PINEHURST — FirstHealth of the Carolinas is pleased to welcome neuropsychologist Allison Parker, Ph.D., to its growing team of neuroscience specialists.
Dr. Parker will work closely with FirstHealth’s outpatient neurologists and Neuro Nurse Navigator Marjorie Adas, R.N., as part of the neurocognitive clinic to provide neuropsychological testing and interpreting results to help patients, families and care teams better understand changes in memory and other cognitive abilities.
Neuropsychological assessments evaluate areas such as memory, language, attention and processing speed and compare a patient’s performance with established norms for people of similar age, education and other demographic characteristics. Results can provide important information to assist with diagnosis, treatment recommendations and care planning.
“The goal is to use the information to help patients, caregivers and their health care team better understand a person’s abilities, assist in diagnosis and provide treatment recommendations,” said Dr. Parker.
She said the opportunity to practice in a collaborative environment was one of the things that attracted her to FirstHealth.
“The opportunity for interdisciplinary care was a big draw,” she said. “I've found that patient care improves significantly when providers are in the same office and able to communicate.”
Dr. Parker brings extensive experience working with adults and older adults with dementia, mild cognitive impairment, movement disorders and other neurological and medical conditions. Before joining FirstHealth, she worked with MARS Memory Health Network in Wilmington, N.C., where she provided neuropsychological assessment and feedback to patients and families.
Her interest in neuropsychology and dementia care began before graduate school, when she worked as a research assistant in a cognitive aging laboratory.
“I found that I enjoy working with the older adult population and loved studying the brain, so I decided to turn my first job out of college into a career,” Dr. Parker said. “I've found that helping individuals and their families cope with a dementia diagnosis is particularly rewarding because there is a strong emphasis on finding ways to improve quality of life.”
Dr. Parker earned her doctorate in clinical psychology, with a focus in adult neuropsychology, from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She completed postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the University of Virginia , where her clinical experience included stroke, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, dementia, mild cognitive impairment and other complex neurological and medical conditions.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and cognitive science from Rice University in Houston.
Outside of work, Dr. Parker enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling and spending time with her dog and cat.
Neuropsychological services are available by referral at FirstHealth Neurology at 10 Page Drive in Pinehurst. Patients experiencing concerns with memory or other cognitive changes should talk with their health care provider about whether a referral for neuropsychological evaluation may be appropriate.
