Cultural Considerations for Neuropsych

3 Continuing Education Hours

Workshop Description:

According to the University of Utah Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute (2021), 22% of the population in Utah identifies as other than non-Hispanic White, with the largest segment of this group identifying as Hispanic or Latino. In all, the Latino population make up 14% of the population in Utah or 1 in 7 Utahns. It is estimated that since 2010, 40% of the statewide population growth has been attributed to the increase in underserved groups, and diversification will only continue to increase as the overall population grows with the Hispanic/Latino population projecting to increase to over 1 in 5 Utahns (Gardner Policy Institute, 2021). These demographic changes make it imperative to address the need for providing culturally sensitive health and mental health services. In clinical neuropsychology, specifically, evaluations focus on cognitive, behavioral, and emotional sequalae of neurological disorders, which are heavily impacted by culture (Fujii, 2017). The assessment of language is just one piece of a complex puzzle when assessing cognitive functioning in someone that is non-English speaking or speaks multiple languages. Therefore, this workshop will review how to provide culturally informed neuropsychological evaluations by examining the cultural factors that affect brain-behavior relationships and will then offer a broad framework for conducting these evaluations.

Course Objectives:

• Identify cultural factors related to cognition, behavior, and emotional state (separate from language factors).
• Identify preparation steps in order to complete a cross-cultural neuropsychological evaluation.
• Demonstrate how to use preparation steps with case examples.

Presenter Biography: Michelle Miranda PhD

Dr. Michelle Miranda is an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology. She is a bilingual neuropsychologist trained in cross cultural and socially responsible neuropsychological practices from the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Miami. She developed the first fully Spanish speaking service in neuropsychology at the University of Utah, and she also provides presurgical evaluations for patients with epilepsy. Her career special interests include cross-cultural neuropsychology, bilingualism in epilepsy. Wada evaluations for non-English speakers, and mapping of language function. She is passionate about the role of neuropsychologist as an advocate and thus is the Co-Chair of the Hispanic Neuropsychological Association’s Social Justice and Advocacy Committee, and she is also chair of the Utah Psychological Association’s Diversity Committee.

Fees

Registration for this CE opens on July 1, 2021

UPA Members

Non-members:

Students:

Zoom link will be sent two days prior to the event.

Online Event Registration

Mail payment to:

Utah Psychological Association
5442 South 900 East, Ste. 512
Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Phone: Teresa Bruce at 801-410-0337

Cancellations with full refund accepted one week prior to the event.

Disability requests must be made 7 days in advance