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PMC Neuropsychology practicum students (from left): Shalom Shapiro, Psy.D., Kara Rudisill, MS, Emma Rhodes, MS, and Kayci Vickers, MS.

Shalom Shapiro, Psy.D., completed his pre-doctoral internship at the Penn Memory Center in June and received his doctoral degree from Widener University in Clinical Psychology.Throughout this past year, Dr. Shapiro performed neuropsychological assessments with clinical and research patients at PMC and co-facilitated groups in Cognitive Fitness Program. Shalom is interested in the relationship between personality and neuropsychological functioning, as well as in the integration of neuropsychological assessment and psychotherapy.

Kara Rudisill, MS completed her year-long practicum training at PMC in June. She also performed neuropsychological assessments with clinical and research patients under the supervision of Dr. Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton, Ph.D. Kara is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). Prior to PMC, Kara completed neuropsychological practicum placements at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Center for Brief Therapy at PCOM. She will be moving on to expand her training in psychotherapy and pediatric neuropsychology next year.

Kayci Vickers, MS and Emma Rhodes, MA recently completed their year-long advanced neuropsychology practicum, which included conducting comprehensive neuropsychological exams and co-facilitating Cognitive Fitness groups.

Emma, a doctoral student in clinical psychology, specializing in neuropsychology at Temple University, will be remaining at PMC through the summer. Emma earned an MA in counseling psychology from Northwestern University. Her research interests include the influence of sociocultural and health factors on cognitive aging, as well as executive dysfunction in older adults.

Kayci will return in the fall to continue to support neuropsychological testing services in the PMC. She is a doctoral student at Drexel University studying clinical psychology, with a focus in neuropsychology. Her research has focused on consistency in decision making in adult populations and rehabilitation techniques to regain cognitive functioning after brain injury. Kayci earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Drexel University and her bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience at the University of Kansas.

In addition to her clinical work, Kayci also prepared and submitted a manuscript using ADCC cohort data and Emma will begin data collection for her dissertation project in the coming months.In the future, she hopes to continue this line of research with the goal of improving rehabilitation outcomes and treatment recommendations for individuals experiencing cognitive decline.

Dr. Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton, Ph.D., on the accomplishments of PMC’s four neuropsychology students: “Shalom, Kara, Kayci and Emma were a hard-working, flexible and innovative team. We thank them for their dedication to the PMC and their compassionate care of our patients.”

Please join us in saying farewell to Tigist Hailu, who has been the Director of Diversity in Research and Education at the Penn Memory Center since January 2013. Tigist will be starting this week as a Clinical Research Program Manager in the radiology department of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). In this position, Tigist will be managing the clinical research in the radiology department and supporting radiology training in Ethiopia.

By Chloe Elmer

The House Appropriations Committee released a proposed fiscal year 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) funding bill last week, giving Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a $400 million funding boost if signed into law.

This bill comes amidst the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® 2017 (AAIC®) in London this week, where 5,000 of the world’s top Alzheimer’s and dementia researchers gather to network and discuss their research, findings, and theories in relation to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other types of cognitive impairment.

By Chloe Elmer

Being a primary or even a part-time caregiver can be challenging and overwhelming at times, not only for the actual care of a patient, but for the well-being of the caregiver as well. Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia may experience feelings of sadness, anger, confusion, hopelessness, or frustration.

The Penn Memory Center holds a seven-week Psycho-educational Caregiver Class to help caregivers develop skills to better help their loved one – and themselves – cope with the many changes of living with dementia.

There are two separate sessions offered through PMC, and new dates have just been announced for the fall.

ARTZ Philadelphia is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting those living with dementia and their families and caregivers to interactive cultural experiences. Staff facilitate monthly group outings to museum partners to hold conversations about works of art at each museum.