Paola Suarez, PhD
she/her
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA
Co-Director of the Cultural Neuropsychology Program, UCLA Hispanic Neuropsychiatric Center of Excellence
About
Dr. Suarez is a bilingual clinical/research neuropsychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. She is currently the Co-Director of the Cultural Neuropsychology Program within the newly formed Hispanic Neuropsychiatric Center of Excellence of the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Dr. Suarez’s primary research interests have been in understanding the role of bilingualism in brain functioning. Her work aims to reduce health disparities in Hispanic populations by studying their performance in neuropsychological tests commonly used to diagnose brain disorders. She has been the recipient of a Minority Fellowship Program and F31 awards, as well as the Tony Wong Memorial Postdoctoral Diversity Award from the National Academy of Neuropsychology. She has extensive clinical experience working with the population proposed, and currently serves as the Chair for the Culture and Diversity Committee of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.