The University of Toledo

Training Program

Our fellowship complies with the Houston Conference guidelines for postdoctoral training in clinical neuropsychology. Following these guidelines, our fellowship is a two-year full-time training period that consists of clinical and research experiences and coursework/didactics.

Clinical Training

The fellow spends approximately 70% of time performing outpatient clinical work, mostly neuropsychological evaluations, although there are opportunities to provide individual psychotherapy.  Patient populations for the neuropsychological evaluations include neurologically compromised individuals rehabilitation (e.g., dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis) patients as well as rehabilitation individuals (e.g., TBI, CVA).  Both pediatric and adult populations are served, with the split at about 70% adult and 30% pediatric.  Supervisors for this work include Haines for the assessments and Haines, Wryobeck for the individual psychotherapy

The fellow spends another 10% of time performing inpatient clinical work at The Coghlin Rehabilitation Hospital; occasional consults come from the acute hospital.  Mostly assessments are conducted, although there is the opportunity for individual psychotherapy.  Supervisors for this work include Haines, Kane, Farrell, Suico, and Rizk.

Another 10% of time is devoted to outpatient clinics (Movement Disorders/Parkinson’s Disease) that are run through the Department of Neurology at UTMC.  Supervisors for these clinics include Haines, McSweeny, Wynkoop, and Elmer. Another outpatient clinic that the fellow may participate in is the Advanced Heart Failure Clinic through the Department of Surgery at UTMC. Supervisor for this clinic is Haines.

Another 10% of time is split between didactics/coursework, research opportunities, and supervising others.  Fellows have the opportunity to work on research projects with extant databases (e.g., Movement Disorders Clinic data or outpatient neuropsychological data).  Primary supervisor is Wynkoop.  There is a potential, if the fellow has interest, to participate in research with individuals housed in the Department of Psychology on the Main Campus.  The goal is for the fellow to have one publication or presentation upon graduation from the fellowship.  With regard to supervising others, graduate students from the Department of Psychology occasionally participate in a neuropsychology rotation at UTMC and the fellow provides supervision to these students.

Course work and Didactics

The fellow will take the medical school course series in Neuroscience at UTMC. This is a major time commitment of 4-10 hours per week for 3-4 months and the clinical/research work expectations are subsequently reduced.  The fellow is also expected to attend a portion of the Neurology Resident Lecture Series. The fellow can also attend didactic training experiences such as Psychiatry grand rounds, Neurology grand rounds, Neuropathology conference, Neuroradiology case conference, observation of a neurosurgery, and other grand rounds/research seminars/journal clubs as available.