Training and Education
The clinical neuropsychology fellowship is designed accordingly to the training goals set forth by the International Neuropsychological Society - American Psychological Association Division 40 Task Force on Education, Accreditation, and Credentialing, and by the Houston Conference on Specialty Education and Training in Clinical Neuropsychology, as well as by the program guidelines set forth by the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN). In addition, the training is designed to prepare the Residents for Oklahoma Psychology Licensing Exam.
The goal of the program is twofold:
- To train fellows to an advanced level of competence in clinical neuropsychology consistent with independent practice in a specialized health care setting
- To provide fellows with experience in clinical inquiry-driven research
Clinical Sites
2448 E 81st St; Suite 3700
Tulsa, OK 74137
OSU Behavioral Medicine Clinic is dedicated to providing exceptional psychiatric and neuropsychological care to Tulsa and the surrounding communities. The clinic psychiatrists specialize in a wide range of emotional and behavioral disorders. We care for patients who suffer from depression, anxiety, headaches/migraines, sport-related issues, obesity and more. Neuropsychology service provides comprehensive testing for children and adults for concussion, ADHD, learning disorders, autism, memory and dementia and other conditions. Our services benefit every stage of life, active duty, civilian and veteran populations.
744 West 9th Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127-9020
The country's largest single site osteopathic hospital, OSU Medical Center, is located just blocks from the OSU Center for Health Sciences. What began as Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital by a group of pioneering osteopathic physicians in 1944 has grown to become one of the nation's largest osteopathic health care centers. OSU Medical Center is a flagship hospital in eastern Oklahoma. Licensed for 426 beds, with premier emergency and outpatient programs, it is poised for great outreach and growth in the 21st century. OSU Medical Center is committed to quality patient care. Because the medical center sees a wide variety of high acuity cases, the postgraduate training programs are seen as a critical priority by the medical center staff and administration.
Annually, OSU Medical Center:
- Admits over 13,000 patients
- Experiences over 30,000 emergency room visits
- Experiences over 25,000 outpatient visits
- Performs nearly 4,000 surgical-center
- Performs nearly 3,500 inpatient procedures
Staff physicians have trained at some of the nation's most prestigious medical institutions and have a high regard for their personal role in postgraduate education. Internships and residency positions in many different disciplines are available. OSU Medical Center is significantly involved in clinical training for medical students, nurses, therapists and technicians from several area schools and colleges.
Rotation Schedule
The program will provide supervised clinical and research training, as well as didactic activities. The training is divided into three general areas: clinical activities, research activities and educational activities.
The main clinical component of the residency consists of major rotations. The specific major rotations available during the course of the Residency may change depending on supervisor availability and competencies of the resident. The Neuropsychology Training Director will work to ensure training in the areas desired by the resident. Minor rotations may be arranged for fellows who demonstrate an ability to meet or exceed the expectations set forth in the major rotations.
Major Rotations
Include Pediatric Rotation and Adult Rotation. On average, 3.5 to 4.0 days per week are be devoted to the clinical activities. Residents are engaged in a primary rotation each year. Clinical activities in any major rotation may include: 1) conducting outpatient neuropsychological assessments with provision of reports and feedback to patients and families; 2) providing consultation to the internal treatment teams, psychiatrists, pediatricians, and neurologists 3) providing consultation to external parties such as schools and community organizations; and 4) acute intervention arising from time to time (e.g., suicidal patients, child protection). Descriptions of the major rotations are found below. Clarification on which rotations will be available for the academic year can be obtained from the Director of Training.
Generalist -
First year of the Residency will be committed to the Generalist Rotation. Residents will provide supervised neuropsychological services to children and adults. The rotation is designed to emphasize the developmental approach to neuropsychological disorders and expose the Residents to neuropsychological disorders that occur across different points of the human lifespan. After one year, the residents will select a specific training specialization for their second year of training.
Pediatric -
Residents will provide supervised neuropsychological services to children and their families. The rotation provides an in-depth experience in the fields of pediatric neurological disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, toxic exposure including in-utero toxic exposure, epilepsy, neurotrauma and neurorehabilitation, autoimmune disorders, and others. The Resident will gain experience in assessing children from the preschool age to young adulthood, with most patients in the school-age range. The assessment includes an evaluation of psychosocial adjustment, testing validity, executive functions, memory, language, visual-spatial skills, and other neuropsychological domains. The Residents will become familiar with the national and local special education standards, evidence-based learning and cognitive rehabilitation interventions and therapies, and creating person-centered interventions for patients and their families.
Adult -
Residents will provide supervised neuropsychological services to adults and their families. The rotation provides and in-depth experience in the fields of adult and geriatric neurobehavioral and neuropsychiatric disorders. This includes motor disorders, dementias, TBI and brain repetitive injuries, adult neurodevelopmental disorders, epilepsy, autoimmune disorders, and brain injury. The assessment includes an evaluation of psychosocial adjustment, testing validity, executive functions, memory, language, visual-spatial skills, and other neuropsychological domains. The Residents will become familiar with evidence-based learning and cognitive rehabilitation interventions and therapies, and creating person-centered interventions for patients and their families.
Autism and Developmental Disorders -
Residents will provide supervised neuropsychological and developmental assessment services to children and adults. The residents will learn and practice the use of Autism-specific interview schedules, observational schedules (such as ADOS), and will become familiar with evidence-based interventions, educational strategies, and therapies for individuals with Autism.
Minor Rotations
Minor rotations are optional and offered to provide experience with assessment or treatment of other neuropsychological or general clinical populations of interest to the resident. Minor rotation experience will be offered at the discretion of the Training Director, and only if the Resident meets the clinical demands in their major rotations. Minor rotations will not exceed one day per week of clinical time and shall not interfere with the major rotation duties.
Adult intervention -
Residents will be involved in providing individual or family therapy to adult patients referred by the OSU-CHS Behavioral Medicine Clinic. The evidence-based therapy will be supervised by a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and consulted by one of the referring Psychiatrists.
Pediatric Intervention -
Residents will be involved in providing individual or family therapy to children and their families. Patients will be referred by the OSU-CHS Behavioral Medicine Clinic. The evidence-based therapy will be supervised by a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and consulted by one of the referring Pediatric Psychiatrists.
Infant Assessment -
Residents will participate in the Infant Assessment and Infant-Parent Assessment techniques. The Residents will initially shadow and then actively participate with one of the Pediatric Psychiatrists in the assessment.
Program Structure
Program Tracks -
The neuropsychology fellows are given an opportunity to choose one of two areas of emphasis:
- Pediatric Neuropsychology - Emphasizes outpatient clinical services to children and young adult individuals
- Adult Neuropsychology - Designed to emphasize adult to geriatric experience
Typically, the fellow will complete one year of generalist training during which the fellow will be expected to work with children and adults. The second year will be tailored to the specific training goals in either adult or pediatric neuropsychology.
The training goals are achieved through a series of rotations including pediatric, adult, autism and development, research, and academic activities. The OSU Center for Health Sciences is accepting two residents to train in the OSU Behavioral Medicine Clinic, with the possibility of providing inpatient services to both pediatric and adult populations.
The fellows, regardless of the track, will receive broad training and experience in research and clinical practice. The difference between tracks is their allocation of patient groups. Both tracks individually tailor the fellow's training to achieve these goals in light of the fellow's prior experience and competencies.
Program Structure -
The OSU-CHS satisfactory performance in year 1 is necessary to advance to year 2. The program offers two fellowship positions, which can be tailored to meet the needs and goals of trainees.
Training Time Commitment
- Clinical Training: 70-80 percent overall
- In Pediatric Track, 60-80 percent of assigned experience is with patients ages 3-21 years
- In Adult Track, 60-80 percent of assigned experience is with patients 18 years and above
- Didactics: 10 percent of time commitment
- Research: 10-20 percent of time commitment
With respect to weekly structure, the fellow will devote 3.5 to 4.0 days each week to clinical work and clinical supervision, 0.5 to 1.0 days per week to research, and 0.5 days per week to education/didactics.
The exact allocation of time to clinical activities vs. research will be determined according to the fellow's training goals and demonstrated competencies. Research is expected from each fellow; however, the program prioritizes clinical activities. As such, research responsibilities will be determined in collaboration with the program director, and may change as the fellow progresses through the program. In the second year of the program, fellows may also take part in supervising pre-doctoral residents, practicum students, and/or psychometrists.
Didactics & Conferences
Clinical and teaching tounds will require at least 0.5-day commitment. Fellows will have access to a number of required and optional educational, research, and clinical rounds as part of their didactic component. These include active participation in patient-focused rounds (e.g., Neuropsychology Rounds, Behavioral Medicine Multidisciplinary Rounds), attendance at a number of teaching and clinical rounds (i.e., Psychiatry Residency Teaching Rounds, Neuropsychology Teaching Rounds, Psychiatry Grand Rounds), and research-based meetings (i.e., monthly journal club) offered at the OSU-CHS and affiliated sites, including St. Francis Medical Center. Residents are required to participate in the patient-focused rounds applicable to their rotation(s), to attend weekly educational and research rounds, and present cases at the teaching rounds.
Medical Student Clerkship
Learn about academic courses, clerkship rotations and other opportunities available to medical students through the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.