UCLA
# of Openings: 3-5
Cultural Neuropsychology Initiative
UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior
Stuart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital
300 Medical Plaza Building
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 206-9326
LEVEL:
Practicum
CONTACT: Xavier Cagigas, PhD (xcagigas@mednet.ucla.edu)
LIAISON:
Melodie Schaefer, PsyD
NATURE OF AGENCY/POPULATION SERVED
The Cultural Neuropsychology Initiative (CNI) at the UCLA Semel Institute for
Neuroscience & Human Behavior and the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric
Hospital offers a unique training opportunity for students who are interested in
the neurocognitive and psychiatric assessment of individuals from diverse
cultural backgrounds.
Students in the CNI clinical externship will provide
outpatient neuropsychological assessment to Spanish speaking and bilingual
children, adults, and elderly with a variety of diagnoses, including dementia,
epilepsy, brain tumors, learning disabilities, and other conditions that impact
neurocognitive functioning. CNI externs will be trained in the theory and practice
of neuropsychological assessment with individuals from diverse cultural
backgrounds in general, and will also receive specialized training in the
administration and interpretation of linguistically and culturally appropriate
neuropsychological measures with Spanish dominant and bilingual individuals.
SUPERVISION
All externs will receive weekly supervision from Dr. Cagigas and Dr. Nunez, who
are neuropsychologists and licensed clinical psychologists. There will be a
weekly case conference in which all CNI trainees will present and discuss cases.
CNI externs will participate in several didactic seminars that are part of the
postdoctoral fellowship program in neuropsychology, as well as mandatory group
supervision with other UCLA neuropsychology externs on Thursdays from
10:30am – 12:00pm. In addition, informal supervision (phone calls, emails, etc)
is available when necessary, and all supervisors are available from consultation if
an urgent situation arises.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
Externs will share office space on the Semel Institute B floor. Appropriate office
equipment, including desk, phone, computer, and office supplies, is provided.
UCLA CULTURAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY INITIATIVE – PAGE 2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Given the nature of the externship program, all applicants are required to be
fluent in Spanish and to have some experience or coursework in
neuropsychological assessment.
Students must be enrolled in an APA
approved Clinical Psychology doctoral program.
Application process: After receiving approval from CSPP’s Division of
Professional Field Training, please submit a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae,
two letters of reference, a testing log, and a letter from your DCT attesting to the
student’s qualifications. Please submit all application materials via email to Dr.
Karen Miller at kmiller@mednet.ucla.edu. Deadline for application is February
15th each year.
NEW 12-11