Training in neuropsychology occurs in several venues under the direction of faculty adult, Phillip Martin, Ph.D., ABPP, and a faculty pediatric, Kelli Netson-Amore, Ph.D., ABPP, neuropsychologists. Geriatric neuropsychology training is provided in collaboration with KU School of Medicine-Wichita faculty on the senior behavioral health unit at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph. Pediatric neuropsychology training takes place in collaboration with colleagues from the KUSM-W Department of Pediatrics at Wesley Children's Hospital. Clinical services include:

Outpatient: KU School of Medicine-Wichita Neuropsychology Clinic

Outpatient evaluations are conducted for patients with a wide range of neuropsychological insults including traumatic brain injury, vascular disease, encephalopathy, epilepsy, HIV, anoxic brain injury, seizure disorder, brain tumor, normal pressure hydrocephalus, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and conversion disorder. Pediatric evaluations are conducted for children with genetic, developmental, neurologic, behavioral and emotional disorders, including autism-spectrum disorders, genetic syndromes, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, prenatal drug and alcohol exposure, and pediatric cancer. Referrals to the neuropsychology clinic at KU School of Medicine-Wichita come from general physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, pediatricians, psychiatrists, attorneys, insurance companies, schools and rehabilitations hospitals. There is significant diversity with regard to race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, urban vs. rural dwelling and educational background of patients.

Our outpatient clinic is structured to meet the needs of our patients and referral sources in the most efficient manner possible. Evaluations are comprehensive but completed within one day with a feedback session typically provided one to two weeks later. Reports are brief, evidence-based and tailored to meet the needs of the referral source. Interns take responsibility for their own patients and provide care from interview to feedback, including test selection, administration, scoring and report writing.

Interns have the opportunity to be involved in civil litigation and workers' compensation cases including interview, record review, test selection and report writing. When available, interns are invited to observe deposition testimony by neuropsychology faculty. Cases generally include forensic referrals involving civil litigation, independent medical evaluations for insurance companies and some criminal litigation.

Inpatient: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals

Consultations are conducted primarily with patients admitted to the senior behavioral unit. These consultations frequently involve opinions regarding the patient's ability to make reasoned decisions regarding finances, health care and/or management of one's estate. Interns are trained in legal issues/state laws related to capacity and they are taught how to make decisions that will meet the burden necessary in a court of law.

Recommendations are frequently sought regarding the level of care needed by the patient due to cognitive impairment and for placement of the patient after dismissal from the hospital. Special care is given to ensure the patient's safety while providing the greatest degree of independence in functioning. Some of these inpatients are subsequently seen for follow-up evaluations in the outpatient clinic as well.

Wesley Children's Hospital

Neuropsychology interns have the opportunity to participate in consultations with the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology service, conducting brief bedside assessment and intervention with children and families during active treatment, off-treatment, and long-term follow-up encounters.

It is expected that the intern will enter internship with prior training in test administration and scoring, neuropsychological conceptualization, and report writing. Clinical activities are designed to improve the skills necessary for the independent practice of neuropsychology. Primary competencies will be developed in:

• Determining the focus and components of each evaluation given the referral questions (e.g. differential diagnosis and treatment planning, determination of capacity, independent neuropsychological examination for workers' compensation, civil litigation).
• Hands-on assessment experience involving administration and interpretation of a wide range of adult and child measures.
• Integration of all available data including medical, employment and school records.
• Clinical conceptualization and differential diagnosis.
• Detection of symptom magnification, fabrication and malingering, and evaluation of the nature and quality of test responses.
• Report writing targeted for the referral sources (e.g. physician, attorney, licensing board).
• Clear and empathic communication of results to patients and families during feedback sessions.

The neuropsychology intern is a member of a team that consists of faculty, fellows, interns and practicum students. Supervision is provided by the neuropsychology faculty and fellows and, as appropriate, by other faculty members. Supervision is a combination of scheduled individual meetings, immediate consultation as needed and group supervision. The neuropsychology intern participates in five main neuropsychology- and clinical psychology-related seminars:

Clinical Neuropsychology Seminar
This weekly didactic training experience focuses on preparation for board certification in neuropsychology. A rotating schedule of topical discussions led by faculty and trainees, review of written board exam preparation materials, mock oral board examinations, and guest speakers round out the experience.

Clinical Psychology WCPIP Seminar
This two-hour weekly seminar features guest speakers presenting on a variety of clinical psychology topics in keeping with the American Psychological Association's guidelines for training doctoral-level psychologists. These seminars are attended by all WCPIP interns.

Psychiatry Grand Rounds
The Department of Psychiatry conducts these biweekly didactics on topics related to mental health issues in accordance with the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association's guidelines for training doctoral and postgraduate clinicians. Invited local and national speakers offer expertise on a range of topics related to the practice of psychiatry.

Neuropsychology Journal Club
This monthly meeting includes brief presentations by neuropsychology team members on articles related to an assigned topic. Lively discussion among the entire neuropsychology team ensues.

Other Experiences
Additional didactics include annual conferences in neurology, stroke and geriatrics. These meetings provide the intern with multiple opportunities to present clinical cases and research projects to a variety of audiences.

While the primary focus of the internship program is training in clinical psychology and neuropsychological evaluation, research is ongoing in the neuropsychology team and opportunities for short-term projects are available. The neuropsychology intern is encouraged to participate in at least one research project with the goal of a poster at one or more national conferences and/or a publication submission during their internship year. Neuropsychology faculty, who are nationally known, particularly for their work in neuropsychological validity assessment, are available to mentor and collaborate with interns on research projects. Previous projects have utilized data from clinic-based adult and older adult databases, available national databases, professional surveys and primary studies in the context of meta-analysis. Recent research articles are available here.

Phillip K. Martin, Ph.D., ABPP
Co-Training Director
Associate professor
Licensed psychologist, State of Kansas
Nova Southeastern University, 2014
Primary interests:
Clinical neuropsychology
Assessment of older adults/dementia
Performance validity testing

Kelli L. Netson-Amore, Ph.D., ABPP
Director of Neuropsychology Clinic
Co-Training Director
Associate professor
Licensed psychologist, State of Kansas
University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008
Primary interests:
Pediatric neuropsychology
Medical psychology
Psycho-oncology
Health care administration

Kelli L. Netson-Amore, Ph.D., ABPP
The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita
8533 E. 32nd St. N., Wichita, KS 67226
316-293-3850
knetson@kumc.edu