Neuropsychology Doctoral Practicum Program

The Rehabilitation and Neuropsychology Department at TIRR Memorial Hermann offers six practicum training experiences for advanced doctoral students. The TIRR Memorial Hermann Doctoral Practicum Program is primarily housed within TIRR Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center. Training opportunities are available at other locations, including Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy and TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation sites. The purpose of the TIRR Memorial Hermann Doctoral Practicum Program is to provide evidence-based training in the professional practice of psychology with an emphasis on rehabilitation psychology and neuropsychology.

TIRR Memorial Hermann is one of the nation’s largest inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and consistently ranks as one of the top rehabilitation hospitals by U.S. News and World Report. TIRR Memorial Hermann maintains a long-standing history of providing strong training in Clinical Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology specialties. In addition to the graduate student positions listed below, TIRR Memorial Hermann serves as the primary rotation site for the Rehabilitation Psychology/Neuropsychology track of the APA-Accredited internship program through Baylor College of Medicine and the AACN Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology.

Inpatient Rehabilitation and Neuropsychology at TIRR Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center

We offer three practicum positions at TIRR Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center. Practicum students will complete two, six-month rotations during their training year. Assigned rotations will be based on trainee preferences and goals, along with faculty availability. Training opportunities, dependent on rotation, include, but are not limited to, brief psychological and neuropsychological assessment, brief psychological interventions, developmental and implementation of behavioral management plans, provision of psychoeducation to both patients and families, observation and participation in interdisciplinary teams and team rounds, and lastly, participation in weekly trainee didactics. Specific patient concerns, dependent on rotation, may be adjustment to disability, family and caregiver adjustment, depression, anxiety, ventilator weaning, comfort with bowel/bladder programs, pain management, sleep management, treatment compliance or other behavioral disturbances, and cognitive monitoring. TIRR Memorial Hermann provides the unique opportunity to follow patients over the course of an inpatient rehabilitation admission and at times across multiple admissions. A multi-day commitment to these rotations is important to gain the full experience of following a patient across their hospital stay.

Inpatient Rotations

• Brain Injury: Patients on our acute brain injury units present with varying levels of cognitive impairment, etiologies, and vent-dependent status. Acquired brain injury populations include, but are not limited to, traumatic brain injury (e.g., falls, motor vehicles collisions, violence), anoxic brain injury, hemorrhagic/ischemic Stroke, tumor, hydrocephalus, and various encephalopathies.
• Specialty Rehabilitation: Patients on the specialty rehabilitation service present following amputation, orthopedic interventions (i.e. hip replacements, spinal surgery, etc.), as well as patients suffering from complex medical conditions such as cancer, and various neurological conditions, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) or Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
• Spinal Cord Injury: Within the spinal cord injury and disorders program, patients present with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injuries ranging in mild mobility impairment to paraplegia and tetraplegia. Patients have varying levels of cognitive status, and vent-dependent status. Etiologies may include, but are not limited to traumatic injuries from vehicle crashes, fall, and violence, and non-traumatic injures such as spinal stenosis, infections, tumor, or other vascular conditions.

Learn more about TIRR Memorial Hermann at Texas Medical Center.

Outpatient Rehabilitation and Neuropsychology

We offer three, primarily outpatient, practicum positions at our facilities located outside of the Texas Medical Center. Practicum students will complete a full training year in these settings. Training opportunities, dependent on site and developmental level, include, but are not limited to, comprehensive outpatient neuropsychological assessment (testing and scoring), brief inpatient neuropsychological assessment, report writing, and provision of feedback to patients and/or families. For positions with an inpatient component, opportunities may include brief psychological interventions, developmental and implementation of behavioral management plans, provision of psychoeducation to both patients and families, and lastly, participation in weekly trainee didactics. As an advanced practicum site our trainees have reported on the prior trainee experiences that best promote their success in our training program: a prior practicum with neuropsychology experience, or at minimum, a solid assessment background (courses and actual administration) and experiences in a medical, hospital, or health-related setting.

Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy

• Pediatric Neuropsychology Practicum (1 position)
  Faculty Supervisor: Cullen Gibbs, PhD
• Adult Outpatient/Inpatient Neuropsychology Practicum (1 position)
  Faculty Supervisor: Ola-Edo Nwana, PhD

Learn more about Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy.

TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation - West University

• Adult Outpatient Neuropsychology Practicum (1 position)
  Faculty Supervisor: Petya D. Demireva, PhD, ABPP

Learn more about TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation - West University.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Full-time enrollment in doctoral Clinical, Counseling, or Health Psychology program
2. Enrollment in a doctoral practicum course at your university during each semester of practicum
3. At least 1 year of prior external practicum experience
4. A minimum training commitment of 2 full semesters
5. A minimum training commitment of 2 days a week. For example, a minimum 10 hours across 2 days for inpatient neurorehabilitation positions, or minimum 16 hours across 2 days for outpatient neuropsychology positions.

Application Details

To apply, please email the faculty coordinator, and submit the following:

1. A training-year specific application for the TIRR Memorial Hermann Doctoral Practicum Program
2. A cover letter that clearly indicates to which program track(s) you are applying
3. Updated CV with at least 3 references

Contact:

Faculty Coordinator: Andria Norman, PhD
Email: andria.norman@memorialhermann.org
Primary Location: 1333 Moursund St., Houston, TX 77030