Neuro Emphasis Ambassadors

Craig Stone

3rd Year | PsyD Program | Neuropsychology Track

Email | craigstone@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution | University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

Hometown | Hollis, NH

Why I chose Pacific | I chose Pacific University because I want to become a neuropsychologist, and its Neuropsychology concentration provides unparalleled training and educational opportunities. The practicum sites available to neuropsychology PsyD students in the Portland area at various hospitals and clinics were enticing when I applied, and the ability to begin my training in neuropsychological assessment at a full-time placement in my second year was what truly sold me on Pacific. I know that here I will be getting the hours and experiences necessary to be a competitive applicant for internship and post-doc placements with a focus on neuropsychology, and to me that was the most important thing about choosing a doctoral program. I also love the Pacific Northwest and wanted to go on an adventure far away from home! After living here for almost 2 years, I know that I made the right choice for both my career and personal goals.

Favorite thing about the program | I really like how this program has allowed me to get hands-on clinical experience in my area of interest early on. Being in the neuropsychology track, having experience on an assessment team beginning in the second year of the program has been very beneficial and has allowed me to learn a lot in a short time.

Favorite PsyD course | Neuropsychological Assessment: This course allowed myself and my peers to begin working with the fundamentals of neuropsychology. We not only learned how to administer assessment tools, but also analyzed the evidence base for these tools and the underlying brain networks and structures that make up the domains tested in neuropsychological assessment. This class was a really valuable building block for what is to come later on in the program.

Hobbies | I love the hiking opportunities that the Pacific Northwest provides me with. An hour in any direction from Hillsboro there is bound to be an amazing hike with great views. From the coast to Mt. Hood, there are so many trails to conquer over the course of my time in this program! I’m also a big sports fan, and the atmosphere at Timbers and Thorns games in Portland is always electric! I also love photography, watching Formula 1, and going into Portland for adventures!

Career goal | My goal is to become a board-certified neuropsychologist and work in a setting where I can provide neuropsychological assessment services to people who have suffered from stroke, TBI, or neurodegenerative conditions. 

Simran Mahabaleshwarkar

2nd Year | PsyD Program | Neuropsychology Track

Email | maha4022@pacificu.edu

Hometown | Overland Park, Kansas

Undergraduate Institution | University of Texas at Austin

Why I chose Pacific | A combination of factors drew me to Pacific University. The fact that the neuropsychology concentration was close-knit, specific, and met future licensing guidelines was important to me. I also loved that I would be surrounded by nature with lots of opportunity to explore my environment and provide balance while I was earning my degree.

Favorite thing about the program | The professors at Pacific are truly some of the best professors I have ever met! They are very dedicated to their students' success and well-being, going beyond just academics. They truly care about how we are doing on a day-to-day basis. I can tell that they are truly passionate about their practice and love sharing their experiences and knowledge with us. I also appreciate how they treat us as colleagues, valuing our novel ideas and meeting us where we're at.

Favorite PsyD Course | Clinical Foundations. I had an amazing professor teaching the course (shoutout Dr. Cook) and he made the content approachable and interesting to learn. Starting to learn the clinical skills that we would be using in the clinic was the best part of the class. It was both intimidating yet fascinating to begin developing new skills and interacting with people in a new way. I absolutely loved the learning environment of this class—it left room for trial and error, growth, and was always a safe place to ask questions.

Tips for getting observation hours/exposure to psychology | Use your social network as best you can! People love to assist in getting you to where you want to be in your career, so even if you may not know someone super well, but you know they are, or they are connected with someone, who is in a career you are interested in, ask them if they have any availability for you to observe them and I am sure most would be happy to oblige!

Career goal | Eventually, when I have years more experience and knowledge under my belt, I would love to write a book, or find some way to share the information I have gathered with the public. Ideally, I would like to target populations where mental health is still highly stigmatized. I believe everyone would benefit from the knowledge that we learn in our practice and not everyone can afford (time or money) to dedicate themselves to therapy, so I want to find a way to share some information that can be helpful in the meantime.

Hobbies | Apart from reading and dancing I have recently started enjoying the nature around me! Oregon is absolutely beautiful, and I have hopped onto the hiking bandwagon. I also love finding hot springs and watering holes that are nearby (absolutely stunning)! I also love learning new things like ASL and henna.