Current Environment: Production

Katrina Boyer | Medical Services

Specialties

Programs & Services

Katrina Boyer | Education

Undergraduate School

California State University

1995, Rohnert Park, CA

Graduate School

Masters, Clinical Psychology

California School of Professional Psychology

1998, San Diego, CA

Graduate School

PhD, Clinical Psychology

California School of Professional Psychology

2002, San Diego, CA

Fellowship

Post-Doctoral

Columbus Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University

2003, Columbus, OH

Katrina Boyer | Professional History

My work as a pediatric neuropsychology is focused on understanding how children living with epilepsy develop, taking into account systems that influence brain development, including family, community and biology. The child’s behavior also alters these systems; this dynamic interchange outlines the neurodevelopmental process determining function up to the present time and identifies factors that can be harnessed as agents of change in future stages of development. 

The child’s behavior also alters these systems; this dynamic interchange outlines the neurodevelopmental process determining function up to the present time and identifies factors that can be harnessed as agents of change in future stages of development.  History is gathered from informants about environments, relationships, behavior and development to date and detailed medical history is interwoven with the social system.

For the last 12 years I have developed the Neuropsychology of Epilepsy Program within the Epilepsy Center at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). I was the first neuropsychologist hired into the Epilepsy Center and Department of Neurology. I blazed a trail, building a clinical and research program from the ground up. Demand for neuropsychology services for epilepsy patients increased over time and six years ago I was able to recruit and hire a second neuropsychologist to work under my direction while simultaneously training two fellows per year and providing educational instruction throughout the Harvard Medical School system. We have recently hired a third neuropsychologist and will increase research collaborations and clinical capacity.

My research has focused on the behavioral and cognitive developmental disruption of interictal epileptiform discharges in patients with benign rolandic epilepsy as well as neuropsychological outcome of pediatric epilepsy surgery. I am fascinated by questions about disease mechanisms that effect development and designing research methods to bring us closer to answering these questions and ultimately helping children with these conditions thrive in their development. It is an exciting time to work in fields that intersect developmental neuroscience as it moves towards an appreciation of functional brain systems.

Katrina Boyer | Publications

  1. Leveraging expertise and optimizing clinical research: Initial success of a pediatric epilepsy surgery collaborative. Epilepsia. 2023 06; 64(6):1554-1567. View Leveraging expertise and optimizing clinical research: Initial success of a pediatric epilepsy surgery collaborative. Abstract

  2. Long-term neuropsychological outcomes in children with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) treated with anakinra. Front Neurol. 2023; 14:1100551. View Long-term neuropsychological outcomes in children with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) treated with anakinra. Abstract

  3. Lexical retrieval pre- and posttemporal lobe epilepsy surgery in a pediatric sample. Epilepsy Behav. 2015 Jan; 42:61-5. View Lexical retrieval pre- and posttemporal lobe epilepsy surgery in a pediatric sample. Abstract

  4. Passive fMRI mapping of language function for pediatric epilepsy surgical planning: validation using Wada, ECS, and FMAER. Epilepsy Res. 2014 Dec; 108(10):1874-88. View Passive fMRI mapping of language function for pediatric epilepsy surgical planning: validation using Wada, ECS, and FMAER. Abstract

  5. Rehabilitation issues in Landau-Kleffner syndrome. Dev Neurorehabil. 2012; 15(5):317-21. View Rehabilitation issues in Landau-Kleffner syndrome. Abstract

  6. Benign rolandic epileptiform discharges are associated with mood and behavior problems. Epilepsy Behav. 2011 Oct; 22(2):298-303. View Benign rolandic epileptiform discharges are associated with mood and behavior problems. Abstract

  7. Longer duration of epilepsy and earlier age at epilepsy onset correlate with impaired cognitive development in infancy. Epilepsy Behav. 2009 Nov; 16(3):431-5. View Longer duration of epilepsy and earlier age at epilepsy onset correlate with impaired cognitive development in infancy. Abstract

  8. A survey of parent satisfaction with pediatric neuropsychological evaluations. Clin Neuropsychol. 2007 Dec; 21(6):884-98. View A survey of parent satisfaction with pediatric neuropsychological evaluations. Abstract

  9. Psychiatric disorders and behavioral characteristics of pediatric patients with both epilepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Epilepsy Behav. 2007 May; 10(3):384-8. View Psychiatric disorders and behavioral characteristics of pediatric patients with both epilepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Abstract

  10. A Survey of Parent Satisfaction With Pediatric Neuropsychological Evaluations. The Clinical Neuropsychologist . 2007; in press.

  11. Psychiatric Disorders and Behavioral Characteristics of Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy and ADHD. Epilepsy and Behavior. 2007; in press.

  12. Working memory and information processing speed in children with myelomeningocele and shunted hydrocephalus: analysis of the children's paced auditory serial addition test. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2006 May; 12(3):305-13. View Working memory and information processing speed in children with myelomeningocele and shunted hydrocephalus: analysis of the children's paced auditory serial addition test. Abstract

  13. Behavioral and Emotional Functioning in Patients with Epilepsy Treated with Vagal Nerve Stimulator: A Naturalistic Follow-Up Study. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 2006.

  14. Improved Neuropsychological Function Following Resection of Hypothalamic Hamartoma: 3 Case Studies. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 2006.

  15. The Influency of Working Memory Load on Matching Law Performance in Nine to Twelve Year Old Children. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 2003.

  16. The Influence of Working Memory Load on Matching Law Performance in Nine to Twelve Year Old Children. 2001.

  17. Exploring effects of different pictorial stimuli on written expression. Psychol Rep. 1999 Jun; 84(3 Pt 2):1225-34. View Exploring effects of different pictorial stimuli on written expression. Abstract

  18. Transplacental passage of IgG antibody to group B streptococcus serotype Ia. J Pediatr. 1984 Apr; 104(4):618-20. View Transplacental passage of IgG antibody to group B streptococcus serotype Ia. Abstract

  19. Comparison of assays for antibody to group B Streptococcus, type III. J Infect Dis. 1980 Apr; 141(4):530. View Comparison of assays for antibody to group B Streptococcus, type III. Abstract

  20. Response of children with cardiac disease to the bivalent influenza A vaccines. J Infect Dis. 1977 Dec; 136 Suppl:S632-7. View Response of children with cardiac disease to the bivalent influenza A vaccines. Abstract

  21. Multicenter two-dose trials of bivalent influenza A vaccines in asthmatic children aged six to 18 years. J Infect Dis. 1977 Dec; 136 Suppl:S645-7. View Multicenter two-dose trials of bivalent influenza A vaccines in asthmatic children aged six to 18 years. Abstract

From a young age I knew that I would be involved in a profession directly helping others. Through studies, I became intrigued by the brain and the neural basis of emotions, perception and behavior. The development of these neural systems throughout childhood and the influence of social advantage and adversity on developmental outcome captured my fascination and led me toward the path of pediatric neuropsychology.

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