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Neuropsychology Externship 2017 - 2018

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Please note the following information. The final deadline for applications to the Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology is February 10, 2017. Interviews are scheduled in late February to early March. You will receive notification via email that your application has been received and what, if any, additional materials are needed. Due to the high volume of calls received in the past, we request that you not call to confirm the status of your application

Download the Division of Neuropsychology 2017-2018 Brochure

Download Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD) 2017-2018 Brochure

Clinical Externship in Assessment - Pediatric Neuropsychology

Description: This is an advanced assessment externship in the Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Children’s National. The program is under the direction of Gerry Gioia, Ph.D., and includes 17 faculty neuropsychologists, 2 pediatric psychologists, six postdoctoral fellows, as well as multiple predoctoral interns and externs. Neuropsychology externs learn to administer neuropsychological tests, including measures of intelligence, attention, executive function, language, visual processing, learning and memory, social cognition, fine motor abilities, and emotional adjustment. Externs are taught to interpret test data, formulate diagnoses and conceptualize each patient’s unique pattern of neuropsychological strengths and weaknesses, assist with report writing, and participate in parent feedback conferences when possible. The externship is designed for students who are interested in developing advanced skills in child assessment, as well as those with specific interest in the specialty of pediatric neuropsychology. This service works in close consultation with Children's physicians and several multi-disciplinary teams. An extern may be involved in presenting neuropsychological findings to, and discussing cases with, neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, speech/language pathologists, and teachers.

There are three types of positions available, all of which provide extensive neuropsychological experience, but with different populations

1. General Neuropsychology

The general neuropsychology placement, focusing on the evaluation of school-age children and adolescents with complex neurological and developmental disorders (e.g., complex learning disabilities, AD/HD, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, brain tumor/leukemia, etc.).

2. Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery and Education (SCORE) Program

The third placement involves assessment of, and intervention for, children and adolescents with concussions/mild traumatic brain injuries in the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) program. This program has a particular specialty in working with children and adolescents with sports-related concussions. The SCORE clinic uses a primary care model to provide brief, focused evaluations that facilitate concussion management and monitoring throughout the recovery period. Clinical work in the SCORE clinic includes follow-up communication and care coordination with schools, trainers, and other medical professionals.

3. Autism

The second placement involves working in the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, completing neuropsychological evaluations of school-aged children and adolescents with Aspergers and high functioning autism. This placement includes the opportunity to work as part of a multidisciplinary team including neuropsychology, developmental psychology, speech/language pathology, and psychiatry.

Didactics: In addition to 1-2 hours of individual supervision weekly, externs are welcome to attend weekly didactic neuropsychology seminars. The weekly seminar consists of talks on neuropsychological assessment of special populations, case discussions, and journal clubs. In addition, externs are encouraged to participate in behavior medicine grand rounds, selected psychology intern seminars, and other didactic experiences.

Research: Opportunities to participate in clinically based research may also be available. Staff interests include, but are not limited to, executive function, epilepsy, concussion, neurofibromatosis, childhood cancers, memory, and autism spectrum disorders.

Qualifications: The general neuropsychology and Autism placements are advanced child assessment externships, and thus are most appropriate for students in their third year or beyond, have completed coursework in assessment, have had prior externship experience with testing, and direct clinical experience with children. The externship in the SCORE clinic is appropriate for doctoral students at all levels of training who may have less assessment training or experience, or have a particular interest in working with children and adolescents with mild traumatic brain injuries/concussions or sports-related injuries.

Time Requirements: Sixteen hours per week is required. This externship is a 12-month commitment, although under special circumstances (e.g., internship start date, etc.), alternative arrangements can be made in advance.

Location: Our main clinical location is the Shady Grove Regional Outpatient Center (Rockville, MD), located 8 miles north of the beltway (495). In addition, some patients are seen at the main hospital (Washington, DC), Upper Marlboro, MD, Laurel Lakes, MD, and Fairfax, VA locations. Externs may be placed at any one of those locations depending upon which faculty member they are matched with.

Number of positions being offered: 12 to 18 externs will be accepted for the 2017-2018 training year. The final application deadline is February 10, 2017, with interviews scheduled in late February to early March.

To apply: Send a letter of interest, CV/resume with a list of relevant coursework, list of tests administered and number of administrations, and contact information (phone and e-mail), academic transcript (does not have to be official), and two letters of recommendation. In your letter of interest, please state which placement you are interested in being considered for (General, Autism, SCORE).


Please direct inquiries to: 

Christopher Vaughan, PsyD, Julie Newman, PhD, & Allison Ratto, PhD
Externship Co-Directors
cvaughan@childrensnational.org; jnewman@childrensnational.org; aratto@childrensnational.org


Please direct application materials to:

Christopher Vaughan, PsyD
cvaughan@childrensnational.org

Children's National Health System
Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology
15245 Shady Grove Road, Suite 350
Rockville, Maryland 20850


The Institution
The Institution

Children’s National Health System is a non-profit institution incorporated in 1870. The mission of Children’s National is to be preeminent in providing pediatric healthcare services that enhance the health and well-being of children regionally, nationally, and internationally. Through leadership and innovation, Children’s National strives to create solutions to pediatric healthcare problems.

The hospital on Children’s main campus is located in Washington DC, adjacent to the Washington Hospital Center, National Rehabilitation Hospital, the Washington V.A. Hospital, Catholic University and Howard University. It is easily accessible from suburban areas. In addition, Children's National has seven satellite outpatient clinics in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia, and is part of a complex of healthcare facilities for the entire Washington metropolitan area. Further information about the hospital and its programs is available at our website. 

Psychology and Neuropsychology are both Divisions within the Center of Neurosciences and Behavioral Medicine, which is directed by Dr. Roger Packer, a neurologist. Other divisions in this center include Psychiatry, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Developmental Pediatrics, Genetics and Metabolism, Hearing and Speech, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The Center for Excellence structure was designed to stimulate multidisciplinary collaboration, in terms of both patient care and research, among disciplines and specialties with common interests. Psychology and Neuropsychology have particularly strong working relationships with Psychiatry, Developmental Pediatrics, and Neurology. 

Children’s National is the pediatric teaching hospital for the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Psychologists at Children’s National hold academic appointments in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Pediatrics at the medical school. Children’s National offers a variety of training programs in various medical specialties, all of which are overseen by the medical staff. The Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology offers training programs at the post-doctoral, pre-doctoral internship, and practicum-level for psychology students.