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American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, Inc.
Minutes of the Planning Meeting
Held at Rush-St. Luke's-Presbyterian Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois on 27 October 1994
Present:
Drs. Linas Bieliauskas, Robert Bornstein, Lloyd Cripe, Thomas Hammeke,
Kerry Hamsher, Diane Howieson, Robert Ivnik, Charles Matthews, Homer Reed,
Byron Rourke, Robert Wilson.
Resolution #1:
We resolved that a document should be generated that outlines four points:
a. the fact that, until recently, the ABCN Board of Directors (BoD) has been opposed to the establishment of an Academy;
b. that the reasons necessitating the formation of an Academy and the separation of ABCN from its membership organization are:
i. existing law,
ii. ABPP's reorganization;
c. that a structure be proposed for both the new reorganization of the ABCN BoD and the Academy;
d. that procedures for effecting the founding of the Academy and its separation from the ABCN BoD should be proposed. These include:
i. Changes to the ABCN Bylaws;
ii. Generation of new Bylaws for the Academy.
Resolution #2:
Dr. Kerry Hamsher shall invite representatives from ABCN, Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN), APPCN's representative to the Inter-organizational Council for Accreditation of Postdoctoral Programs in Psychology (IOC), American Psychological Association's (APA) Division 40 of Clinical Neuropsychology, and the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) to attend a meeting at the INS North American meeting in Seattle, Washington. This may take the form of a buffet lunch on Thursday, 9 February, 1995, noon to 1:30.
Resolution #3:
a. The ABCN should address the following concerns about some psychologists' perception of ABCN and its examination procedures:
i. that ABCN is an elitist group which is excessively academic;
ii. that ABCN downplays the role of the practicing clinician;
iii. that there are no benefits to obtaining a diplomate in clinical
neuropsychology.
b. The ABCN BoD should consider the following steps:
i. that the BoD actively seek clinicians as examiners
ii. that the BoD accentuate the applied/clinical dimensions of the
diplomate;
iii. that the BoD send a letter to members of Division 40 and NAN providing
informaiton about the ABCN and about the informational workshop it provides
at meetings of the NAN.
iv. that the BoD, in general, should be more proactive regarding information
about its examination, e.g., its dimensions, the areas of inquiry, etc.
c. It was resolved that the ABCN generate a guide to the knowledge base employed in its Oral and Written examinations (i.e., something be analogous to a reading list for doctoral comprehensive examinations).
d. The ABCN BoD should consider holding ABCN examination workshops around the country on how to study for the board certificaiton examination in clinical neuropsychology.
e. The ABCN BoD should consider the development of written documents on how to study for the board certification examinations in clinical neuropsychology.
f. That in considering the above, the BoD recognize there appear to be two different constiuencies to address with this information:
i. new graduates and practicing clinicians;
ii. senior clinicians.
Resolution #4:
Item Writing.
It was proposed that ABCN poll total membership asking for the generation of items for ABCN's Written Examination. Consideration should be given to a research project involving determining the perceptions and judgments of the membership about the relevant components of the work of a clinical neuropsychologist ( in the
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hope that this would demonstrate and/or assure the representativeness of the examination procedure including the Written Examination).
Resolution #5:
Training of examiners.
There was a general consensus that the examining team should be appointed for a fixed term with members being rotated off after some years and trained examiners taking their place. It was recommended that we examine how examining teams are constructed in other professions (viz., medicine). The candidate's Examination Manual could be expanded to include more specific information regarding the dimensions to be assessed. Also, ways could be found to increase the time available for the preparation of the examiners for the Work Sample Examination. A subcommittee of the Examination Committee will be appointed to consider and report on specific procedures for maximizimg the preparation of examiners. The President asked Drs. Lloyd Cripe, Robert Ivnik, and Robert Wilson to take on this task in consultation with Dr. Kerry Hamsher and all the parties agreed to so do.
Resolution #6:
Letters from the Chairs of the Examining Committees. Formats for these letters should be made available to the chairs.
It was decided that the four people who complained how they were treated in the last examination session be contacted by letter by the Executive Director of ABCN. The Executive Director should inform these candidates that their letters were received and considered by the BoD. The BoD decided to offer the opportunity to retake the examination without additional fee and without prejudice (pending approval by the American Board of Professional Psychology [ABPP]).
Legal information obtained in the course of the reorganization of the American Board of Professional Psychology dictates that the specialty boards of which it is composed must also reorganize. As a board certifying agency, the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology can no longer be a membership organization with an elected Board of Trustees, i.e., as it presently exists. Likewise, as a board certifying agency, ABCN must be narrowly focused on board certification issues. ABCN is prohibited from taking any adovcacy role on behalf of its members, viz., the body of Diplomates in Clinical Neuropsychology.
In order to protect the board certifying functions of ABCN, its membership must be transferred to a new organiztion. The model for this is the formation of an Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology.
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It was resolved that the ABCN Oral Examinations be held on periodic basis, this being the 3rd Friday and Saturday of the months of May and October, with the examiner preparation meeting being held on the immediately preceding Thursday.
A special meeting of the BoD of ABCN will be convened on Saturday, December 10, 1994, at the Palmer House in Chicago, Illinois. Room, board and travel expenses will be reimbursed by ABCN.
Respectfully submitted,
Kerry DeS. Hamsher, Ph.D., Secretary
American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology
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