Building the Foundation of Clinical Excellence
Dr. Patel attended the University of Southern California (USC) for her undergraduate studies. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Neuropsychology from Loma Linda University.
Training
Dr. Patel completed 5 years of training in Neuropsychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which included an APA-approved clinical internship in Geriatric Neuropsychology and a 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuropsychology at the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences.
Clinical Work
Following completion of her training, she opened up her private practice and held positions as a clinical instructor at the UCLA Department of Geriatric Neuropsychology and as a Rehabilitation Neuropsychologist at Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital (Santa Barbara).
Her clinical work has focused on conducting evaluations for adults with neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson’s disease), stroke, traumatic brain injuries, pre- and post-surgical interventions (deep brain stimulation, epilepsy, and organ transplant), multiple sclerosis, ADHD, and psychiatric disorders.
Research
Her research interests have included examining the impact of various medical conditions (e.g., cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS) and associated treatments on neurocognitive functioning. She has authored/co-authored papers published in peer-reviewed journals and a book chapter.
Sharing Knowledge Beyond the Clinic
Dr. Patel has also been an invited guest speaker for various organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Disease Association (Central Chapter) and Parkinson’s Disease Association (Santa Barbara).