Dr. Vega is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and a certified subspecialist in pediatric neuropsychology. His has a clinical appointment as attending neuropsychologist in the Epilepsy Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, and an academic appointment as Instructor at the Harvard Medical School. His clinical and academic efforts focus on pediatric epilepsy syndromes, neurosurgical outcomes, and cross-cultural application of neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Vega is also the interim Training Director for the Boston Children’s Hospital Center for Neuropsychology fellowship training program in Pediatric Neuropsychology. He also maintains an independent practice in criminal and civil forensic neuropsychology, and as a consultant for schools and local sports teams.

For Dr. Vega, the challenges in the field of neuropsychology that affect access to and quality of healthcare services for patients and families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds have always been very personal. His parents emigrated from Cuba to Miami, Florida, as teenagers in the 1960s, and then relocated to Aibonito, Puerto Rico, shortly after he was born. The family returned to South Florida (Wellington, Florida) when he was 14 years old, about 2 months into high school freshman year in a town where more than 90 percent of residents spoke English as a first language. Concepts such as acculturation, degree of bilingualism, immigration effects on family systems and individual mental health, etc., are fundamental variables when practicing as a neuropsychologist, and just as useful when navigating family holiday celebrations.

Throughout his career, the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society has functioned as Dr. Vega’s professional home. He has served on committees and as an executive board member of the HNS in the past, and is currently the President-elect. He has also served as an executive board member for the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology and the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology.

Gretchen M. Berrios-Siervo, Psy.D., ABPP is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and serves as a Pediatric Neuropsychologist in the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Dr. Berrios-Siervo has clinical, research, and training interests in the assessment of Spanish speaking and bilingual children and adolescents. She developed the Spanish/Bilingual Pediatric Neuropsychology Fellowship Training track at University of Colorado School of Medicine/Children’s Hospital Colorado and is the Director of Multicultural and Bilingual Training. She is also the Director of Epilepsy in Neuropsychology with additional areas of specialization for pre and post-surgical evaluation of children with epilepsy, including neuroimaging studies. She developed the New Onset Epilepsy (NOE) Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado and is the lead neuropsychologist to the Tuberous Sclerosis Multidisciplinary Clinic in Neurology.

Dr. Berrios-Siervo has dedicated time to service organizations through advocacy work through the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society (HNS) and more recently in her role through the Academy of Post-Doctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN)’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. She is the Co-Director of DEI in the department of Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Additional training and professional highlights include:

• Doctorate in Counseling Psychology – Carlos Albizu University, Miami, FL
• Pre-doctoral internship – Miami Children’s Hospital (Nicklaus Children’s), Miami, FL
• Post-doctoral fellowship – Dartmouth College/Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
• Board-certified through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in Clinical Neuropsychology 
• Board-certified subspecialist in Pediatric Clinical Neuropsychology
• Fellow status in HNS

Dr. Berrios Siervo has had an unwavering commitment and passion to a) better serve Hispanic/Latinx communities, b) mentor/supervise trainees from historically underrepresented backgrounds, and c) improve cultural competencies in training and clinical practice. As one of the few bilingual Latina women who have achieved board certification in both clinical and pediatric neuropsychology, Dr. Berrios Siervo is exceptionally qualified for these initiatives. In this regard, Dr. Berrios Siervo is known as a national leader in multicultural neuropsychology training as she has notably developed a Spanish Bilingual/Multicultural Fellowship Program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where she has served as the Director for several years.

Michael Lopez, PhD, is a clinical neuropsychologist, the director of neuropsychology at the Neurology and Traumatic Brain Injury (NTBIC) & Stroke Clinic in the Department of Neurology, and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine.He completed his internship at the VA Central Iowa Healthcare System in the Neurology Consult Service. Following this, he completed a two-year ABPP/CN Neuropsychology fellowship at the University of Utah in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) with a primary focus on neurotrauma, neurological disorders and aging. Concurrently, he completed a two-year rotation working with children and adolescents with various medical conditions, with a specialization in spina bifida. Dr. Lopez conducts research related to traumatic brain injury and performance validity in his current clinics. He also focuses on multicultural assessment, particularly with Spanish-speaking populations, and conducts comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations in Spanish in a newly founded clinic called the Neuropsychology Spanish Language Clinic at UCI (NSLCUCI). He is an active member of the Community Outreach subcommittee of the Neurology Department’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism and Social Justice (IDEAS) committee, as well as other communities across the UC System. Dr. Lopez has a passion for service the Latino community and is committed to continue to increase access to neuropsychological services in the Orange County community through outreach and continued development of access programs for the underserved.

Dr. Saldana was raised in a predominantly Hispanic/Latinx town within the United States to Peruvian parents and a family encompassing several other Hispanic communities, including Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Costa Rican heritages. His early life experiences as a second-generation immigrant influenced his decision to becoming a bicultural/bilingual neuropsychologist. Witnessing first-hand the inequity that exists across intersections of minoritized communities fueled his desires to work with underrepresented populations.

Dr. Saldana is a current instructor of psychology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School (HMS). He joined the MGH Multicultural Assessment and Research Center (MARC) in October 2023 as a bilingual (English and Spanish) clinician and served as Associate Director.  He is currently an attending neuropsychologist at MGH where he is passionate about the learning and advancement of his practicum students and post-doctoral fellows.

As part of his research work, he is part of the Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP) and works across various research studies, including the Boston Latino Aging Study (BLAST). He also collaborates with the US Consortium of Aging, Dementia & Latino Studies (CADLAS), focusing on normative research. His current research work focuses on investigating differences between monolingual and bilingual/multicultural neuropsychological assessment.

Additional training and professional highlights include:

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology – The Graduate Center, CUNY, Queens College
• Pre-doctoral internship – UCLA (HNCE)
• Post-doctoral fellowship – UCLA (HNCE)
• Past Assistant Director – Multicultural Assessment and Research Center (MARC)

In his spare time, Dr. Saldana enjoys chess, reading science-fiction, and playing volleyball.

Dr. Serrano-Salcedo was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where his fascination with the brain and consciousness began early through reading influential works like Antonio Damasio’s Descartes’ Error. Witnessing the limited development of neuropsychology in Puerto Rico, compounded by the effects of hurricanes and challenges in government, education, and healthcare systems, inspired his commitment to advancing the specialty. His dedication to providing culturally responsive neuropsychological services and creating training opportunities for students from non-traditional backgrounds led him to pursue specialized postdoctoral training under the mentorship of Antonio E. Puente, PhD, past president of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Serrano-Salcedo joined HNS in 2022 and has actively served on the Social Justice and Advocacy Committee. As the incoming Chair of the Communications Committee, he aims to expand HNS’s reach and impact by leveraging digital platforms to highlight critical issues affecting Hispanic/Latinx communities in neuropsychology, promote culturally competent assessment practices, and amplify the voices of emerging professionals from underrepresented backgrounds.

Currently completing his postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology, Dr. Serrano-Salcedo provides comprehensive bilingual neuropsychological evaluations primarily to adults with neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. As a fully bilingual Spanish-English neuropsychologist, he has dedicated significant time to serving underserved Spanish-speaking populations through his volunteer work at Cape Fear Clinic. Dr. Serrano-Salcedo will join Banner Sun Health Research Institute’s internationally renowned Cleo Roberts Memory & Movement Disorders Center, where he will contribute to pioneering treatments and innovative early detection strategies for persons and families impacted by memory and cognitive disorders.

Additional professional highlights include:

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, PsyD (Distinguished Student Medal) – Albizu University
• Pre-doctoral Internship – Northwest Neurobehavioral Health, LLC
• Post-doctoral Fellowship – Clinical Neuropsychology, Supervisor: Antonio E. Puente, PhD
• National Academy of Neuropsychology Leadership Ambassador Development (LEAD) Program participant
• APA Assessment Community Student Poster Award recipient (2024)
• Professional Practice Guidelines Student Committee Member for the Diagnosis of Intellectual Disability in Forensic Settings (APA)
• Senior member of the Roger W. Sperry Neuropsychology Laboratory at UNCW

Dr. Serrano-Salcedo enjoys Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (purple belt), playing chess, reading, and staying active through exercise.

Karen S. Basurto is a Clinical Psychology PhD student at Rosalind Franklin University, specializing in clinical neuropsychology. Her research focuses on improving the cultural and linguistic responsiveness of neuropsychological assessment, particularly among bilingual and Spanish-speaking populations. She is interested in how language, culture, and structural inequities influence cognitive testing, diagnostic accuracy, and the interpretation of functional abilities in clinical settings. Her work broadly examines bilingual neuropsychology, culturally responsive assessment practices, Latino health disparities in aging, and the measurement of functional capacity and real-world cognition in older adults. Through this work, she aims to improve the validity of neuropsychological evaluation and contribute to more equitable assessment and care for diverse aging populations.

Jairo was born in Barranquilla, Colombia before moving to the United States (U.S.) at a young age. His and his family’s journey navigating the complexities of the immigration system, the language barrier, and financial hardships all while caring for a grandmother with dementia motivated him toward a path of service through Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) research for underprivileged individuals. He obtained prestigious awards in high school including the Gates Millennium Scholarship, a BA in Neuroscience and Behavior from Columbia University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus in neuropsychology from Boston University.

Jairo first attended an HNS event at the International Neuropsychological Society annual meeting in 2020. Since then, his membership has been formative and allowed him to connect with a diverse network of mentors and students that are similarly passionate about elucidating research in underrepresented groups. Jairo was recently elected to the HNS Board of Directors as the Student Representative-Elect.

At present, Jairo is in the fourth year of his doctoral program. Under the co-mentorship of Dr. Yakeel Quiroz of the Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP) at Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Alice Cronin-Golomb of the Vision and Cognition Lab at Boston University, he has been able to contribute to multiple culturally informed research projects. His research interests include investigating chronic stress and early risk factors that may be related to cognitive decline and pathology in individuals at increased risk for ADRD.

Additional training and professional highlights include:

• BA in Neuroscience and Behavior from Columbia University
• US Consortium of Aging, Dementia & Latino Studies (CADLAS) Student/Trainee Group Co-Chair
• Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) member
• Publications available for review via Google Scholar

During his free time, Jairo likes enjoys sketching, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. DeLeon was born and raised in Houston, Texas where she was exposed to Tagalog and Spanish alongside English at home. She studied Spanish through high school and discovered neuropsychology as a college extern. She was inspired to hone her Spanish language skills after being sent to rural Mexico as a neuropsychology research assistant to test a Spanish-speaking patient who suffered a traumatic brain injury. That experience clarified that although medical care may be more advanced in the United States, access to equitable care for Spanish-speakers was severely lacking. The first bilingual neuropsychologist Dr. DeLeon met was Dr. Lydia Artiola i Fortuni at the original Houston Conference, who inspired the then-graduate student to focus on further learning about and developing bilingual neuropsychological practices.

Dr. DeLeon was introduced to the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society in 2012 and was thrilled to find a collegial group of like-minded professionals who shared the same enthusiasm for developing and promoting culturally responsive neuropsychology practice and training. Since joining in 2013, Dr. DeLeon has enjoyed meeting and collaborating with peers who share similar passions and goals. Currently, Dr. DeLeon serves as the Chair of the Awards Committee.

Dr. DeLeon is currently an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Texas Dell Medical School/Dell Children’s Hospital where her primary position is in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. She conducts culturally informed neuropsychological evaluations in English and Spanish for children and adolescents with epilepsy, as well as those with other complex neurological conditions. She also serves as a clinical supervisor in bilingual neuropsychology for externs, interns, and fellows. Recently, Dr. DeLeon established a fellowship rotation focused on providing culturally and linguistically competent neuropsychology services for Spanish-speaking patients and their families.Additional professional highlights include:

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology – University of Houston
• Post-doctoral fellowship – University of Texas at Houston Medical School
• Pre-Doctoral internship – Children’s Assessment Center
• Past President of the Austin Neuropsychological Society
• Publications available through Research Gate

In her free time, Dr. DeLeon enjoys spending time with friends and family – especially her husband, 2 sons, and 2 dogs – exploring local hot spots, traveling to other countries and learning about their culture, and pursuing outdoor adventures including hiking, biking, skiing, and kayaking.

Dr. Costello is a trilingual (English/Spanish/Italian) Italian American from Chicago, IL. Her interest in languages led to her decision to minor in both Spanish and Italian during her undergraduate education and pursue immersive experiences abroad. Through her neuropsychology training, Dr. Costello actively sought expert mentorship in the ethical and competent delivery of neuropsychological services in Spanish in order to better serve bilingual pediatric patients and their families.

While gaining leadership and organizational experience as the Equity and Inclusion Officer for the Association of Neuropsychology Students and Trainees (ANST) and adjacent experiences in the newer organization “New2Neuropsychology,” Dr. Costello admired and greatly benefited from HNS’s example-setting in the field of neuropsychology. Upon being nominated for the position of Member-at-Large by Dr. Beatriz MacDonald Wer, more committed service to and involvement in HNS felt like the natural next step in her pursuit of culturally responsive practice. Her aim within HNS is to utilize the privilege she possesses as someone with a doctoral degree to serve as a bridge: to students in need of resources, to patients in need of services in their heritage language, and to populations in need of representation in research.

Dr. Costello is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Texas Austin/Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin, TX where she primarily works with children and adolescents with epilepsy. Her current research is focused on health disparities and bilingual brain development in pediatric medical populations. She has presented locally, nationally, and internationally and hopes to continue to foster equity and inclusion for patients, students, and providers alike.

Additional training and professional highlights include:

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology – Adler University
• Pre-doctoral internship – University of Minnesota Medical Center
• Post-doctoral fellowship – Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine

On a personal note, Dr. Costello lives with her husband and their two dogs (Sadie and Penny Lane) in Austin where they enjoy visiting wineries in the surrounding hill country and cooking elaborate meals at home.

Dr. Barreto Abrams was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Since childhood, his fascination with languages and the world led him to learn basic signs online. Encountering a Deaf child as a youth counselor sparked his interest further. With his cousin’s help, he learned more signs before formally studying American Sign Language (ASL) in the United States. Pursuing a doctoral degree at Gallaudet University allowed him to specialize in psychological and neuropsychological services for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing populations. Over the past decade, Dr. Barreto Abrams has proficiently used Spanish, ASL, and English in his daily interactions. Grounded in cultural sensitivity and a commitment to language justice, he prioritizes sociocultural factors in his clinical, pedagogical, and administrative work.

Dr. Barreto Abrams joined the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society in 2023 as the Social Justice and Advocacy chair. He is passionate about equitable care for all individuals seeking neuropsychological and psychological services. He is especially interested in community education and improving access to care within the Hispanic/Latino community, particularly for neurocognitive and neurodegenerative disorders.

Currently, Dr. Barreto Abrams is a clinical neuropsychologist at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s (PNI), Pacific Brain Health Center, in Torrance, California. He mainly works with adults and older adults presenting with a wide range of concerns. As a lifespan neuropsychologist, he also occasionally holds a pediatric Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing clinic. His research interests include the adaptation of measures with minoritized communities, the development of norms within the Deaf community, and professional practices.

Additional professional highlights include:

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology – Gallaudet University
• Pre-doctoral internship – University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Post-doctoral internship – UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
• 2020 Graduate Outstanding Achievement Award, Gallaudet University
• Publications available via Google Scholar