Postdoctoral Fellowship 2024-2026

The Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience is embedded within the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The Department of Neurology is one of the premier Departments in the country with more than 90 distinguished research and clinical faculty in most of the neurological sub-specialties. Together with Neurosurgery, US News and World Report ranked our department among the top 20 in the country and in the top 14 in NIH funding.

For over 50 years, Neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has been a prominent leader in treating patients from all over the world, in cutting edge research, and in training and attracting esteemed faculty.

The mission of the Department has grown fourfold—to expand the knowledge of the causes, treatments, and cures for neurological disease; to conduct innovative research; to provide unparalleled care to patients and to train the next generation of practitioners and neuroscientists.

Widely recognized as an international referral center, neurologists from Latin America and all over the United States turn to UM faculty for expertise in solving complex neurological problems. The department has grown to fourteen clinical divisions and programs that offer patient care.

The Department of Neurology is home to the McKnight Brain Institute which conducts clinical and basic research in the area of age-related memory loss and the Brain Endowment Bank, which banks and studies the human brain affected by Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, drug addiction, and aging.

With satellite offices in Palm Beach, Miami, Plantation, Kendall, Boca, Doral, and Hialeah; major scientific advances to its credit and vast expertise, the Department of Neurology is committed to solving the puzzle and finding a cure for neurological diseases in this generation.

The Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience receives referrals of patients with a wide range of neurological conditions. We work closely with other disciplines in the department (e.g., neurologists, neurosurgeons, social workers, physical therapists, neurology residents) to provide our patients well rounded, multidisciplinary care. Collaboration with other disciplines spans clinical and research activities, enriching the training of our trainees.

Miami is a multicultural city, with a large Hispanic/Latino population from across South America, Central America and the Caribbean. This is reflected in the diversity of our patients, making attention to diversity and cultural issues a hallmark of our program.

South Florida is a vibrant growing area that offers an exceptional lifestyle and many recreational opportunities. Activities include year-round swimming, boating, water skiing, fishing, snorkeling, tennis, golf, and most outdoor sports for enjoyment and relaxation. The greater metropolitan area including Miami and surrounding Miami-Dade County has a population of over 2.5 million. The area has all the cultural and sporting facilities one expects to find in large population centers, and much more. These include symphony, ballet, opera, theaters, and museums, and zoological and botanical centers. There are major league teams in baseball, basketball, football, and ice hockey. The University of Miami also has outstanding college teams in football, baseball, and basketball. Abundantly diverse restaurants, stores, and services of all types, styles, and prices are to be found throughout the metro Dade area. There are many interesting places to visit such as South Beach, Bayside in the downtown waterfront area, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and you are just a car ride away to top vacation areas such as the Florida Keys and the Florida Gulf Coast.

Outpatient neuropsychological assessment will comprise the majority of the fellow’s time. Involvement in mentored research, didactics, and supervision of practicum students is also expected. The proportion of time spent in research activities can be tailored to suit the interests of the fellow.

Our training program follows the Houston Conference model for specialty training in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

Working closely with all faculty in the Division of Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience as well as neurology faculty in the Department, fellows will receive an in-depth immersion in clinical training, that involves evaluating a broad range of neurological disorders including, but not limited to, dementias, movement disorders, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, infectious diseases, aphasias, toxic exposures, anoxic events, sleep disorders, tumors, and vascular disorders.

Fellows interested in seizure disorders will have the opportunity to conduct pre- and post-surgical evaluations as well as participate in pre-surgical epilepsy conferences, brain mapping, WADA procedures, and conduct research in collaboration with our epilepsy division.

All fellows will have ample opportunities to conduct pre- and post-surgical evaluations for patients with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and other conditions that are known to benefit from Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. Participation in pre-surgical case conferences for DBS with the movement disorders division is an important component of training.

Interested fellows will have the opportunity to provide short-term therapy for patients with health related psychological and behavioral concerns. Patients referred for therapy typically present with primary neurological conditions. Approximately half of therapy cases come through our multidisciplinary Functional Movement Disorders (FMD) Clinic. Fellows have the option to be active participants in the FMD Clinic. Caseload for short-term psychotherapy will be limited as training in neuropsychological assessment is a priority.

We offer training using a hybrid model, in-person and virtual testing.  While most of the evaluations will be completed in-office, we also encourage additional training in the implementation of cutting-edge telehealth techniques. We will continue to offer in-person and virtual assessments as conditions permit.  Supervision and division meetings are offered both in-office and on telehealth.

There are numerous ongoing research projects in our division. These include studies examining early biomarkers of  cognitive decline, frailty and cognition, biomarkers of vascular cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, predictors of DBS outcome, sleep disorders and their relationship to cognition, ethnic disparities, decision making and susceptibility to deception among vulnerable populations,  age related hearing loss and cognitive decline, social determinants of aging, health disparities and their impact on cognition,  and beneficial effects of lifestyle factors on aging. Grants are federally funded as well as supported by the Evelyn McKnight Brain Institute. While participation in research is not a requirement of our program, fellows who have an interest in research are encouraged to work with research faculty to develop an independent project and will be able to present their findings at national and international meetings, participate in manuscript and grant writing based on their level of experience.

A major advantage of the Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience is the extraordinarily rich environment created by it being physically housed in shared space with all members of the Department of Neurology. This has fostered close working relationships between our neuropsychologists, neurologists and basic scientists. The environment is both deeply enriching and one that fosters collaborative work. Trainees will participate in neuropsychology rounds, case conferences and neurology and psychiatry grand rounds and will also be involved in training undergraduate and graduate level neuropsychology students. Didactic, educational and professional development opportunities include:

• Neuropsychology Rounds
  
  • Rounds include review of ongoing clinical cases and discussion of pre-surgical patients in preparation for pre-surgical case conferences.
  • Fact-finding exercises aimed at assisting fellows prepare for board certification, as permitted by clinical needs.
  • Presentations on Neuropsychology Topics: The postdoctoral training experience includes one 60-minute didactic held weekly.
• Neurology Grand Rounds
  
• McKnight Journal Club
• Epilepsy/Neurosurgery Case Conference Weekly interdisciplinary team meeting that includes epileptologists, neuropsychologists and neurosurgery team members. This is an excellent opportunity for trainees to learn about epilepsy surgery from the perspective of some of the leading neurologists in the field. Only fellows working with seizure disorders are expected to participate in this conference, however all are encouraged to attend.
• DBS/Neurosurgery Case Conference Bieekly interdisciplinary team meeting that includes neurologists, neuropsychologists, and neurosurgery team members. This is an excellent opportunity for trainees to learn about determinants for candidacy for DBS surgery. Our movement disorders team consists of nationwide experts in the areas of neurosurgery, cognitive aspects of neurological disorders and functional movement disorder.
• Neuroradiology Rounds
  
• Stroke Lecture Series
  
• Neurology Lecture Conference
  
• Multi-site Neuropsychology Residents Didactic
  
• Brain Cutting at Jackson Morgue
  
• Neuroanatomy/Neuropsychology Case Conference
  
• Psychiatry Grand Rounds  
  
• Professors Rounds
  
• Observe various surgical/medical procedures including DBS, craniotomies, laser ablation and Wada testing.
• Epilepsy Boot Camp - Intensive epilepsy training course held during the summer. It is open to neurology and neuropsychology fellows interested in seizure disorders.

Fellows will receive a minimum of one hour of individual clinical supervision and 2 hours of group supervision per week. More intensive case supervision is available by arranging individual sessions with any of the supervisors.

A tiered model of supervision will offer second year fellows to mentor first year fellows and graduate students, and first year fellows an opportunity to supervise graduate students.

The current salary is commensurate with NIH guidelines plus an excellent benefit package.

• Bonnie Levin, Ph.D.
  Schoninger Professor of Neurology
  Chief, Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
  
  
• Gustavo Rey, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
  Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
  
  
• Annelly Bure-Reyes, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
  Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience

• Sonya S. Kaur, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
  Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
  
  
• Katalina F. McInerney, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
  Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
  
  
• Marina Sarno, Psy.D
  Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
  Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
  
  
• Mitchell R Slugh, Ph.D.
  Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
  Division of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience