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The Houston Conference stands at the confluence of the many developments that have characterized the history of clinical neuropsychology as a specialty. The Houston Conference will hopefully identify options and define a direction for future education and training in clinical neuropsychology and, thereby, provide a conceptual framework for developing qualified scientist-practitioners in other specialties in the future.
Wednesday, September 3, 1997
WELCOMING COMMENTS AND
CHARGE TO THE DELEGATES
CHARGE TO THE DELEGATES
Dr. Hannay officially welcomed the delegates, recorders, and observers to the Houston Conference on Specialty Education and Training in Clinical Neuropsychology. She then introduced the other members of the planning committee: Linus Bieliauskas, Bruce A. Crosson, Thomas A. Harnmeke, Kerry des Hamsher, and Sandra Koffler. Dr. Hannay gave the following charge to the delegates:
This conference reflects the fact that we have reached a milestone in clinical neuropsychology, recognition as a specialty by the American Psychological Association. In the history of humankind, change or even the suggestion of change or new ideas is often met with fear and opposition and this conference is no different. We have an opportunity, in reviewing our past standards for education and training in the field and in considering future standards to produce a document which will not only guide us through the next decade as the INS-Division 40 Guidelines have so admirably done but will outline our aspirations for the future. I hope that we are up to the task. This evening we look back at the events that have brought us to this place in order to provide a context for our deliberations.
WELCOMING COMMENTS BY REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Dr. Hannay introduced Dr. Marco Mariotto, Chair of the Department of
Psychology at the University of Houston, who made a few comments on behalf
of the department and the College of Social Sciences. Dr. Mariotto extended
his appreciation to the sponsors and underwriters of the conference, the
American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, the American Board of Clinical
Neuropsychology, the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology,
Division 40 of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Board
of Educational Affairs of APA, the National Academy of Neuropsychology,
Psychological Corporation, and Swets and Zeitlinger. He expressed his special
appreciation to the majority underwriter of the conference, the University
of Houston. The Provost s Office and, in particular, Dr. Charlotte Tate
who is the Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Faculty Affairs, as well
as Dr. Richard Rozelle, Dean of the College of Social Sciences, and colleagues
and staff members in the Department of Psychology were thanked. Dr. Mariotto
made comments about the Department of Psychology s long history of supporting
training in clinical neuropsychology. He mentioned that a freestanding
doctoral program in clinical neuropsychology was set up at the University
of Houston in 1973, one of the earliest of such programs. In 1993, the
clinical neuropsychology program was merged with the APA-approved clinical
program and now is a formal, separate track in that program. There are
five full-time clinical neuropsychology faculty in the department and more
than 15 adjunct and part-time clinical neuropsychology faculty whose primary
appointments are at the Texas Medical Center and other facilities. The
strong linkages of the program to the Texas Medical Center and the general
clinical community were mentioned. Dr. Mariotto then welcomed the delegates
and also said that he would be attending the conference as an observer
for the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology (COGDOP) since he
has been involved in education at three universities for 25 cars and has
had an abiding interest in the theme of the conference, the integration
of training.
Dr. Hannay introduced Dr. Charlotte Tate, Vice Provost for Academic
Programs and Faculty Affairs, who welcomed the conference attendees on
behalf of the Provost, Dr. Tate mentioned that she had perused the conference
materials. Dr. Tate is from the College of Pharmacy and noted that pharmacy
is not as far advanced as clinical neuropsychology. Instead, pharmacy is
trying to determine how to educate doctors of pharmacy now that pharmacy
has developed such programs. Dr. Tate said that she was struck by the considerable
amount of work that we had set for ourselves and the complexity of the
questions that we would be debating in trying to form a consensus concerning
the training of clinical neuropsychologists. She believed that it would
be a daunting, challenging, and exciting experience. Dr. Crosson introduced
Dr. Meier since he had worked very closely with him in preparing the Division
40 Petition (Meier et al., 1995) for specialty recognition that was accepted
by the APA. Following Dr. Meier s presentation, Dr. Hannay introduced the
graduate students in clinical neuropsychology from the University of Houston
who were to serve as recorders for each of the breakout groups, Jennifer
Cass, Randi Dorman, Melissa A. Friedman, Brian D. Hoyt, Melissa Wright,
and Rosario Castillo. Ms. Manuela Kuffel, administrator in the Department
of Psychology at the University of Houston, was recognized for the invaluable
help that she provided in making local arrangements for the conference.
Dr. Hannay expressed the desire of the planning committee to meet the
delegates that they did not know during the reception that Psychological
Corporation was kindly sponsoring. She then introduced Dr. Wendy Huckeba,
a Project Director and a clinical neuropsychologist, who was there to represent
Psychological Corporation and would also be attending as an observer.
Dr. Hannay introduced the clinical neuropsychologists who had agreed
to serve as chairs of the breakout groups: Dr. Stanley Berent, Dr. Thomas
J. Boll, Dr. Eileen B. Fennell, Dr. Ann C. Marcotte, Dr. Byron P. Rourke,
and Dr. Wilfred van Gorp. The planning committee asked to meet with the
group leaders at 9:00 pm to answer any questions that they might have about
their responsibilities. The taking of a group picture of the delegates,
recorders, observers, and planning committee prior to the reception was
announced.
Thursday, September- 4, 1997
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