| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Applicant Name | Di-Hua Luo |
| Applicant Email | Email hidden; Javascript is required. |
| Training Level | Graduate student |
| City of Residence | New York |
| Distance to Chicago, IL | > 2 hour flight |
| Age | 33 |
| Gender identity and pronouns | female; she, her |
| Have you ever attended an AACN annual meeting? | No |
| The following list includes characteristics of historically underrepresented groups. Please select all characteristics that represent you and/or describe other diverse facets of your identity in the “Other” option. |
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| Funding Opportunitites | |
| I would like to be considered for the following funding opportunities. |
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| Application for Student Assistant | |
| By applying to be a student assistant, you agree to the following responsibilities/commitments: |  I carefully reviewed the above responsibilities/commitments and agree with all of them. |
| Would you like to be considered for complimentary lodging? | Yes, please. |
| In-Person Volunteer Slots |
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| Application for Conference Leader | |
| Application for Scholarship | Travel scholarship awardees are provided with free conference registration and reimbursement of up to $550 of travel expenses to support conference attendance, including meals, hotel stay, and airfare. |
| Please provide a paragraph describing an example of your commitment to service. | My commitment to service within the neuropsychological community is exemplified by my active participation in academic and professional settings, where I have supported both peers and mentors since my journey began in Taiwan and now continues to advance in the States. Throughout my graduate studies, I have been involved in facilitating program-wide neuropsychological competency exams, served as a neuropsychological assessment teaching assistant, and organized practicums in clinical settings for younger students. These roles aimed to enhance the educational experience for fellow students and promote interdisciplinary learning, including coordinating assessment observations in clinical settings, and overseeing supervision and case conference observations with neuropsychologists. Additionally, under the mentorship of my research mentors and through my specialization in neuropsychology, I have contributed to research that seeks to improve diagnostic techniques and treatment approaches. My current focus on fatigability assessment and management in populations, including healthy older adults and people aging with multiple sclerosis, aims to ultimately serve the broader goal of advancing our field and improving patient outcomes. |
| Please provide a paragraph describing an example of your ability to persevere or achieve despite barriers. | My path to becoming a neuropsychologist has been shaped by a series of challenges that I have transformed into opportunities for growth. Originating from Taiwan, where I completed my foundational education, I faced significant cultural and linguistic barriers upon entering the PhD program in the United States. Navigating a new educational system while refining my English proficiency as a non-native speaker amidst the pressures of graduate studies tested my resilience. Despite these obstacles, I have maintained a strong academic record and actively contributed to my program through research and community service. I employed extensive self-study and interactive language tools to enhance my English skills, and utilized interactions with peers and mentors to deepen my cultural knowledge and sensitivity, ensuring effective engagement in both academic and clinical settings. Additionally, I leveraged my multilingual skills to provide culturally responsive care to underserved populations, including non-English speaking patients and international students. Simultaneously, I managed a part-time research assistant job to fund my education, which honed my time management and resilience skills. These experiences have not only enabled me to excel academically but also imbued me with a profound understanding of diverse struggles, enriching my approach to patient care. |
| Please provide a paragraph discussing the potential benefits of your conference attendance to you and the professional community. | Attending the annual conference of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology will be instrumental in advancing my professional development and enhancing my contributions to the field. The conference offers an excellent opportunity to stay updated on the latest research and therapeutic innovations, which I plan to integrate into my current externship at a specialized Movement Disorders clinic and future clinical practices. Networking with established professionals and peers will open doors to collaborative opportunities and mentorship, which are vital for my growth as a burgeoning researcher and trainee. Presenting my research on chronic neurological disorders, including movement disorders and autoimmune diseases, will allow me to contribute to the wider discourse, potentially influencing best practices and patient care strategies. This experience will not only enhance my capacity to provide compassionate, science-driven care but also enable me to share these insights, thus advancing neuropsychological practices. Moreover, understanding the nuances of clinical neuropsychology in the United States will enrich my long-term goal of fostering international exchanges and disseminating this knowledge within East Asian neuropsychology communities. |
| Application for Conference Mentor Award | |
| Tiebreaker | 2 |
