The OPT Ad Hoc Committee is a collaboration of the ANA Advocacy and Trainee Committees. 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
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.
Committee Members
- Palak Lunia
- Iris Yi Miao
- Yanrong (Momo) Li
- Carmen Chek
- Gargi Doulatani
Advisors
- Rinku Lalchandani
- Doris Hong