Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Psychology Externship Training Program in Child Clinical and Pediatric Psychology
Neuropsychology Rotation
2015-2016
Children's Hospital Colorado offers a psychology externship training program in Pediatric Neuropsychology. The training program is
committed to the recruitment of culturally and ethnically diverse externs. We encourage inquiries and applications from all qualified
individuals.
Time Commitment:
20 hours per week
Dates:
June 30, 2015- June 26, 2016
Please note MANDATORY ORIENTATION is held during the first two weeks of the externship
Number of Slots:
1
Requirements:
-be enrolled in at least the 3rd year of an APA accredited Doctoral Program in Clinical, Counseling, Health, or School Psychology
-have completed coursework in cognitive assessment and personality assessment
-have completed coursework in clinical neuropsychological assessment
-have experience with child and/or adolescent assessment
-have proof of malpractice coverage: must be provided by the extern’s training institution or by the extern prior to the start date
Application Procedures
A completed application consists of the following materials:
1. Cover Letter describing interest in neuropsychology
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. 2 letters of recommendation
4. Supplemental neuropsychology application form
Emailed by February 16, 2015 by noon to the following:
1. Christine McDunn, PhD, Associate Director of Training, Psychology
Email: Christine.McDunn@childrenscolorado.org
2. Christa Hutaff-Lee, Ph.D., Training Director for Externship in Pediatric Neuropsychology in the Division of Neurology
Email: Christa.Hutaff-Lee@childrenscolorado.org
3. Christine Mann, Program Assistant, Psychology Research & Training
Email: Christine.Mann@childrenscolorado.org
Recruitment Timeline
February 16, 2015, 12pm:
February 23-March 2, 2015:
March 16th-20th, 2015:
Application deadline
Interviews scheduled
Applicants notified, positions offered
Duties of psychology trainee
The Neuropsychology extern will provide direct clinical care to children, adolescents, and families under the supervision of pediatric
neuropsychologists. The extern will work in the Division of Neurology for 6 months and the Department of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation for 6 months. For both rotations, externs are expected to work part-time at 20 hours per week in order to gain both a range
and depth of experiences. Expectations include conducting one outpatient neuropsychological evaluations per week, including
reviewing electronic medical record, test selection, administration and scoring of measures, integration of testing results, and report
writing. These duties are subject to change to meet the needs of the department. Externs complete necessary initial clinical documentation
within 7 days of contact, with final drafts of reports due as specified by the supervisor. Externs must complete all hospital required
background / training activities.
Externs will attend didactic seminars through the Neurology Department. The Neuropsychology extern will also be encouraged to attend
didactic seminars through the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department. Externs will also have the potential opportunity to attend
seizure surgery conference and participate in Wada testing (sodium amytal testing) and cortical mapping. Opportunities to observe
neurosurgery are also available.
Patient populations served:
1. Neurology
a. Genetic disorders (Neurofibromatosis Type 1; 22q11.2 deletion syndrome; Tuberous Sclerosis; sex chromosome
aneuploidy)
b. Metabolic disorders (PKU, SMA)
c. Epilepsy
d. Stroke
e. Brain tumors
f. Leukemia
g. Multiple Sclerosis
2. Rehabilitation:
a. Concussion/mild traumatic brain injury
b. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
c. Spina bifida
d. Hydrocephalus
e. Cerebral palsy
Services provided
This externship placement provides students with the opportunity to work in a regionally and nationally prominent pediatric health care
facility affiliated with the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center (UCDHSC) and the Divisions of Neurology and
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Field placement students (Externs) are supervised by pediatric neuropsychologists to conduct
outpatient neuropsychological evaluations.
Type of clients served on this externship
Children and adolescents, ages 5-17, and their families served in Children’s Hospital Colorado Departments of Neurology and Physical
Medical and Rehabilitation. Clients are representative of the Denver Metropolitan Area in terms of race and ethnicity.
Supervision
The goal of supervision is to support the extern during exposure to new patient populations and assessment tools, as well as guidance
in interpretation/integration of neuropsychological data and report writing. The extern will participate in 1 hour of individual
supervision per week with his/her Neuropsychology Supervisor. If possible, the extern will participate in 1 hour of group supervision
per week with Psychology Supervisor. Additional supervision and consultation will be provided as needed.
Supervised by: Pediatric neuropsychologists within the Divisions of Neurology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Neuropsychology Supervision format: _x_Individual ___Small Group
Psychology Supervision format: __Individual _x __Small Group
Ratio of hours (supervision to clinical hours): 1 : 4
Number of Neuropsychology trainees: 2 postdoctoral fellows, 1 psychology intern, 1 field placement extern
Number of hours/week externs work: 20
Pay
None at this time
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
13123 E. 16th Ave., B130
Aurora, CO 80045
Main Phone: 720-777-6200
FAX: 720-777-7309
Faculty
Division of Neurology
Robert Annett PhD, (robert.annett@childrencolorado.org): Dr. Annett is a Visiting Professor in Pediatrics at the University of
Colorado and Pediatric Neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. His clinical and research
interests have focused on the impact of chronic pediatric diseases (e.g., cancer, prematurity, kidney disease) upon child brain function
and psychosocial adaptation.
Gretchen Berrios-Siervo, Psy.D. (gretchen.berrios-siervo@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Berrios-Siervo is an Assistant Professor of
Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and serves as a pediatric neuropsychologist in the
Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Clinical interests include the neurocognitive profiles of children with focal
and generalized epilepsies in addition to epilepsy surgery outcomes. She provides consultation to the Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic in
Neurology. Furthermore, Dr. Berrios-Siervo is Spanish-English bilingual and has interests in the assessment and evaluation of
bilingual and multicultural children.
Richard Boada, Ph.D., ABPP-Cn (richard.boada@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Boada is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and
Neurology through the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is interested in the cognitive sequelae of stroke and epilepsy.
Dr. Boada is a bilingual (Spanish) neuropsychologist, and conducts evaluations with monolingual/bilingual children. Research
interests include investigating the cognitive sequalae of medical conditions affecting central nervous system function (e.g., stroke,
epilepsy), as well studying the etiological and cognitive factors underlying the comorbidity among language, reading and attentional
disorders.
Jennifer Janusz, Psy.D., ABPP-Cn (jennifer.janusz@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Janusz is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and
Neurology through the University of Colorado School of Medicine and serves as a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Division of
Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She is the Training Director for the Neuropsychology Program. Her clinical interests
include the neurocognitive profile of children with genetic disorders. She is the Program Director for the Neurofibromatosis Program
at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Christa Hutaff-Lee, Ph.D. (christa.hutaff-lee@childrenscolorado.org) Dr. Hutaff-Lee is an Instructor in the Pediatrics and Neurology
Departments at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and serves as a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Division of
Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She is the Training Director for the Externship Program in Pediatric Neuropsychology in
the Division of Neurology. Her clinical interests include the neurocognitive profiles of children with pediatric demyelinating and
autoimmune disorders, pediatric brain tumor and other pediatric cancers, and genetic disorders.
Greta Wilkening, Psy.D., ABPP-Cn (greta.wilkening@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Wilkening is an Professor of Pediatrics at the
University of Colorado School of Medicine and serves as a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children’s
Hospital Colorado. In addition to directing the Pediatric Neuropsychology service (within Neurology), she developed and directs the
Neurodevelopmental Research Core, a component of the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. Her primary clinical
interests are the evaluation of children with epilepsy and brain neoplasms.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
David Baker, Psy.D. (david.baker@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Baker is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation through the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is a neuropsychologist in the Children's Hospital Colorado
Concussion Program. His clinical interests include outcomes following mild TBI, moderate/severe TBI, as well as other acquired brain
injuries. He is also the school liaison for the Concussion Program.
Amy Connery, Psy.D., ABPP-Cn (amy.connery@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Connery is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She works in Concussion Clinic, International
Adoption Clinic (IAC), and Non-Accidental Brain Injury Care Clinic (NABICC). She provides bilingual Spanish assessments.
Nicole Eberle, Ph.D. (Nicole.eberle@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Eberle is a pediatric neuropsychologist on the inpatient
Neurotrauma/Rehabilitation Unit and conducts follow-up neuropsychological evaluations for patients shortly following discharge. She
also provides outpatient psychotherapy to patients and families with a wide range of medical diagnoses including mild to moderate
TBI, epilepsy, and spina bifida. She provides assessments and therapy in both English and Spanish.
Michael Kirkwood, Ph.D., ABPP-Cn (michael.kirkwood@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Kirkwood is an Associate Clinical Professor of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation through the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is the Co-Director of the Children’s
Hospital Colorado Concussion Program. His clinical and research interests focus on acquired brain injury in children, particularly mild
TBI, as well as the value of validity testing in pediatric assessment.
Robin Peterson, Ph.D. (robin.peterson@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Peterson is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation through the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Concussion
Program and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She serves as the Training Director for the
Externship Program in Pediatric Neuropsychology in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Her clinical and research interests
include understanding developmental outcomes in children with traumatic brain injury or neurodevelopmental disorders.
Sarah Tlustos-Carter, Ph.D. (sarah.tlustos@childrenscolorado.org): Dr. Tlustos-Carter is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation through the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is a neuropsychologist on the inpatient
Neurotrauma/Rehabilitation unit and conducts multidisciplinary outpatient evaluations through the M.O.R.E (Multidisciplinary
Outpatient Rehabilitation Evaluation) clinic. Her interests include the cognitive and social-emotional outcomes after moderate/severe
TBI and other acquired brain injuries.