Pediatric Neuropsychology Fellowship

Program  Leadership

Christa Hutaff-Lee

Peterson,Robin headshot

Christa Hutaff-Lee, Ph.D., ABPP-CN

Program Director, Neurology

Phone: 720-777-5561

Email: Christa.Hutaff-Lee

Robin Peterson, Ph.D., ABPP-CN

Program Director, Rehabilitation
Phone: 720-777-4970
Email: Robin.Peterson

Gretchen Berrios-Siervo, Psy.D., ABPP-CN

Multicultural Training Director
Phone: 720-777-5599
Email: Gretchen.Berrios-Siervo

 

OverviewIMG_4707

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus / Children’s Hospital Colorado is offering one postdoctoral fellowship position in Pediatric Neuropsychology beginning September 2024. Our two-year program is a member of the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN). Training experiences are consistent with guidelines established by the International Neuropsychological Society (INS), Division 40 of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Houston and Minnesota Conference training models.

The goal of the program is to provide a broad range of clinical and research experiences to prepare the individual for board certification in clinical neuropsychology through ABPP/ABCN and a future career in pediatric neuropsychology. The fellow will join our second year fellow as well as another incoming pediatric  neuropsychology fellow on the Bilingual Spanish track.

The incoming fellow will work with children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, participating in outpatient evaluations (e.g., testing, clinical interviews, and feedback sessions) with children and adolescents diagnosed with a wide range of medical disorders including but not limited to epilepsy, stroke, leukemia, brain tumors, congenital heart disease, genetic disorders (e.g., neurofibromatosis, Turner syndrome, tuberous sclerosis), hydrocephalus, neuromuscular disorders, spina bifida, neuroimmunological diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis), cerebral palsy, and mild to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Fellows will also participate in interdisciplinary clinics and inpatient consultation clinics. Many of our referrals relate to diagnostic concerns, longitudinal assessment, risk assessment, and educational planning. The fellow will hone skills in providing recommendations to physicians, families, teachers, and therapists. Opportunities for training in telehealth feedback sessions, school consultations, and medical procedures (e.g., WADA, fMRI) are also available.

Our fellowship also provides dedicated time for involvement in research projects, opportunities for supervision experience, and formal didactic seminars. Additionally, opportunities for evidence-based intervention under the supervision of a rehabilitation psychologist are available. The outpatient rehabilitation therapy clinic provides the trainee with the opportunity to work with patients and families in a short-term therapy model focused on improving functioning and assisting with adjustment following acute or chronic medical injuries or illness (e.g., mild TBI, moderate to severe TBI, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, etc.).

IMG_4706

The fellow will spend a total of one year in the Neurology Department and a total of one year in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department. The two-year fellowship offers general pediatric neuropsychological training with a variety of patient populations and will prepare the fellow for board certification and career in pediatric-neuropsychology. 

Neurology (12 months; two 6-month rotations)

This rotation provides general training in pediatric neuropsychology with a focus on neurologic populations.  The fellows will participate in 4 (3 month) specialty rotations during their year in Neurology. Under supervision, the fellow will complete two outpatient evaluations per week, as well as attend interdisciplinary clinics appropriate to her/his rotations. While the fellow will see a wide range of referrals over the course of the year, the program is structured to provide more focused experiences during specific rotations. During each rotation, the fellow will receive more referrals with children with those specific diagnoses and will be supervised by faculty with expertise in that area. Rotations and descriptions are as follows.

Example of fellow's weekly Neurology schedule. Actual schedule may vary.

Monday

Tuesday

WednesdayThursdayFriday

Outpatient Clinic

Evaluation

Didactics/Admin time (e.g., writing, prep, supervision) Outpatient Clinic Evaluation

   Admin time

(e.g., writing, prep, supervision)

 Research
 Adult Neuropsych Seminar                                          Admin time (e.g., writing, prep, supervision) Outpatient Clinic EvaluationPediatric Neuropsych Seminar                                           Didactics/ Admin time (e.g., writing, prep, supervision)
Multidisciplinary Clinic  Telehealth IntakesOutpatient Clinic EvaluationTelehealth FeedbacksAdmin time (e.g., writing, prep, supervision)
Rehabilitation (12 months; two 6-month rotations)

This rotation provides general training in pediatric neuropsychology with an emphasis on rehabilitation-relevant populations and conditions, including mild to severe TBI, anoxic/hypoxic injuries, encephalitis, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy. Under supervision, the fellow will complete 2-4 comprehensive outpatient neuropsychological evaluations per month, while also rotating through several different rotations.  During each rotation, the fellow will receive more referrals with children with those specific diagnoses and will be supervised by faculty with particular expertise in that area. Rotations and descriptions are as follows:

Example of fellow’s weekly Rehabilitation schedule. Actual schedule may vary.

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
Comprehensive Outpatient EvaluationInpatient rehab unitInpatient rehab unitOutpatient Multi-disc clinic Research
Adult Neuropsych SeminarPediatric Neuropsych SeminarAdmin time (e.g., writing, prep, supervision)
Comprehensive Outpatient Evaluation  Admin time (e.g., writing, prep, supervision)Telehealth FeedbacksTelehealth Feedbacks


ActivityDescription
EpilepsyThe fellow’s focus will be on assessing children with epilepsy. This includes pre- and post-surgical evaluations, evaluations of children with epilepsy who are not surgical candidates, and possible participation in fMRI preparation, Wada testing, and language mapping. The fellow will attend weekly epilepsy clinics and participate in neurobehavioral assessment of children and families on the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. Fellows will attend Epilepsy Conference to gain experience in providing physicians information to assist with their treatment decisions and exposure to the various modalities and issues that are considered during surgical decision making. The use of focused, specific assessment to answer discrete clinical questions is emphasized.
Neuro-OncologyThe fellow will have the opportunity to assess children with hematologic/oncologic disorders, including brain tumors and leukemia. The fellow will also conduct pre- and post-bone marrow transplant evaluations. In addition, the fellow will have the opportunity to attend multidisciplinary clinics for newly diagnosed and long-term survivors.
 
CardiologyFellows will have the opportunity to complete neuropsychological evaluations with children with various complex congenital heart conditions and/or heart transplantation. In addition, multidisciplinary clinic experience may be provided, including consultation with families of children with single ventricle post-Fontan, and/or developmental assessment of infants and toddlers with complex heart conditions.
 
General Clinic
 
During this rotation, the fellow will complete outpatient evaluations through the Division of Neurology with children with a variety of genetic (e.g., neurofibromatosis, 22q deletion syndrome, and XY chromosome variations), neurological (e.g., stroke), and metabolic disorders. The fellow will also participate in interdisciplinary clinics for children with a variety of medical disorders (e.g., tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis, Turner syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, and neuroimmunological disorders) and provide consultation to medical teams.
ActivitiesDescriptions
Mild TBI / Concussion ClinicThe fellow will participate in a comprehensive multidisciplinary concussion clinic providing neuropsychological consultation to children and teenagers with mild TBI, ranging from sport-related concussion to complicated mild TBI. The program sees over 1,000 new patients each year. The fellow will learn and utilize an abbreviated assessment model to evaluate post concussive difficulties and guide treatment planning, as well as work with physicians and community providers regarding return to play decisions and school management. The fellow will become expert in pediatric mild TBI and sport-related concussion by learning the natural clinical course of mild TBI, its risks, the various factors that can complicate recovery, the role of performance/symptom validity testing in mild TBI evaluations, and empirically sensible management strategies. Concussion-relevant didactics and experiences include monthly complex concussion case study meetings and bi-monthly concussion seminars, as well as co-presentation opportunities to schools and community providers.
 
Developmental Specialty ClinicsThe fellow will participate in two specialty clinics that focus on younger patient populations (i.e., under 5 years) to allow for the acquisition or refinement of knowledge and skills particularly relevant to preschool and infant/toddler assessment. The International Adoption Clinic (IAC) is a multidisciplinary clinic focused on the medical, developmental, and emotional/behavioral assessment of children recently adopted internationally. Children range in age from birth to 18 years of age but are primarily preschool-age or younger. The fellow will perform formal cognitive assessment, informal assessment of language development, and consultation around emotional and behavioral challenges often faced by these children. The Non-Accidental Brain Injury Care Clinic (NABICC) is a large, multidisciplinary, outpatient clinic focused on the care of young children after non-accidental brain trauma.  Children are followed in the clinic on a regular basis for two years after sustaining injury. The fellow will perform cognitive assessment and provide consultation around psychosocial concerns.
 
Inpatient Neurotrauma/ Rehabilitation UnitThe fellow will participate in the hospital’s multidisciplinary inpatient neurotrauma/rehabilitation unit for children recovering from a variety of acquired injuries and illnesses including moderate/severe TBI, spinal cord injury, anoxic/hypoxic brain injuries, encephalitis, cardiac conditions, stroke, tumor resections, epilepsy surgery, and other neurological and neuromuscular disorders. Fellow responsibilities on the inpatient unit would include acute and serial assessment of cognitive status, abbreviated neuropsychological evaluations, psychoeducation to patients and families, and treatment planning, as well as follow-up consultation with service providers, families, and school teams. The fellow also would be regularly involved in the multidisciplinary team meetings, cognitive-focused groups, and family treatment meetings.

Criteria for Intern, Resident and Fellow Selection

 

1. Dedication to Pediatric Neurological Care

  • Demonstrated commitment to providing compassionate and world-class neurological care to pediatric patients.
  • Understanding of the unique challenges and considerations involved in pediatric neurology.

2. Commitment to Education and Research

  • Eagerness to engage in educational activities and contribute to scholarly investigations.
  • Interest in scholarly activity, which could include basic science, clinical science, educational, and/or quality improvement research.

3. Emphasis on Personal and Professional Growth

  • Willingness to actively participate in personal and professional development opportunities.

4. Advocacy for Wellness

  • Advocacy for innovative initiatives promoting the health and well-being of colleagues throughout their training.

5. Effective Communication and Feedback

  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively.
  • Willingness to engage in ongoing feedback processes for personal and programmatic improvement.

6. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • Understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in patient care, training, and faculty development.
  • Willingness to actively contribute to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for patients, trainees, and faculty.

 

These criteria aim to ensure that residents and fellows selected for our programs are aligned with our core principles and are dedicated to contributing positively to the program's mission and values.

*We will be accepting applications for this track in the fall of 2023.

NPsych

At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we are uniquely equipped to provide specialized training opportunities in Spanish bilingual assessment given our diverse faculty and growing multicultural populations. This track will provide training in broad based pediatric neuropsychology, with additional training opportunities in Spanish/English bilingual assessment. The goal is to provide the trainee with the background and clinical experiences sufficient to conduct competent and ethical evaluations with Spanish bilingual children and adolescents.

The fellow matched to the bilingual track will spend the majority of their training within the Division of Neurology, with one 6 month rotation in The Department of Rehabilitation. Clinical expectations for this track include completion of two outpatient evaluations and participation in one multidisciplinary clinic per week. During two of the rotations (one the first year and one the second year), one to two of the outpatient evaluations each week will be conducted with Spanish bilingual and multicultural populations. Additional opportunities for Spanish/multicultural evaluations may also be available. The fellow will become familiar with appropriate Spanish assessment measures, as well as conduct interviews and feedbacks with families in Spanish. In addition to considering the medical diagnosis/etiology, referral questions often include diagnosing language disorders and learning disabilities in children learning English as a second language, and evaluations will involve providing recommendations regarding language of instruction and level of support needed for special education/ intervention in the educational environment. Throughout training, the fellow will be expected to have an understanding for and incorporate knowledge of bilingual language development and impact of cultural influences into their interpretation and formulation of diagnostic impressions. Four neuropsychologists (Drs. BerriosSiervo, Boada, Martin, and Connery) complete bilingual (Spanish/English) evaluations and fellows will have the opportunity to work with multiple supervisors in this area. 

The fellow is expected to be fluent in Spanish and pass an oral exam as part of their onboarding at Children’s Hospital Colorado in order to be cleared to work with Spanish speaking patients and their families. Applicants are not expected to have had extensive experience administering tests in Spanish prior to the start of their fellowship and will be allowed time to gain extra experience in this area. Fellows will be expected to be able to complete Spanish test administration, clinical interviews and parent feedback sessions in Spanish with minimal support from their supervisor by the end of their first 6 month rotation.

Clinical Rotations

While the fellow will see a wide range of referrals over the course of the year, the program is structured to provide more focused experiences during specific rotations. During each rotation, the fellow will receive more referrals with children with those specific diagnoses and will be supervised by faculty with expertise in that area. Anticipated rotations and descriptions are as follows:

Activity Description
Spanish/Bilingual
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Epilepsy
The fellow will conduct one to two bilingual neuropsychological evaluations per week with the focus on learning Spanish assessment measures and general multicultural issues during the first 6 months.  During the second year, the fellow will again complete one to two bilingual neuropsychological evaluations, with greater emphasis on clinical integration and interpretation in preparing the fellow for independent practice as a bilingual neuropsychologist. Evaluations will be with children with a variety of neurologic disorders.
 
The fellow’s focus will be on assessing children with epilepsy. This includes pre- and post-surgical evaluations, general epilepsy and other seizure disorders, and possible participation in fMRI preparation, Wada testing, and language mapping. The fellow will attend weekly epilepsy clinics and participate in neurobehavioral assessment of children and families on the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. Fellows will attend Epilepsy Conference to gain experience in providing physicians information to assist with their treatment decisions and exposure to the various modalities and issues that are considered during surgical decision making. The use of focused, specific assessment to answer discrete clinical questions is emphasized.
 
Neuro-Oncology The fellow will have the opportunity to assess children with hematologic/oncologic disorders, including brain tumors and leukemia. The fellow will also conduct pre- and post-bone marrow transplant evaluations. In addition, the fellow will have the opportunity to attend multidisciplinary clinics for newly diagnosed and long-term survivors.
 
Cardiology Fellows will have the opportunity to complete neuropsychological evaluations with children with various complex congenital heart conditions and/or heart transplantation. In addition, multidisciplinary clinic experience may be provided, including consultation with families of children with single ventricle post-Fontan, and/or developmental assessment of infants and toddlers with complex heart conditions.
 
General Neurology Clinic
 
 
 
Rehabilitation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Multidisciplinary Clinics
During this rotation, the fellow will complete outpatient evaluations through the Division of Neurology with children with a variety of genetic (e.g., neurofibromatosis, 22q deletion syndrome, and XY chromosome variations), neurological (e.g., stroke), and metabolic disorders.
 
During the 6month rehabilitation rotation, the fellow will have the opportunity to work with a bilingual neuropsychologist.  The rotation will include comprehensive evaluations for a variety of rehabilitation conditions (e.g., moderate/severe TBI, anoxic/hypoxic injuries, encephalitis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy), as well as neuropsychological consultation for children and teenagers with mild TBI through the multidisciplinary concussion clinic. The fellow will be involved in completing abbreviated, developmentally focused assessments in the multidisciplinary International Adoption Clinic.  There may also be an opportunity to work on the hospital’s Neurotrauma/Rehabilitation Inpatient Unit and be involved in the Non Accidental Brain Injury Care Clinic (NABICC).
           
Throughout the two-year program, the fellow will also have opportunities to participate in multidisciplinary clinics for children with a variety of medical disorders (e.g., tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis, Turner syndrome, neuro-oncology, new onset epilepsy, and neuroimmunological disorders). Fellows will be involved in consultation with families and medical teams and opportunities for conducting targeted neuropsychological evaluations.


Research

The fellow will participate in clinical research under the supervision of a faculty member. At the beginning of fellowship, we will discuss with the fellow ongoing research projects, and the fellow will choose the one in which they would like to participate.

A research mentor will be assigned.

Ongoing projects include:

  • Involve children with complex congenital heart conditions (Wolfe)
  • Epilepsy (Berrios-Siervo, Wilkening)
  • Sex chromosome aneuploidy (Janusz, Hutaff-Lee)
  • Spinal muscular atrophy (Miele)
  • Cancer (Wilkening, Hutaff-Lee)
  • Neuroimmunological disorders (Hutaff-Lee)
  • Perinatal stroke (Peterson)
  • Moderate/severe TBI (Kirkwood, Tlustos-Carter, Peterson, Petranovich)
  • Nonaccidental brain injury (Connery)
  • Concussion/mild TBI (Kirkwood, Connery, Baker, and Peterson)
  • Spina bifida/hydrocephalus (Peterson)
  • Performance/symptom validity testing (Kirkwood, Connery, Baker, and Peterson)

Research expectations will vary by trainee, but by the end of fellowship the minimum expectation is that the fellow will have contributed to at least two different scholarly products (e.g., poster presentation at national conference, talk at a regional/national conference, authorship on a manuscript, involvement in a quality improvement project, pilot grant submission, etc...).

Didactic experiences are geared toward preparing the fellow for board certification in clinical neuropsychology.  The fellow is required to take the APPCN Fellow Exam at the end of the first year. The fellow is strongly encouraged to complete the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) exam during the first year. A wide variety of didactic experiences are available including:

  • Pediatric Neuropsychology Seminar: Weekly neuropsychology seminar includes topic-specific lectures, journal article discussions, and case presentations. Seminars are designed to focus on mini-series topics throughout the year including assessment, neuroanatomy, diversity/cultural topics, review of specific developmental disabilities and medical conditions, etc. Neuropsych trainees also have the opportunity to participate in mock fact findings. We have also included a number of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) as well as professional development topics in our seminar topics.
  • Adult Neuropsychology Seminar: The fellow will attend the monthly Neuropsychology Seminar held jointly with the University of Colorado Denver adult neuropsychology fellowship program.
  • Neuroradiology Rounds: The fellow will have the opportunity to join with neurologists, oncologists, and radiologists who review neuroimaging in relationship to clinical referral questions.
  • Neurology Journal Club: The Neurology fellow will attend this journal club with Neurology faculty and trainees.
  • JEDI (Justice Equity Diversity & Inclusion) Summer series and longitudinal training
  • Rehabilitation Seminar & Journal Club: The Rehabilitation fellow will attend this series with the Rehabilitation Medicine faculty and trainees.
  • Teaching and Supervision: The fellow will have the opportunity to develop their own supervisory skills through working with psychometricians and trainees. Fellows are provided with a focused rotation during which they supervise interns/externs during their fellowship under the supervision of a neuropsychologist.
  • Second year fellows will be invited to join Neuropsychology Neurology faculty meetings to provide direct experience in departmental logistics.
  • Other didactic opportunities include Neurology Grand Rounds, Neurology Case Conference, PM&R Grand Rounds, Brain Injury Research Group, Pediatrics Grand Rounds, Genetics Grand Rounds, Psychology Grand Rounds, Rehabilitation Psychology Seminar, and brain cutting.


 

Division of Neurology   

                                       

Gretchen M. Berrios-Siervo, Psy.D., ABPP/CN

is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and serves as a Pediatric Neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Berrios-Siervo is bilingual in Spanish and has interests in the assessment and evaluation of Spanish speaking children and adolescents. Additional research interests include new onset epilepsy, epilepsy surgery outcomes, and issues of health equity. She is also the Director of Multicultural and Bilingual Training, overseeing the Spanish Bilingual/Multicultural Neuropsychology Training Track and is Co-Director of DEI in Neurology. She runs the New Onset Epilepsy (NOE) Clinic and provides consultation to the Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic and Epilepsy Surgery Clinics in Neurology. Dr. Berrios-Siervo received her bachelor’s degree (psychology) from Miami University and her doctoral degree from Carlos Albizu University in Clinical Psychology. She completed an internship in pediatric psychology/neuropsychology at Miami Children’s Hospital (Nicklaus Children’s Hospital) and a two-year fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology and neuroimaging at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth College (Geisel School of Medicine). Dr. Berrios-Siervo is board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology and subspecialty boarded in Pediatric Clinical Neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

To Email Gretchen Berrios-Siervo https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/228865

Yasmine Botto, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and a Pediatric Neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children's Hospital Colorado. As a generalist, she is interested in understanding neurocognitive profiles of children with various medical conditions and being both accessible and compassionate when working with families. She knows both French and American Sign Language, and is committed to conducting culturally sensitive evaluations. Dr. Botto received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, where she also completed her doctoral degree. She completed both her predoctoral internship and two-year fellowship at Children's Hospital Colorado/the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
To Email Yasmin Botto 
https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/35995 

Christa Hutaff-Lee, Ph.D., ABPP/CN is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and a Pediatric Neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Hutaff-Lee is the Training Director for the Neuropsychology Program in the Neurology Department, overseeing the Neuropsychology Rotation for the Internship and Externship Programs, as well as the APPCN-approved fellowship program in Pediatric Neuropsychology. She currently participates in a variety of inter-disciplinary clinics including the Neuroimmunology Clinic for Children for patients with neuroimmunological disorders and the Turner Syndrome clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She is interested in the neurocognitive profiles of children with pediatric demyelinating and autoimmune disorders, pediatric brain tumor, cancer, and hematological disorders, and genetic disorders. She is particularly interested in educational and therapeutic interventions for children with neurological and genetic disorders, as well as potential factors affecting performance during neuropsychological evaluations. Dr. Hutaff-Lee received her bachelor’s degree (psychology) from the University of Denver and completed her doctoral degree at the University of Northern Colorado. She completed a predoctoral internship in neuropsychology at Children’s Hospital Colorado and a two-year fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Hutaff-Lee became board certified in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology in 2018.  
To email Christa Hutaff-Leehttps://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/228235

Jennifer Janusz, Psy.D., ABPP/CN is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and serves as a Pediatric Neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Her clinical interests include the neurocognitive profile of children with genetic disorders, and she works closely with the Neurofibromatosis Program, the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Clinic, and the eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic. Dr. Janusz received her bachelor’s degree (psychology) from American University and her doctoral degree from the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology. She completed an internship in pediatric psychology/neuropsychology at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and a two-year fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital/ Ohio State University. Dr. Janusz became board certified in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology in 2004.  
To email Jennifer Janusz
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/230240


Arianna Martin, Psy.D. is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and serves as a Pediatric Neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Martin is bilingual and has interests in the assessment of Spanish speaking children and adolescents. Her clinical interests include children and adolescents with various neurological and medical conditions including focal and generalized epilepsy, pediatric cancers, PKU, sickle cell disease, and craniofacial disorders. Her research interests involve examining cognitive factors (e.g., executive function) among pediatric populations and its impact on overall behavioral, academic and social outcomes.   Dr. Martin received her bachelor’s degree (Psychology and Computer Science) from Claremont McKenna College. She received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium. She completed her internship in pediatric psychology at Children’s Hospital of Orange County and a two-year fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Children’s National Health System.
To email Arianna Martin
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/13108677

Andrea S. Miele, Ph.D. ABPP/CN is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and serves as a Pediatric Neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Miele has primary clinical interests in rare genetic disorders, and she specializes in working with children with neuromuscular diseases as well as developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. She also devotes a portion of her time following children with metabolic disorders, neurocutaneous disorders, and those who are preparing for, or who have already undergone, bone marrow transplant for hematology-oncology disease. Her research interests include neuropsychological functioning in children with the neuromuscular disease SMA (and especially Type 1), Batten Disease, the 8p and Ring14 Syndromes, and the STXBP1- and SLC6A1-related disorders. Dr. Miele received her bachelor’s degree (psychology with a biopsychology concentration) from the College of the Holy Cross and her doctoral degree from the University at Albany, State University of New York. She completed an internship in combined child and adult neuropsychology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and a two-year fellowship in combined pediatric and adult neuropsychology at Brown University. Dr. Miele became board certified in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology in 2022.
To email Andrea Miele
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/11764087


Elise Turner, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Pediatric Neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Turner’s clinical interests include working with youth with complex medical conditions, including pediatric oncology, stroke, and solid organ transplantation. She also has interests in quality improvement work, including implementation of preventative and tiered neuropsychological services. She completed her graduate training at the University of Florida. Her internship was completed at Oregon Health & Science University, and her fellowship was completed at Children’s Hospital Colorado/University of Colorado School of Medicine.
To email Elise Turner
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/27967696


Greta N. Wilkening, Psy.D, M.Ed, ABPP/CN is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.  In addition to directing the Pediatric Neuropsychology service (within Neurology), she developed and directs the Neurodevelopmental Research Core.  Her primary clinical interests are the evaluation and follow-up of children with epilepsy and brain neoplasms. She is the lead neuropsychologist for the Urea Cycle Disorder Consortium Longitudinal Study. She is board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology and Pediatric Clinical Neuropsychology.
To email Greta Wilkeninghttps://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/229981

Kelly Wolfe, Ph.D., ABPP/CN is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the Clinical Director of the Neuropsychology Program in the CHCO Neuroscience Institute, and the Director of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program in the CHCO Heart Institute. She is board certified in clinical neuropsychology and subspecialty board certified in pediatric neuropsychology through the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology. Dr. Wolfe collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on outpatient and inpatient clinical, research, and quality improvement initiatives to better understand and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in children and young adults with cardiac disease. Her research has included examining predictors of neuropsychological outcomes in single ventricle heart disease and heart transplantation. Dr. Wolfe also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology and is a Co-Vice Chair of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative.
To email Kelly Wolfe
https://som.ucdenver.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/23697

 


Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation:

Alison M. Colbert, Ph.D., ABPP/CN is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and is a Pediatric Neuropsychologist and Rehabilitation Psychologist in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Children’s Hospital Colorado. She works as a neuropsychologist and rehabilitation psychologist on the inpatient Neurotrauma/Rehabilitation unit and conducts outpatient neuropsychological evaluations. Her research interests focus on neurocognitive outcomes following central nervous system disruption, developmental or acquired. She is interested in identifying factors that predict risk and resilience, enhance diagnosis and treatment, and influence neurocognitive and psychological outcomes. Dr. Colbert received her Bachelor’s degrees (Psychology and Spanish) from Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA, and her Master’s degree in Clinical Health Psychology from Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. She earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI. Dr. Colbert completed an internship in Rehabilitation Psychology, as well as a two-year fellowship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. 
To email Alison Colber  
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/21150875

Amy Connery, Psy.D., ABPP/CN is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.  She is a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  She provides clinical services in Concussion Clinic, International Adoption Clinic (IAC), and the Non-Accidental Brain Injury Care Clinic (NABICC).  Her research interests include the effects of early adversity and neurologic insult on developmental outcomes. She provides bilingual Spanish assessments. Dr. Connery received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola University of Chicago and her doctoral degree from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California.  She completed an internship at the University of California, San Francisco, a one year postdoctoral fellowship at Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland and a two year fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at the Neurodevelopment Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise, Idaho.  Dr. Connery became board certified in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology in 2009.  She received the pediatric subspecialty designation in 2014.
To email Amy Connery
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/21098427

Michael Kirkwood, Ph.D., ABPP/CN is a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He is the Director of the Rehabilitation Psychology/ Neuropsychology Program, as well as the Co-Director of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Concussion Program. His clinical and research interests focus on acquired brain injury in children, particularly mild TBI, as well as the value of validity testing in pediatric assessment. He also has a primary interest in promoting and supporting board certification in clinical neuropsychology. Dr. Kirkwood received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and doctoral degree from DePaul University. He completed internship in pediatric psychology/neuropsychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital / The Ohio State University and a two-year fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Boston Children’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School.
To email Michael Kirkwood
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/21098422

Paige E. Naylor, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She is a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Clinically, Dr. Naylor works as a generalist within the department, including in the Concussion Program. She also has an interest in the identification of neurodevelopmental disorders in rehabilitation patients. In terms of research, Dr. Naylor is interested in health equity and quality improvement work, including identifying barriers to patients accessing care. She received her bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in San Antonio and her doctoral degree from Palo Alto University. Dr. Naylor completed her internship at Duke University School of Medicine and a two-year pediatric neuropsychology fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin.
To Email Paige Naylor
https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/38585 

Robin L. Peterson, Ph.D., ABPP/CN is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She is a pediatric neuropsychologist in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  Her clinical and research interests include understanding developmental outcomes in children with language/learning disorders, spina bifida, and acquired brain injuries. She is the training director for neuropsychology in rehabilitation. Dr. Peterson received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology from Harvard University. She completed a Master’s in Education and worked as an elementary school teacher before pursuing doctoral training in clinical child psychology. She completed her PhD through University of Denver, her internship through Children’s Hospital Colorado, and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Neuropsychology through University of Denver and Children’s Hospital Colorado/University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. Dr. Peterson became board certified in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology in 2015.  She received the pediatric subspecialty designation in 2018.
To email Robin Peterson 
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/21098429

 

 

Christine Petranovich, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and a clinical neuropsychologist in the Department of Rehabilitation at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Clinically, Dr. Petranovich is primarily interested in acute and long-term neuropsychological assessment of children and adolescents with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. From a research perspective, she is interested in identifying predictors of cognitive functioning, social competence, and behavior after traumatic brain injury. Dr. Petranovich is also interested in understanding protective and modifiable risk factors in the transition to adulthood for individuals with a history of rehabilitation-specific medical conditions.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biological anthropology from the University of New Mexico and a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Cincinnati. Internship and post-doctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology were completed at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.
To email Christine Petranovich 
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/21098450 

 

Sarah Tlustos-Carter, Ph.D., ABPP/CN is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and a clinical rehab neuropsychologist in the Department of Rehabilitation at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Clinically, Dr. Tlustos-Carter provides services on the inpatient Neurotrauma/Rehabilitation unit and also conducts outpatient neuropsychological evaluations. Her interests include the cognitive and social-emotional outcomes after moderate/severe TBI and other acquired brain injuries, as well as determining best practices and predictors of recovery during acute recovery from brain injury.  Dr. Tlustos-Carter received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Visual Arts through the University of Northern Colorado. She then attended University of Cincinnati where she received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with emphases in neuropsychology and child psychology. She completed her internship through Children’s Hospital Colorado and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Neuropsychology through University of Denver and Children’s Hospital Colorado/University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. Dr. Tlustos-Carter became board certified in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology in 2018. 

To email Sarah Tlusto
https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/226952  

 

 


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Diversity / Equity / Inclusion

Diversity

We are committed to creating a diverse environment for students, residents, fellows, and faculty. We believe that an environment of inclusiveness and respect promotes excellence and that a setting where diversity is valued leads to the training of physicians who are prepared to practice culturally effective medicine and meet the needs of the various populations we serve. Visit our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage for more....

 

 

Well-Being / Resilience

Be well

By embracing wellness and improving personal resiliency, physicians can reconnect with the meaning of their work and fend off stress. Reducing or eliminating burnout also has practical implications for the entire department such as improving patient safety, student advancement, and the overall campus environment.

Visit our Pediatric Well-Being and Resilience website for more.


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