Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellow

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology is a two-year postdoctoral specialty-training program with specific requirements in comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, research, and didactics. The program is tailored to reflect the standards of the Houston Conference Guidelines for Training in Clinical Neuropsychology with the expectation that the fellow will obtain the skills necessary for independent practice as a neuropsychologist and prepare fellows for eventual board certification in clinical neuropsychology. The program is actively seeking accreditation with the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN). The program will have an opening for a full-time, two-year neuropsychology fellow beginning in the Fall of 2025.

Program Overview

Fellowship training will be conducted in the Neuropsychology Service in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Section at Carilion Clinic in conjunction with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. The service is comprised of three clinical neuropsychologists, two of whom are board certified (ABPP-CN). Fellows will conduct outpatient neuropsychological evaluations of adults with various clinical presentations, including neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, substance use disorders, and co-morbid mood disorders. The fellow will also gain specific experience in conducting pre-surgical evaluations for patients within multi-disciplinary movement disorder and epilepsy teams, as well as a rotation within the Brain Injury Center. Fellows will commit roughly 70% of their time to clinical work, 20% in didactic/supervision, and 10% in research. In addition to neuropsychological assessments, fellows are encouraged to pursue therapeutic opportunities such as cognitive behavioral therapy and cognitive rehabilitation. Fellows will receive at least two hours per week of direct supervision with program faculty, and an additional hour of weekly group supervision. Fellows will be expected to enter the program with proficiency in clinical interviewing, test administration, record review, and report writing. Fellows will advance throughout the course of the program towards increasing independence in conducting all aspects of neuropsychological evaluations. Fellows will aim to complete an average of three neuropsychological evaluations per week and will be expected to conduct their own testing. Depending on availability, an opportunity to supervise externs may be offered.

Neuropsychology fellows will participate in required weekly didactic experiences including Neuropsychology Seminar, Case Conference, and Group Supervision. The seminar will include presentations on neuroanatomy, neuropsychological assessment, professional development, ethics, neurological conditions, and pertinent topics related to board certification (e.g., practice exams, fact-finding sessions). Didactics are formulated with a focus on preparing fellows to complete their board certification exams upon completion of the fellowship. Fellows will be expected to prepare and present lectures periodically throughout their fellowship.

In accordance with set guidelines of APPCN, fellows are expected to allocate 10% of their time towards scholarly activities. Fellows will be required to complete one to two research projects throughout the course of the two-year program. The research requirement can be completed through various means, including but not limited to, designing and conducting an analysis of our existing database, collaboration with faculty on on-going projects, and/or authoring a literature review. Upon completion of the fellowship, scholarly activities should culminate in at least one poster presentation at a national neuropsychology conference (AACN, NAN, INS) or the submission of a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

By completion of the fellowship, fellows will have more than the required 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience necessary to obtain a license to practice in Virginia through the Virginia Board of Psychology. This benchmark would likely be met within the first year, and the program is constructed in accordance with the standard requirements of most licensure jurisdictions. Minor alterations may be considered on an individual basis depending on the state or provincial requirements. During their two-year residency, fellows will be expected to sit for the written portion of the national licensure examination, the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Annual salary of $54,000 with additional benefits, PTO, and stipend competitive with similar institutions and consistent with those provided to medical fellows.

Program Requirements and Selection Process

Qualified candidates will have successfully completed a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology from an APA-accredited institution and completed an APA/APPIC-approved internship. Candidates must complete all requirements of their doctoral program, including their dissertation, and internship before the start of the program. Applicants are expected to have had formal training in the neuropsychological assessment of adults, including test administration and scoring, interpretation, and report writing both in graduate school and on internship. Individuals with a doctoral degree but without adequate training and experience in neuropsychology will not be considered.

Interested applicants should email the following materials to the attention of Shawn Mordhorst, PsyD, ABPP-CN, Program Director, at spmordhorst@carilionclinic.org:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter—1-2 page letter of interest outlining experience, interest in our program, and future goals for professional development.
3. Three Letters of Recommendation—To be emailed to the training director directly from recommending individuals.
4. Two de-identified samples of neuropsychological reports
5. Copy of graduate transcripts

Fellowship Faculty

Ann Sollinger, PhD, ABPP-CN

Justin Gray, PsyD

Shawn Mordhorst, PsyD, ABPP-CN