Clinical Neuropsychologist Postdoctoral Fellow

Thomson Memory & Attention is a well-established private practice providing neuropsychological testing and diagnostic assessments to patients in all stages of life. Our comprehensive evaluations consider the whole patient and can provide a road map for a patient's specific needs. The Thomson postdoctoral program offers professional training based on exposure to a wide variety of neuropsychological disorders in a private practice setting under the supervision of well-trained providers in a patient centered practice. Our goal for this program is to provide fellows with a rigorous training program enriched by plenty of clinical cases, supervision, continuing education, and research opportunities to achieve a high level of clinical competence and unmistakable self-confidence to be a neuropsychologist.

Our program is led by Thomson's owner, founder, and clinical director Christina Blodgett, Ph.D., LP and co-director Kate Wyman-Chick, Psy.D., LP, ABPP-CN with help from a team of clinical supervisors who provide integral supervision and training for fellows. Our team prepares fellows by adhering to Houston Conference Guidelines, by ensuring all necessary competencies are achieved as outlined by the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, and by providing the necessary training to become eligible for board certification.

With multiple locations across the Chicagoland and Twin City suburbs, our fellows will have direct access to diverse patient populations across the lifespan referred by well-established referral sources spanning a variety of disciplines familiar with the high level of care Thomson providers deliver. 95% of our patients seen by fellows are physician referred. Most referrals come from neurology while the next largest share of referrals are split between internal medicine, family medicine, and psychiatry. Patients are referred to and are seen by Thomson fellows for cognitive complaints (e.g., related to memory, attention, learning, cognitive capacity, etc.) rather than known conditions although we will see a share of patients with TBIs, tumors, MS, etc. Fellows, like all our neuropsychologists on staff, will be trained to provide data-driven diagnoses versus simply gauging cognitive symptoms.

Fellows will have access to consult with the entire Thomson Provider team in addition to regular supervision and consultation with their supervisor, have all the necessary testing materials and references texts available, and have support from neuropsychological technicians (psychometrists) and administrative staff for clerical support. We provide fellows with the chance to focus on throwing their shoulders back, putting their chin up, and being a clinician with all the support they may need.

The program offers fellows a $60,000 annual salary and offers a benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance, paid holidays, and paid time off. There is a yearly $500 stipend for continuing education and conferences opportunities as well, encouraging fellows to take advantage of this time in the program to learn and absorb as much as they can.

The goal for this program is to provide fellows with a rigorous training program enriched by plenty of clinical cases, supervision, continuing education, and research opportunities. Under supervision, fellows will be trained to have their own clinical caseload where they will conduct patient interviews, administer assessments, score tests, interpret and perform case conceptualization, write patient reports, and conduct feedback appointments.

Fellows will commit to 3 full evaluations per week spanning 3 days in clinic and 2 days for writing with feedback appointments and individual & group supervision throughout the week. Weekly supervision will be conducted with the fellow’s respective supervisor(s), and this supervision time will include a review of cases (both current and upcoming), consultation with referring providers, and feedback on clinical reports. Formal supervision is required for at least 2 hours per week on an individual basis with the supervisor, and additional group or informal supervision occurs regularly in addition to the formal supervision schedule.

As for continuing education and research, fellows are required to participate in regular didactic seminars that cover an array of topics led by our board certified, co-clinical director. These regular didactic meetings include neuroanatomy, case studies, fact finding exercises, and lectures and presentations. These presentations are pulled from recorded conferences and seminars, other Thomson providers, and Thomson fellows on topics that span the neuropsychological scope, professional practice, the business of healthcare, current and changing policies in the field, ethics, cultural differences and diversity, and so much more. As part of their continuing education, fellows will participate in research as either an individual or collaborative endeavor. Most fellows will have one scholarly project (e.g., join ongoing projects or generate their own ideas, poster presentation, conference presentation, publication in a peer-reviewed journal, etc.) by the end of their 2-year fellowship. In addition to their neuropsychological training, continuing education, and research requirements, fellows can elect to pursue a secondary focus of cognitive rehabilitation throughout their time here at Thomson if they choose.

We are seeking fellows with a substantial neuropsychological background. The position will be primarily focused on neuropsychological evaluations, and therefore, a strong background in administering and scoring neuropsychological assessment is preferred. The option for a secondary responsibility of cognitive rehabilitation may be available for the right candidate. The training experience will also include weekly individual supervision with your primary supervising neuropsychologist and regular didactics and research with a board-certified neuropsychologist on various related topics, journal club, and group supervision.