About
Dr Brona O’Dowd is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Psychologist with a strong assessment, treatment, and research background. After her secondary education she worked in a variety of positions (e.g. office clerical/management, supporting adolescents/adults with intellectual disability, and elderly care) before completing a Bachelor of Behavioural Science with Honors (1987-1990) and a Doctorate in Psychology (1991-1994) at La Trobe University in Melbourne. At the end of her doctorate studies she was awarded a four-year NHMRC Applied Health Science Fellowship. This post-doc fellowship was undertaken in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Queensland between 1995 and 1999.
With the aim of combining her research knowledge with clinical practice Dr O’Dowd commenced her Masters in Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology) in 1998. Since this time her professional experience as a Neuropsychologist and Psychologist has included positions at: the Royal Brisbane Hospital, the Greenslopes Private Hospital, the Princess Alexander Hospital, the University of Queensland, the Aged Care Assessment Team, the Centre for Magnetic Resonance (UQ), and the Wesley Hospital.
Dr O’Dowd commenced private practise in 2001 and has acted as a senior consultant with the Park Road Group, PsyCare, and the Pine Rivers/Greenslopes private hospitals. Dr O’Dowd is trained in using both PIRS and AMA5 impairment assessments. She extended her private practise in 2005 and she now offers independent neuropsychological, psychological, forensic and medico-legal services to adults.
Education and Professional Qualifications
1989 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (BBSc) (La Trobe University)
1990 1st Class Honours (La Trobe University)
1994 Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) (La Trobe University)
2000 Masters of Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology) (University of Queensland)
Professional Membership and Affiliations
- Victorian Psychological Council (1993-1996, certificate number 3366)
- The Psychologists Board of Queensland (Current Registration number 970615)
- Austral Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) (Current Registration PYS0001401715)
- The Australian Psychological Society (Current Registration number 107653)
- Member of the Queensland College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (2001 – ongoing)
- Treasurer of the Queensland College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (2001 – 2003, 2005)
- Secretary of the Queensland College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (2003 – 2005)
- Committee member of the Stroke Association of Queensland (2000-2001)
- Member of the Stroke Association of Queensland
- Member of the Brain Injury Association
- Member of the Alzheimer’s Association Queensland
- Honoree Member of staff at Monash University (1998-2006)
Work Experience
| May01 – ongoing | Clinical Psychologist/Neuropsychologist in Private Practise |
| Psychological, Neuropsychological & Forensic Assessment/treatment/rehabilitation for adults |
|
| Jan04 – ongoing
|
Consultant to Buderim Private Hospital
|
| Sept05–Feb07 | Consultant Supervisor of Neuropsychology Interns/Externs Psychology Department, UQ |
| July06 – Oct06 | Clinical Psychologist/Neuropsychologist Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (BIRU) Princess Alexandra Hospital |
| July03 –Jan06 | Consulting Clinical Psychologist/Neuropsychologist for PsyCare Neuropsychological/Vocational Assessments & Psychotherapy |
| May00 –Dec05 | Communication Skills Tutor in GMC1 and GMC2 Medical Course Medical School, UQ |
| Aug01 – Dec04 |
Neuropsychologist (Senior Research Officer) Centre for Magnetic Resonance (CMR), UQ Neuropsychological assessments on over 300 community dwelling elderly during my 3 years at CMR. Approximately 70% of these adults had cognitive profiles consistent with normal ageing while the remainder displayed a range of neuropathological conditions |
| April00 – June01 | Part-time Research Psychologist A/Prof Gerard Byrne Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland Research into stroke and depression in the elderly. |
| Sep00 – June01 | Consulting Clinical Psychologist/Neuropsychologist A/Prof Gerard Byrne Alzheimer’s Drug Trial Assessments of elderly people at varying stages of Alzheimer’s disease. |
| Oct00 – June01 | Part-time Clinical Psychologist/Neuropsychologist Alcohol and Drug Assessment Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital 1. Cognitive behavioural therapy with adults of varying ages with histories of substance abuse (alcohol or illicit drugs). 2. Pre- and post-neuropsychological assessment of adults undergoing liver transplants. |
| June00 – Dec00 | Neuropsychologist (Intern) Neuropsychology Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane Neuropsychological assessments of a range of clients with varying neurological conditions (e.g. head injuries, stroke and brain tumors). |
| Feb00 – June00 | Psychologist (Intern) Aged Care Assessment Team Ipswich Health Plaza, Ipswich Psychotherapy and neuropsychological assessments with community dwelling elderly adults. |
| Feb00 – June00 | Research Psychologist School of Psychology, University of Queensland. Research into anxiety conditions in children following car accidents. |
| May99 – Dec99 | Psychologist Greenslopes Private Hospital. Assessment and treatment of depression/anxiety conditions in patients who have suffered a myocardial attack or undergone heart surgery. Psychotherapy with palliative care patients. |
| Feb99 – Dec99 | Psychologist (Intern) Behavioural Research and Therapy Centre Herston and St Lucia Clinics, University of Queensland Psychotherapy and neuropsychological assessments with community dwelling adults and children. |
| 1995-1999 (Postdoc) |
NHMRC Applied Health Science Fellow “Metabolic Dysfunctions in Astrocytes Related to Amnesia and Possibly Alzheimers Disease” Dept. of Physiology & Pharmacology, UQ Postdoctoral research into memory and Alzheimer’s disease. |
| 1990-1992 | Casual Reliever Kildonan Child and Family Services, Melbourne Care of children placed in foster homes. |
| 1989-1990 | Research Assistant Department of Psychology, La Trobe University, Melbourne. Research into memory processes. |
| 1987-1990 | Casual Reliever Community Services Victoria, Westernport Region, Melbourne Care of adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities. |
| 1986 | Travel overseas |
| 1982-1985 | Office Manager of Merchant Transport, Ltd., Melbourne |
Teaching and Supervision Experience
| 2005 – 2007 | Associated Supervisor of PhD Candidate Psychology Department, University of Queensland |
| 2005 – 2007 | Supervisor of Neuropsychology Externs Psychology Department, University of Queensland |
| 2000 – 2005 | Communication Skills Tutor in GMC1 and GMC2 Medical Course Medical School, University of Queensland |
| 1996 – 1997 | Co-supervisor of two honour’s students Corey I. Batton: Thesis: Ferritin-rich microglia in ß-amyloid plaques Glenda Bishop: Thesis: ß-amyloid induction of ferritin expression |
| 1991 – 1994 | First and Second Year Psychobiology Tutor Department of Psychology, La Trobe University |