I am honored to be nominated for NAN President. Advocacy for neuropsychology is my passion and continued advocacy is needed to keep our field relevant and prominent in this changing healthcare climate. Whether your role is patient care, forensics, teaching, or research, it is imperative that neuropsychology have a stronger voice to demonstrate its added-value and expertise to other disciplines and the public. Advocacy efforts are needed to ensure that clinicians maintain thriving practices, researchers remain competitive in the face of shrinking resources, and training programs remain strong and viable. As current Member-at-Large and past chair of the NAN PAIC, I witnessed NAN grow in its mission to support its members and advocate for the profession of neuropsychology. I am excited for the opportunity to be a driving force to broaden these efforts and hope that you give me your vote as President to accomplish these goals.

 

My professional experiences are diverse allowing me to understand the perspective of the many roles that neuropsychologists play. I worked as a clinical researcher and practitioner in hospitals, academic medical centers, and private-practice settings. I currently maintain a forensically-based private practice while working at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital. I maintain research collaborations focusing on traumatic brain injury, empirical validation of neuropsychological services, test development, and assessment of performance validity. I am board certified in clinical neuropsychology and specialized in neuropsychology throughout my training at the UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program; internship at University of Chicago Medical Center, and post-doctoral fellowship at TIRR in Houston, Texas.

 

My commitment of service to neuropsychology and particularly to NAN over the last 11 years is long-standing. I joined the Professional Affairs and Information Committee (PAIC) in 2006 and served as co-chair and then chair from 2013-2015. I was fortunate to be one of the founding members of the Inter Organizational Practice Committee (IOPC). I am currently Member-at-Large and board liaison to the PAIC and Policy and Planning Committees, allowing me stay abreast of practice and policy issues affecting neuropsychologists. As PAIC chair, I had the unique privilege of interacting directly with representatives from insurance companies, other national organizations, and individual NAN members to advocate on behalf of neuropsychology. These experiences provided me with a good understanding of the many critical issues and difficulties faced by neuropsychologists today. As president of NAN, I will continue my commitment to advocate for the field and strengthen our position in this changing environment.