Interview With a Board Certified Specialist

Back to List of Specialists

Born in central California to immigrant farm laborers who had limited educational and economic opportunities. She was very motivated to escape the backbreaking work endured by her parents and grandparents. After high school she earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from Loyola University Chicago. She became a board certified clinical neuropsychologist in 2013. She is currently in private practice and also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She does research and lectures on cross-cultural issues in neuropsychology. She is a past president of the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society.

Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A.  I was trained by board certified neuropsychologists who always stressed the importance of an ABPP to demonstrate one’s expertise. So right at the start of my training this became a long-term goal for me.

Q. Looking back, what misconceptions did you have about the ABPP/ABCN credentialing and examination process that you would like future applicants to know?
A.  I was really intimidated by the process; however, I found the entire experience to be very fair. I actually enjoyed myself during the oral exam. It was a very collegial experience. I felt like the examiners wanted us to succeed.

Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A.  I was surprised at how vulnerable the process sometimes made me feel. During my preparation I had many peers review my work and was nervous about the feedback I would receive.  However, this turned out to be extremely helpful as it boosted my confidence and helped me to identify areas of weakness.

Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A.  I would try to finish the process much more quickly. I dragged my feet on submitting practice samples and regret that it took me as long as it did.

Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A.  Don’t waste any more time!  Submit your application and get started. Join the BRAIN listserv and peruse their wiki. At the next conference attend the series dedicated to board certification. Seek out a mentor that can help guide you. Join a study group that will help you prepare and keep you motivated.

Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology.  What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A.  Pursuing higher education and professional goals always made me feel isolated. Some family members just didn’t understand the need for so much schooling and training. In fact, my grandmother never learned how to read. Many times I could have sorely used a role model who knew where I was coming from to get me through some of the challenges I met along the way. I’m happy to lend an ear to any minority applicants who are considering board certification. Nothing should hold you back.

Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A.  I’m proud of myself for voluntarily completing a rigorous examination process that is not required to practice neuropsychology. It makes me feel more confident about the quality of my work.

Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A.  Being recognized by my peers has been the most rewarding aspect about board certification. It feels like you are part of a new family.

Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A.  Attorneys don’t question my expertise as much as they did before. I’ve also been getting more work comp referrals than I did previously.

Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A.  My first language was Spanish.  Growing up I served as an interpreter for my parents whenever we went to doctor appointments. As a child I struggled to translate medical terms I wasn’t familiar with. It was a frustrating experience. For me, it’s very rewarding to be able to serve the Spanish speaking community.  Eyes light up when I’m able to greet a patient in Spanish and they are able to express how they are feeling and be completely understood.

Q. What would readers be most surprised to learn about you?
A.  I lived in Alaska for two years. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I walked on a glacier, soaked in hot springs in well below zero degree weather, visited the kennels of an Iditarod dog sled musher, encountered a herd of moose (and later tried moose meat) and gained exposure to the people and culture that are native to Alaska. Alaska’s a lovely place to visit…especially in the summer.