The OPT task force is a collaboration of the ANA advocacy and student committee. The task force aims to better support international trainees and professionals in the field of clinical neuropsychology. Currently, most international trainees from clinical psychology doctoral programs are only granted one year of work authorization (Optional Practical Training, OPT) after completing their doctoral degree, which poses a substantial barrier for those pursuing a two-year post-doctoral fellowship training. The OPT task force aims to raise awareness about this issue and relevant structural constraints, as well as to provide information and tangible support for trainees and training programs to advocate for changes.
Please feel free to contact us at: opt.tf.ana@gmail.com
Meet the Task Force Members
Kritika Nayar, PhD (Chair)
Kritika is a pediatric neuropsychology post-doctoral fellow and instructor at the Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment & Services (AARTS) Clinic at Rush University Medical Center. Kritika is deeply committed to magnifying the relevance of the field of clinical neuropsychology by promoting creative and collaborative problem-solving that aims to eliminate barriers that have historically impacted an international student’s pursuit of neuropsychology.
Elizabeth Choi, PhD
Liz is a neuropsychologist at the University of California San Francisco. She was an international trainee from Hong Kong, and she served in leadership roles in the international student community during her graduate training. She is passionate about mentoring international students in navigating the challenges in their neuropsychology training. She strives to help reduce barriers for international students and professionals to seek training and work experience here in the U.S.
Palak Lunia, PsyD
Palak Lunia, Psy.D., is a clinical neuropsychology fellow at the Thomas Jefferson University/Sidney Kimmel Medical Center in Philadelphia.
Iris Yi Miao, PhD
Iris is a neuropsychology post-doctoral fellow at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She also serves on the Advocacy Committee of the Asian Neuropsychological Association (ANA). As an international trainee herself, she is passionate about identifying and mediating structural barriers in training for international students in clinical psychology and neuropsychology.
Our advisors
Doris Hong, PhD
Doris served as Co-Chair of the Taskforce from 2022-2024. She is a staff neuropsychologist at Salem Hospital and Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. She is Chinese and was an international trainee herself. She looks to reduce barriers for international trainees and professionals in neuropsychology.
Rinku Lalchandani, PhD, ABPP
Rinku served as a member in the Taskforce from 2023-2024. Rinku is board certified in Rehabilitation Psychology and has a private practice specializing in neuropsychology and rehabilitation in California. She hails from Lagos, Nigeria and came to the US in 2001 to pursue graduate education and training in Clinical Psychology. She served on the ABPP-RP board from 2021-23 and has been a member of OPT since 2023. She endeavours to be an advocate for international students and to provide support to programs/sites that train and hire international candidates.