as SMMC satellite clinics and the broader San Mateo Health System (SMHS). Most of Neuropsychology Service referrals come from SMHS's Primary Care Clinics, but we also support medical specialties such as Neurology and Cardiology. Neuropsychology Services is embedded within SMMC’s geriatric primary care clinic, the Ron Robinson Senior Care Clinic (RRSCC). Thus, many of the referrals are from RRSSCC and focus on the assessment of neurodegenerative conditions in a medically complex older adult population utilizing an interdisciplinary team model. The goal of the Neuropsychology Department is to provide equitable services to the underserved utilizing a holistic approach to assessment and conceptualization of cognitive deficits.
Training Goal and Model The goal of San Mateo Medical Center’s (SMMC) Neuropsychology supplemental practicum is to develop the trainee’s skills according to the current standards of clinical neuropsychology with a focus on cross-cultural assessment. The trainee will be exposed to supervised clinical neuropsychological experiences with a licensed clinical neuropsychologist. There will also be opportunities for professional development in the practice of Clinical Neuropsychology. The training opportunity is designed to foster multicultural competence and gain knowledge in providing services to individuals of various ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation status, and religious affiliations as well as to provide services to the underserved. SMMC’s mission is to provide culturally sensitive and compassionate care to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.
Training Responsibilities The practicum trainee will have the opportunity to observe and conduct comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, which includes the clinical interview, test selection, scoring, and administration, integrated report writing, and feedback. About 50% of SMMC’s patient population is non-English speaking. The practicum trainee will also have the opportunity to work with a medical interpreter in assessing these patients utilizing normative data and measures (if available) designed for the specific population. Furthermore, the trainee will further develop their knowledge in ethics in assessment, neuropathology, neuroanatomy, and other medical conditions. An initial period of shadow training and close supervision is required to ensure proper understanding of test administration.
Practicum Trainee Goals In addition to the goals that the practicum trainee brings to the program, specific site goals include: timely and concise preparation of reports within 2 weeks turnaround times, flexibility in handling individuals with diverse needs, assessing and providing feedback using sensitive approaches given some of our difficult patient characteristics, and developing comfort and improved knowledge in dealing with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Teleneuropsychology There are some opportunities to conduct evaluations via telehealth. However, the majority of evaluations are conducted in-person or an in-office hybrid telehealth model.
Requirements:
Prior neuropsychology clinical experience is required, with preference given to advanced practicum trainees (incoming 4th years or above) who are in the neuropsychology track. This practicum is for trainees who have the flexibility of 2 days per week. Candidates should have clinical and/or research interests in neuropsychology. Preference will be given to those with experience or strong interest in medical settings, neuropsychology, and behavioral health.
Placement details:
Application:
All application materials should be emailed to: Aikisha Harley, PhD, at HS_Neuropsychology@smcgov.org
San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) is an approximately 100-bed county hospital that provides inpatient and outpatient medical and psychiatric services to low income individuals residing within San Mateo County.
The Neuropsychology Department at SMMC serves a medically-underserved population who faces economic, cultural, and/or linguistic barriers to health care. Fellows and trainees assess patients who are diverse in race, ethnicity, age, culture, socioeconomic status, disability status, sexual orientation, and clinical severity. A vast majority of SMMC’s patient population either receives publicly-funded health insurance (Medicare, Medi-Cal, or the County’s insurance program for undocumented residents, ACE) or is uninsured. Many of our patients are homeless or have limited income, disabilities, and/or educational backgrounds. Some of our patients have no formal education and are illiterate. As such, Neuropsychology Services provides linguistically and culturally sensitive outpatient and inpatient evaluations to not only English-speaking adults and geriatrics, but also to bilingual/monolingual non-English-speaking adults and seniors with a variety of medical, neurological, and psychiatric concerns including vascular risk factors, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, dementia due to HIV, and TBI. Patients generally present with complex medical and psychiatric histories. As about 50% of SMMC’s patient population is non-English speaking, trainees work with a medical interpreter in assessing these patients utilizing normative data and measures (if available) designed for the specific population. Common languages include, but are not limited to, Spanish, Tagalog, Arabic, and Chinese. Neuropsychology Services receives referrals from SMMC as well as SMMC satellite clinics and the broader San Mateo Health System (SMHS). Most of Neuropsychology Service referrals come from SMHS's Primary Care Clinics, but we also support medical specialties such as Neurology and Cardiology. Neuropsychology Services is embedded within SMMC’s geriatric primary care clinic, the Ron Robinson Senior Care Clinic (RRSCC). Thus, many of the referrals are from RRSSCC and focus on the assessment of neurodegenerative conditions in a medically complex older adult population utilizing an interdisciplinary team model. The goal of the Neuropsychology Department is to provide equitable services to the underserved utilizing a holistic approach to assessment and conceptualization of cognitive deficits.
Training Goal and Model The goal of San Mateo Medical Center’s (SMMC) Neuropsychology supplemental practicum is to develop the trainee’s skills according to the current standards of clinical neuropsychology with a focus on cross-cultural assessment. The trainee will be exposed to supervised clinical neuropsychological experiences with a licensed clinical neuropsychologist. There will also be opportunities for professional development in the practice of Clinical Neuropsychology. The training opportunity is designed to foster multicultural competence and gain knowledge in providing services to individuals of various ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation status, and religious affiliations as well as to provide services to the underserved. SMMC’s mission is to provide culturally sensitive and compassionate care to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.
Training Responsibilities The practicum trainee will have the opportunity to observe and conduct comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, which includes the clinical interview, test selection, scoring, and administration, integrated report writing, and feedback. About 50% of SMMC’s patient population is non-English speaking. The practicum trainee will also have the opportunity to work with a medical interpreter in assessing these patients utilizing normative data and measures (if available) designed for the specific population. Furthermore, the trainee will further develop their knowledge in ethics in assessment, neuropathology, neuroanatomy, and other medical conditions. An initial period of shadow training and close supervision is required to ensure proper understanding of test administration.
Practicum Trainee Goals In addition to the goals that the practicum trainee brings to the program, specific site goals include: timely and concise preparation of reports within 2 weeks turnaround times, flexibility in handling individuals with diverse needs, assessing and providing feedback using sensitive approaches given some of our difficult patient characteristics, and developing comfort and improved knowledge in dealing with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Teleneuropsychology There are some opportunities to conduct evaluations via telehealth. However, the majority of evaluations are conducted in-person or an in-office hybrid telehealth model.
Requirements:
Prior neuropsychology clinical experience is required, with preference given to advanced practicum trainees (incoming 4th years or above) who are in the neuropsychology track. This practicum is for trainees who have the flexibility of 2 days per week. Candidates should have clinical and/or research interests in neuropsychology. Preference will be given to those with experience or strong interest in medical settings, neuropsychology, and behavioral health.
Placement details:
- Start date: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
- Duration: 12 months
- Time commitment: 16 hours per week; clinic hours are 8AM to 5PM. Must be available on either a Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday as well as either Wednesday or Friday. At least 50% of practicum hours to be allocated to clinical work.
- Location: San Mateo Medical Center; 222 West 39th Ave. San Mateo, CA 94403.
- Supervision: Minimum of one-hour individual supervision per week with a licensed psychologist.
- This is a supplemental practicum which means we do not offer the traditional requirements of a clinical practicum including additional group supervision or case conferences.
Application:
- Curriculum vitae with an appendix indicating which assessment measures you have administered, the number of times you have administered each measure, and the number of written reports using those measures, and total number of comprehensive reports written
- Cover letter stating professional and academic preparation and work experience as well as career goals and aspirations.
- Three letters of recommendation, including at least two from clinical supervisors who are familiar with your clinical work.
- Two de-identified neuropsychological reports.
- Official or un-official graduate transcripts.
All application materials should be emailed to: Aikisha Harley, PhD, at HS_Neuropsychology@smcgov.org