About the Division

Patients with neurological conditions often experience a wide range of symptoms, some of which can be overlooked in traditional, siloed care settings. The Neuropsychology Division within the Department of Neurology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center was established to improve access and outcomes for individuals with these conditions.

  • We offer comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation and treatment that targets the unique cognitive, behavioral and emotional needs of patients with conditions such as dementia, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and many others.
  • We are in the same physical spaces as other providers in our department, which promotes communication and collaboration between providers in both clinical and research endeavors.

Erica Dawson, PhDWelcome from Division Director, 
Erica Dawson, PhD, ABPP

It is no surprise that research consistently supports a transdisciplinary approach to treating chronic medical conditions. Providers communicate more effectively, share ideas, and work collaboratively to produce more meaningful educational opportunities, research studies, and patient care. The innovative approach of integrating cognitive and mental health services within the Department of Neurology is a bold and exciting opportunity to break down barriers to existing forms of care and emphasizes the value of treating each patient as an integrated whole rather than someone with discrete, separate health issues. 

Goals and highlights

  • Providers within this program are members of several specialty Neurology teams, including Neuro-Oncology, Multiple Sclerosis and Neuro-immunology, Epilepsy, Cognitive Disorders and Movement Disorders
  • We contribute to patient care rounds and discussions pertaining to surgical candidacy
  • We help connect patients and caregivers with departmental, institutional, and community resources
  • We collaborate on research projects to make sure that cognition, behavior, mood, and overall quality of life are routinely considered
  • We are growing! There is considerable interest in increasing access to our services, which means that our team must expand to keep up with demand

Centers and clinics

  • General Neuropsychology Clinic – This clinic serves a wide range of clinical populations. Neuropsychological evaluations, cognitive rehabilitation and psychotherapy are offered
  • Oncology Neuropsychology Clinic – This clinic offers neuropsychological evaluations for adults with various cancers. While adults with brain tumors are the primary population, we also see patients with non-central nervous system cancers, as we know that some cancer treatments can cause cognitive changes
  • Epilepsy Neuropsychology Clinic – This clinic operates focuses exclusively on patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy being considered for neurosurgery
  • Movement Disorders Neuropsychology Clinic – This clinic offers neuropsychological evaluations, cognitive rehabilitation and psychotherapy for adults with movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease

 

Programs and services

Residency and Fellowship

The Neuropsychology division with the Department of Neurology provides clinical neuropsychology training and mentorship to psychology graduate students via formal practicum placement. The program also offers clinical rotations for postdoctoral fellows in the Psychiatry Neuropsychology training program. Finally, medical residents in Neurology and Psychiatry rotate with our neuropsychologists to learn more about how our services work so they can make informed choices about when to refer patients to our clinics.

More broadly, the Department of Neurology at the Ohio State University has a long history of a dedicated commitment to education. We have world-class faculty and staff, state-of-the-art amenities, and novel technologies, all of which enables trainees to gain experience in the management of complex pathologies and apply innovative and high-quality medical care for a diverse patient population. Learn more about our neurology residency and fellowship programs.

Our Team

Erica Dawson, PhD

Erica Dawson, PhD

  • Associate Professor, Director of Neuropsychology, Director of the Neurocognitive Wellness and Therapy Program
Sarah Grim

Sarah Grim, LISW

  • Social Worker, Department of Neurology
Rochelle O'Neil, PhD

Rochelle O'Neil, PhD

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology
Veronica Thornton

Veronica Thornton, PhD

Emily Webster

Emily Webster, MSW, LISW

Research and clinical trials

We collaborate on various research projects within the department. Our primary role currently is to inform the assessment of cognition, mood, behavior, and quality of life. As our team grows, we anticipate serving a more direct role on specific projects.

Learn More

Subscribe. Get just the right amount of health and wellness in your inbox.