Fellows begin with a rotation focusing on the neuropsychological assessment of primary neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Limbic-predominant age-related tdp-43 encephalopathy (late), frontotemporal lobar degeneration, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple systems atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration, among others. Neuro-interventional opportunities include HABIT, a cognitive rehabilitative and lifestyle program for persons with mild cognitive impairment innovated by one of our faculty members, Dr. Melanie Chandler. Supervising faculty on this rotation include Paula Aduen, PhD [rotation chair); John Lucas, PhD, ABPP(CN); Melanie Chandler, PhD, ABPP(CN); and Tanis Ferman, PhD, ABPP(CN).

Fellows then proceed to another rotation focused on the neuropsychological assessment of patients with epilepsy, primary brain tumors, systemic cancers, and neurovascular conditions, among others. Referrals are varied and include general cognitive concerns, presurgical, postsurgical, and intra- and extra-operative cognitive and/or motor mapping in the operating room or epilepsy monitoring unit using a combination of bedside behavioral neurological examination techniques and the NeuroMapper™ tablet-based assessment system innovated by one of our faculty members, Dr. David Sabsevitz. Neuro-interventional opportunities include HOBSCOTCH, a cognitive rehabilitative intervention for persons with epilepsy that was developed through Dartmouth University and brought to Mayo Clinic Florida by Dr. Cady Block, who is herself a certified HOBSCOTCH coach. Supervising faculty on this rotation include David Sabsevitz, PhD, ABPP(CN) [rotation chair]; Cady Block, PhD, ABPP(CN); and Catherine Dion, PhD.

Fellows transition to a rotation offering supervised training in a range of conditions that you may not have previously been exposed to, including autoimmune encephalitis, CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy, neurogenetic diseases, metabolic encephalopathy, CNS infections, solid organ and stem cell transplantation, hydrocephalus, psychiatric conditions, and functional neurological disorder, among others. Neuro-interventional opportunities include RELIEF, a neuroscientific-based group intervention for persons with functional neurological disorder innovated by one of our faculty members, Dr. Beth Rush. Supervising faculty on this rotation include Beth Rush, Ph.D., ABPP(CN) [rotation chair]; Tanis Ferman, Ph.D., ABPP(CN); Cady Block, Ph.D., ABPP(CN); Catherine Dion, Ph.D.; and Zinat Taiwo, Ph.D.

During the final six months of the second training year, we offer a rotation that allows the fellow to spend their remaining time in any area of their choosing. Some fellows may wish to get more intensive experience in a primary rotation or with a specific population that they particularly enjoyed. Other fellows may simply wish to get a generalist experience in which they see a range of referral types and populations.

Fellows are required to develop and submit at least one paper or book chapter per year, in addition to any abstract that they may produce for presentation at a scientific conference. Prior fellows have successfully published multiple peer-reviewed articles, and have presented research at regional, national, and international conferences. As a benefit to you, Mayo Clinic covers presentation-related conference travel. 

During your first and second rotation, you will be encouraged to explore the many interests of our faculty, and select one as a primary research mentor. Of course, this does not exclude you from pursuing scholarly opportunities with other faculty members! Faculty research interests are diverse, and we recognize that this may be the case with you as well. We also recognize that your interests may evolve over time and with exposure to novel concepts, methods, and/or populations you’ve not encountered before.

As a special note, our neuropsychology faculty are at or near 100% research engagement on a year-to-year basis. They are involved in externally funded research projects. They consistently author peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Neurology, Brain, JAMA Neurology, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, Epilepsia, Epilepsy & Behavior, Journal of Neuro-Oncology, Journal of Neurosurgery, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, The Clinical Neuropsychologist, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, and Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. They also publish books, workbooks, and book chapters. Visit our Meet the Faculty page to read more about their specific research interests.

In addition to individualized research mentorship, fellows with the interest are encouraged to take advantage of other learning opportunities offered through Mayo Clinic including grant writing and other workshops, investigator bootcamps, self-paced e-learning coursework, and software training. Research support is available and includes access to SPSS, R, Bluesky, RedCap, Qualtrics, EndNote, Media Services support (poster printing), Quantitative Health Science Team support (statistician consultation), and a digital library.

This monthly in-person meeting is topically driven, covering a range of topics such as various neurological diseases, clinical syndromes, psychometric methods, and more. These topical meetings alternate with fact finding sessions led by one of our faculty members.

This monthly in-person meeting is led by the Program Director and Associate Program Director, and designed to cover a range of professional topics such as competency-based training, supervision, billing and productivity, working with psychometrists, job applications and interviews, work-life balance, and more.

Dr. David Sabsevitz leads this learning experience that is designed to cover a range of topics including structural and functional neuroanatomic features, accompanying cortical syndromes, and associated neuropathology, and neuroradiology methods and interpretation.

Mayo Clinic Florida offers additional hospital based didactic opportunities, including a behavioral neurology course, neuroanatomy course, and sleep and neuroscience course, among others.

Opportunities available to fellows include attending and participating in Alzheimer’s disease treatment clinic case conference; epilepsy presurgical conference; neuro-oncology working conference; neuropathology rounds; and transplant board conference.

Our program also offers a wide range of half- to full-day opportunities to observe and learn from Mayo Clinic physicians and allied staff. These shadowing opportunities are designed to occur within specific rotations, so that fellows may increase their knowledge regarding relevant diagnoses, structural and functional neuroanatomy, neuropathology, examination methods, treatments, and more. Some of these shadowing opportunities are required, as they provide a critical supplement to the concepts, methods, and patient populations to which you’ll be exposed during a given rotation. However, there are many other potential optional shadowing opportunities that fellows may also take advantage of. These include:

Neurodegenerative Neuropsychology Required opportunities include shadowing physicians within the behavioral neurology, movement disorders, and neuroradiology divisions. An optional shadowing opportunity in social work is available, in which fellows may learn about topics such as complex discharge planning, advanced care planning, resource connection, and patient advocacy. Additional opportunities may be available pending the fellow’s interest.

Neurosurgical Neuropsychology Required opportunities include shadowing physicians within the epilepsy, neuro-oncology, and vascular neurology divisions. An optional shadowing opportunity in neurocritical care is available, in which fellows may learn about topics such as the assessment and management of acute neurologic presentations. Additional opportunities may be available pending the fellow’s interest.

Complex Medical Neuropsychology Required opportunities include shadowing physicians within the autoimmune neurology, psychiatry, and transplant divisions. Optional shadowing opportunities in genetic counseling, infectious disease, neuro-palliative, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and sleep medicine are available. Additional opportunities may be available pending the fellow’s interest.