Challenges in neuropsychology doctoral education: what can we learn from medical education?

Despite available resources, there have been calls for increased literature regarding evidence-based practices in psychology doctoral education. The field of medicine has a robust literature around educational optimization which may enrich doctoral education in psychology. Utilization of medical education literature may be particularly valuable for doctoral training of students interested in specialties which are typically embedded in the medical system, like clinical neuropsychology.

The current article provides a brief summary of some of the evidence-based medical education literature and provides examples of its possible application to doctoral education specifically within a clinical neuropsychology framework.

The authors summarize some of the support for the efficacy of selected medical education principles, including the concepts of holistic review, multidisciplinary training and integration of clinical and academic training. Examples of implementation are provided from a single doctoral program.

We provide examples of evidence-based medical education principles that we believe can be applied to doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology, with the goal of disseminating ideas, models and practices for doctoral program faculty to consider in the developing and refinement of their educational programs.