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:
Doris Hong, PhD (Co-Chair)
Doris 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.
Kritika Nayar, PhD (Co-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. She also serves as the Professional Development Office of The Society for Clinical Neuropsychology (APA Division 40) Association of Neuropsychology Students & Trainees (ANST). 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 2nd year post-doctoral neuropsychology fellow at the University of California, San Francisco/Zuckerberg San Francisco General. 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 navigate the challenges in their graduate training. She strives to help reduce barriers for international students and professionals to seek training and work experience here in the U.S.
Jennifer Lee, PhD
Jennifer is a 2nd-year neuropsychology postdoctoral fellow at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. She is Korean American and hopes to advocate for trainees across settings and improve students’ access to training and resources.
Palak Lunia, PsyD
Palak Lunia, Psy.D., is a clinical neuropsychology fellow at the Thomas Jefferson University/Sidney Kimmel Medical Center in Philidelphia.
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.