Find a Health Care Professional / Researcher

Nicolay Chertkoff Walz, PhD

Title

Pediatric Neuropsychologist

Appointment

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Email

nicolay.walz@cchmc.org

Phone

513-636-4675

Fax

513-636-7756

Bio

Dr. Walz obtained her PhD in Clinical and Developmental Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago after interning at Columbus Children’s Hospital (now named Nationwide Children’s Hospital). She completed her training with a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Cincinnati Children’s. When she joined the faculty in 2002, Dr. Walz divided her time between research and clinical work, serving as the first neuropsychologist for the newly developed Children’s Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Team. Since 2005, her time has been devoted to clinical research. Dr. Walz was the 2008 recipient of the Fifth Third Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Women Scholars Program Award, given annually to a junior female Department of Pediatrics faculty member with high leadership and scholarship potential.

Credentials

Fellowship: Pediatric Neuropsychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1999-2002

PhD: Clinical Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1999

Internship: Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology, Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, 1998-1999

MA: Clinical Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1995

BA: Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1991

Awards and Honors

Fifth Third Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Women Scholars Program Award, 2008

Research

Visit Dr. Walz's lab web site for information about her research investigations.

Research Grants and Contracts

National Institutes of Health(NICHD/NCMRR); Social development following preschool brain injury; Principal Investigator; January 2005 - December 2009.

NIH-NICHD-NCMRR (R03), Social competence with peers following early childhood traumatic brain injury; Principal Investigator; August 2008 - June 2011.

NIH-NICHD-NCMRR (R01), Long-term functional outcomes following early childhood TBI; Co-Investigator; September 2009 - August 2014.

Dept. of Ed. - NIDRR, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center Grant, Pediatric TBI Interventions; Co-Investigator; October 2009 - September 2014.

NIH-NINDS, Pediatric traumatic brain injury consortium: Hypothermia trial; Site Neuropsychologist; May 2007 - April 2013.

NIH-NINDS, Therapeutic hypothermia after pediatric cardiac arrest: The THAPCA trials; Site Neurophyshologist; October 2009 - September 2015.

Publications, Most Recent

Walz, N.C., Yeates, K.O., Wade, S.L., & Mark, E. Social information processing skills in adolescents with traumatic brain injury: Relationship with behavior problems and social competence.Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In Press.

Yeates, K.O., Taylor, G.H., Walz, N.C., Stancin, T., & Wade, S.L. The family environment as a moderator of psychosocial outcomes following traumatic brain injury in young children.Neuropsychology. In Press.

Gerrard-Morris, A., Taylor, H.G., Yeates, K.O., Walz, N.C., Stancin, T., Minich, N., & Wade, S.L. Cognitive development after traumatic brain injury in young children.Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. In Press.

Walz, N.C., Yeates, K.O., Taylor, H.G., Stancin, T., & Wade, S.L. First-order theory of mind skills shortly after traumatic brain injury in 3- to 5-year-old children. Developmental Neuropsychology, 2009; 34, 507-519.

Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., Carey, J.C., & Williams, K.M. Brief report: Description of feasibility and satisfaction findings from an innovative online family problem solving pilot intervention for adolescents following traumatic brain injury.Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2009; 34, 517-522.

Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., Carey, J.C., & Williams, K.M. Preliminary efficacy of a web-based family problem-solving treatment program for adolescents with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 2008; 23, 369-377.

Taylor, H.G., Swartwout, M., Yeates, K.O., Walz, N.C., Stancin, T., & Wade, S.L. Traumatic brain injury in young children: Post-acute effects on cognitive and school readiness skills. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 2008; 14, 1-12.

Stancin, T., Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., Yeates, K.O., & Taylor, H.G. Traumatic brain injuries in early childhood: Initial impact on the family.Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 2008; 29, 253–261.

Wade, S.L., Taylor, H.G., Walz, N.C., Salisbury, S., Stancin, T., Bernard, L.A., Oberjohn, K., & Yeates, K.O. Parent-child interactions during the initial weeks following brain injury in young children.Rehabilitation Psychology, 2008; 53, 180-190.

Kramer, M.E., Chiu, C.Y.P., Walz, N.C., Holland, S.K., Yuan, W., Karunanayaka, P., & Wade, S.L. Long-term neural processing of attention following early childhood traumatic brain injury: fMRI and neurobehavioral outcomes. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 2008; 14, 424-435.

Walz, N.C., Cecil, K., Wade, S.L., & Michaud, L. Late proton MR spectroscopy following traumatic brain injury during early childhood: Relationship with neurobehavioral outcomes.Journal of Neurotrauma, 2008; 25, 94-103.

Karunanayaka, P., Holland, S., Yuan, W., Altaye, M., Jones, B.V., Michaud, L., Walz, N.C., & Wade, S.L. Neural substrate differences in language networks and associated language-related behavioral impairments in children with TBI: A preliminary fMRI investigation.NeuroRehabilitation, 2007; 22, 355-369.

Yuan, W., Holland, S., Schmithorst, V.J., Walz, N.C., Cecil, K.M, Jones, B.V., Karunanayaka, P., Michaud, L., & Wade, S.L. Diffusion tensor MR imaging reveals persistent white matter alteration after traumatic brain injury experienced during early childhood. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 2007; 28, 1919-1925.

Ris, M.D., Ammerman, R.T., Waller, N., Walz, N.C., Oppenheimer, S., Brown, T.M., Enrile, B.G., & Yeates, K.O. Taxonicity of nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) in spina bifida. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 2007; 31, 50-58.

Walz, N.C. Parent report of stereotyped behaviors, social interaction, and developmental disturbances in individuals with Angelman syndrome.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2007; 37, 940-947.

Walz, N.C., & Baranek, G.T. Sensory processing patterns in individuals with Angelman syndrome.The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2006; 60, 472-479.

Walz, N.C., Beebe, D.W. & Byars, K.C. Sleep in individuals with Angelman syndrome: Parent perceptions of patterns and problems. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 2005; 110, 243-252.

Walz NC, Beebe DW, Byars, KC: Sleep in Angelman syndrome: Parent perceptions of patterns and problems.American Journal on Mental Retardation.

Walz NC, Weber A, Egelhoff JC, Franz DN: Supratentorial tuber location as a marker for autism in tuberous sclerosis complex.Journal of Child Neurology, 2002; 17(11), 830-832.

Walz NC, Benson BA: Behavioral phenotypes in children with Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome or Angelman syndrome.Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 2002; 14(4), 307-321.

Presentations, Most Recent

Walz, N.C., Social outcomes of pediatric traumatic brain injury. Schmidlapp Scholar presentation at monthly Faculty Crosstalk seminar, CCHMC, Cincinnati, OH. November 2009.

Walz, N.C., Social outcomes of pediatric traumatic brain injury. Invited presentation in L. Michaud (Chair), Update in Pediatric TBI Research. Symposium conducted at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Austin, TX. October 2009.

Kurowski, B., Wade, S.L., Cecil, K.M., Walz, N.C., Yuan, W., & Holland, S.K. Correlation of diffusion tensor imaging with neuropsychological testing in chronic pediatric traumatic brain injury. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Austin, TX. October 2009.

Tlustos, S., Chiu, C.Y.P., Bernard, L.A., Walz, N.C., Rajagopal, A., Holland, S., Staat, M.A., & Wade, S.L. Neural correlates of social information processing in internationally adopted children. Paper presented at the Biannual Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO. April 2009.

Chapman, L.A., Bernard, L.A., Chiu, C.Y.P., Epstein, J., Holland, S., Rajagopal, A., Walz, N.C., Staat, M.A., & Wade, S.L. An fMRI study of attention in international adoptees: A pilot study. Paper presented at the Biannual Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO. April 2009.

Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., Taylor, H.G., Stancin, T., Oberjohn, K.S., Bernard, L.A., & Yeates, K.O. Responsive parenting buffers the adverse effects of traumatic brain injury on child behavior. Paper presented at the Biannual Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO. April 2009.

Chapman, L.A., Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., Taylor, H.G., Stancin, T., & Yeates, K.O. Clinically significant behavior problems during the initial 12 months following early childhood TBI. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Atlanta, GA. February 2009.

Fulton, J.B., Yeates, K.O., Wade, S.L., Taylor, H.G., & Walz, N.C. Cognitive predictors of academic achievement in preschool children 1 year following traumatic brain injury. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Atlanta, GA. February 2009.

Yeates, K.O., Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., & Taylor, H.G. The home environment as a moderator of psychosocial outcomes following traumatic brain injury in young children. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Atlanta, GA. February 2009.

Gerrard-Morris, A., Taylor, H.G., Yeates, K.O., Walz, N.C., Stancin, T., & Wade, S.L. Effects of early childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) on development of executive function as measured by the Shape School. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Atlanta, GA. February 2009.

Potter, J.L., Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., Stevens, H., Yeates, K.O., & Taylor, H.G. Permissiveness parenting style is related to executive dysfunction after brain injury in young children. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Atlanta, GA. February 2009.

Wells, C.T., Krivitzky, L., Beebe, D.W., Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., Yeates, K.O., Taylor, H.G., & Stancin, T. Sleep problems following traumatic brain injury in preschool children: A longitudinal investigation. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Atlanta, GA. February 2009.

Mark, E.M., Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., Taylor, H.G., & Yeates, K.O. Home and parent predictors of pragmatic language following early childhood TBI. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Atlanta, GA. February 2009.

Walz, N.C., Wade, S.L., Bernard, L.A., Staat, M.A., & Ryan, P.M. Social information processing in formerly institutionalized Chinese and Eastern-European adopted girls. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Atlanta, GA. February 2009.

Kramer, M.E., Chiu, C.Y.P., Wade, S.L., Walz, N.C., & Bernard, L.A. Neural correlates of social information processing in pediatric traumatic brain injury. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Atlanta, GA. February 2009.

Professional Organization Memberships

Society of Pediatric Psychology, 1998-present
International Neuropsychological Society, 1998-present

Abstracts

Walz NC, Ris MD, Waller N, Malloy C, Brown J, Brasington M, Manning-Courtney P: Taxonicity in autism spectrum disorders using indicators from the ADOS-G. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Honolulu, Hawaii, February 2003.

Ris MD, Yeates KO, Walz NC, Waller N, Ammerman R: Is there a neurobehavioral taxon in spina bifida / hydrocephalus? Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Honolulu, Hawaii, February 2003.

Walz NC: Autistic symptomatology in Angelman syndrome. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL, August 2002.

Ammerman R, Walz NC, Ris MD, Nortz MJ, Langford M: Asperger syndrome symptomatology in adolescents with spina bifida. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL, August 2002.

Ris MD, Ammerman R, Walz NC: The taxonicity of nonverbal learning disabilities. Paper presented at the Annual Mid-Year Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Stockholm, Sweden, July 2002.

Walz NC, Weber A, Franz DN: The myth of tuber location as a marker for autism in tuberous sclerosis complex. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Chicago, IL, February 2001.

Walz NC: Behavioral phenotypes in children with Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome, or nonspecific mental retardation. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Academy on Mental Retardation, Washington, DC, May 2000.

Walz NC, O'Reilly B, Benson BA: Perceptions of stress, effectiveness, and social support in parents of children with Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome, or nonspecific mental retardation. Paper presented at the Millennium Conference of the Great Lakes Society of Pediatric Psychology, Cleveland, Ohio, March 2000.