The OPT Ad Hoc Committee is a collaboration of the ANA advocacy and student committee. The Commitee 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 Ad Hoc Committee 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 Committee Members
Kritika Nayar, PhD, MS (Chair)
Kritika is a pediatric neuropsychologist at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. She is the current Chair of ANA’s OPT Ad-Hoc Committee, serving in this role since 2024. Kritika is passionate about supporting international trainees in clinical neuropsychology and works at the individual, group, and national levels to improve training pathways. She and the team have partnered with the American Psychological Association (APA) to promote policy change, collaborate with training directors to understand and address barriers faced by international students, and guide international trainees through challenges as they navigate their training journeys. This work is deeply personal to Kritika, rooted in her own experiences and commitment to creating a more accessible future for the next generation of neuropsychologists.
Elizabeth Choi, PhD
Liz is a clinical and forensic neuropsychologist in her private practice, EC Neuropsychological Health PC in the Bay Area, California. She worked as a clinical psychologist in Hong Kong, prior to coming to the United States for her doctoral studies. 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 is a neuropsychologist at Hackensack Meridian Health. She has served as a committee member on the Asian Neuropsychological Association’s (ANA) OPT Ad-Hoc Committee since 2024. In this role, Palak is dedicated to supporting the unique challenges faced by trainees from diverse backgrounds, with a particular focus on international students. She is passionate about developing resources and enhancing support systems that promote trainee growth and resilience as they navigate complex and often demanding professional environments.
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.
Yanrong Momo Li
Our advisors
Doris Hong, PhD
Doris served as Co-Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee (formerly a 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 Committee (formerly 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.