Neuropsychological Assessment Clinic in Oncology at the Radiation Oncology PET/CT Center (ROPCC)

Students will evaluate a variety of adults with primary and metastatic brain tumors, as well as patients with other types of cancer who are referred from Radiation Oncology, Neuro-oncology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery in a comprehensive cancer center setting to assist with treatment planning and rehabilitation. Once a month, the clinic sees patients with epilepsy who are considering neurosurgical resection of the epileptic region. 

Students will have the unique opportunity to evaluate patients in an outpatient hospital setting as part of a multidisciplinary neuro-oncology treatment team. Students will have the opportunity to observe Dr. McDonald perform the clinical interviews and will work closely with Dr. McDonald to design the appropriate neuropsychological batteries. Students will also have the opportunity to attend weekly Brain Tumor Board meetings where individual patient care decisions are made and to review patient MRIs on a one-to-one basis with Dr. McDonald and the treatment team. Options are also available for shadowing a radiation oncologist during treatment planning and attending resident didactics.

This is a Friday clinic at ROPCC. Brief evaluations for radiation planning will be performed on Friday mornings (typically 9:00-12:00). Some evaluations are longer and may last until 2:00. On occasion, other clinic days can be scheduled, pending the student’s schedule and the availability of clinic space. Students are encouraged to attend Brain Tumor Boards at MCC from 12-1 on Fridays or Epilepsy Case Conference from 4:00-6:00 every other Tuesday (if they are seeing a presurgical epilepsy patient).