From Practice to Public Health: Broadening Neuropsychology’s Reach & Value—An Introduction to the National Academy of Neuropsychology’s 2022 Annual Conference Special Issue

Abstract

Abstract This special issue is centered around presentations from the National Academy of Neuropsychology 2022 Annual Conference. The theme of the conference, “From Practice to Public Health: Broadening Neuropsychology’s Reach & Value” is pivotal for the field’s future. With an ever-shifting technological landscape and recent changes in clinical practice post-COVID, we are left wondering how neuropsychology will develop. How will we use biomedical and technological advances, such as blood-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers or passive digital recordings, to improve clinical care and further expand our understanding of disease mechanisms? As neuropsychologists, how can we use our expertise to empirically inform public health policy? The diagnosis and treatment of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, the identification and characterization of post-pandemic educational setbacks, and the adaptation of new technological and diagnostic advances into clinical practice workflows represent a vital set of new challenges and opportunities poised to disrupt traditional modes of practice. The articles in this special issue convey the role of neuropsychology in addressing these emerging issues and illustrate how and why neuropsychology is well positioned to be at the forefront of clinical practice and scientific advancements.