Interview With a Board Certified Specialist

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Received his doctorate from Brigham Young University, completed his internship at the University of California San Diego (UCSD)-VA Medical Center, and did an NIH funded postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Dean Delis. Dr. Norman is a faculty member in Psychiatry at UCSD. He provides neuropsychological services to patients with a variety of neurological conditions including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and brain neoplasm.  His research is in the impact of medical disorders on cognition, normative issues in neuropsychology, and the influence of demographic factors on neuropsychological test performance. Dr. Normal has served on Advisory Boards for the Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He has been active in providing mental health services to disaster victims and has served in a leadership capacity with the American Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter Disaster Mental Health Team.

Q. What motivated you to seek board certification in neuropsychology?
A.  Throughout training, my mentors emphasized the importance of board certification so the desire was imprinted into my neuropsychological DNA.  Ultimately, I felt as though I would only “feel” like a true neuropsychologist once I went through the process of peer review and board certification. I did not seek board certification until several years after licensing and saw many of my training cohort become specialists.  I told myself, “It is time.”

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.  Now that I have gone through it and have helped mentor others, I hear a tremendous number of misconceptions about the requirements at every level of training and practice.  I encourage candidates to ask the ABCN leadership to clarify questions.  The other thing I encourage applicants to do is use the tremendous resources, including books, online materials, and board certified specialists.

Q. What was the most challenging/interesting/surprising aspect of the board certification process?
A.  My greatest surprise with board certification is the number of phone calls and emails I receive from people who found me on the AACN website.  The other surprising aspect are the connections and friendships I have made and how much I continue to learn from my distinguished colleagues.  I feel a special connection to those who go through this process and know that they have been peer-reviewed as a specialist in neuropsychology.   These connections have led to many professional and practice opportunities, which have been rewarding and fulfilling.  Another surprising aspect of this has been in teaching.  I did not appreciate the strong desire for students to train with a board certified neuropsychologist. 

Q. What might you consider doing differently based on what you learned?
A.  I would have completed board certification much earlier in my career.  I waited several years after licensing before attempting the process.  I studied on my own but this fits my personal style.  Many others use study groups at various points in the process.

Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in neuropsychology?
A.  I continually encourage everyone who wants to be called a neuropsychologist to go through this process.  The process is fair and respectful, and candidates will undoubtedly learn a tremendous amount. I encourage applicants to use the tremendous resources, including books, online materials, and board certified specialists in preparation.  Challenge yourself with getting feedback from critical thinkers.  You will learn a lot through this process.

Q. ABCN encourages applications from under-represented minority groups in neuropsychology.  What advice would you give a minority applicant?
A.  I HIGHLY encourage minority applicants to go through this process.  You will find others willing to cheer you on and support you throughout this.  Board certification gives specialists a certain inner peace and sense of accomplishment as the “final hurdle”.  It is very rewarding, and you will find that there are a large number of other minorities that have gone through this and are waiting to hear from you to help you through. 

Q. What did you learn about yourself, or in what ways do you see yourself differently having completed the board certification process?
A.  The timing for my completing the exam was not optimal.  There were many things going on in my life, but then again, there is rarely an ideal time to take on a challenging opportunity.  The feedback from individuals I truly respect helped me to better understand myself as a neuropsychologist.

Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A.  As stated above, the connections and colleagues I have met through this process and belonging to an esteemed group of specialists is incredibly rewarding.  I have a new set of friends and colleagues I can consult with.  It is rewarding to feel a significant sense of self-confidence and completion afforded through board certification. 

Q. How has your professional life changed since attaining board certification?
A.  Board certification allowed me to earn accelerated promotions within my department.  This, in turn, opened up other opportunities.  Outside of the university, I met and then worked with colleagues I would have only met through this process.  This has been professionally and personally rewarding. 

Q. What is the most interesting/challenging/rewarding/fulfilling aspect of your work as a neuropsychologist?
A.  The most rewarding aspect of my work is having the privilege and opportunity to help individuals who are in need.  Many of them have life-threatening illnesses or will undergo high-risk procedures.  Because of my knowledge, in part, gained through this process and the connections I have made, I am able to better assist my medical and surgical colleagues in decision-making.