A photo of Melissa Gerstle.

Melissa Gerstle, PhD, ABPP

  • Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Clinical, Behavioral Medicine & Clinical Psychology
  • Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
Through neuropsychological evaluation, I examine a child’s functioning as a whole and identify strengths and weaknesses to determine what a child needs to thrive.

About

Biography

I am a clinical neuropsychologist with a subspecialty in pediatric neuropsychology. Children are continually developing — physically, emotionally, behaviorally and cognitively. Those with medical conditions can struggle in one or more of these areas. Through neuropsychological evaluation, I examine a child’s functioning as a whole and identify strengths and weaknesses to determine what a child needs to thrive.

Children operate in many different “worlds.” These worlds can include school or daycare with their teachers and peers; at home with parents and siblings; in the community with friends and extended family; and in the hospital with doctors, nurses and therapists. I work with families and providers to use evaluation results to guide treatment and educational planning, measure progress and demonstrate eligibility for special educational services.

In addition to evaluating patients, I conduct research that focuses on the process of neuropsychological evaluation. I’m particularly interested in the evaluation report. We are striving to learn what makes this report effective and also user-friendly for families, schools and medical providers.

In my spare time I enjoy traveling. I have visited places around the globe, and I have many more that I still want to visit. There is always so much to see and learn!

PhD: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.

Internship: Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

Fellowship: Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

Interests

Pediatric neuropsychology; genetic conditions

Services and Specialties

Behavioral Medicine, Neuropsychology

Insurance Information

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Publications

Improving Anxiety Screening in Patients with Turner Syndrome. Alexandrou, E; Corathers, S; Gutmark-Little, I; Casnellie, L; Gerstle, M; Tatum, J; Khoury, J; Backeljauw, P. Hormone Research in Paediatrics. 2022; 95:68-75.

Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Brain and Spinal Tumors. Salloum, R; Baum, K; Gerstle, M; Spoudeas, H; Rose, SR. Brain and Spinal Tumors of Childhood. 2020.

Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Brain and Spinal Tumors. Salloum, R; Baum, K; Gerstle, M; Spoudeas, H; Rose, SR. Brain and Spinal Tumors of Childhood. 2020.

Changes in child functioning pre-to post-neuropsychological evaluation. Combs, T; Beebe, DW; Austin, CA; Gerstle, M; Peugh, J. Child Neuropsychology. 2020; 26:711-720.

Pediatric Case of Sickle Cell Disease. Gerstle, M; Baum, K; Quinn, CT; Beebe, DW. Physician's Field Guide to Neuropsychology. 2019.

Evolution of parental knowledge and efficacy across the pediatric neuropsychological evaluation process. Austin, CA; Gerstle, M; Baum, KT; Bradley, A; LeJeune, B; Peugh, J; Beebe, DW. Clinical Neuropsychologist. 2019; 33:743-759.

Transition Considerations for Turner Syndrome. Corathers, SD; Gerstle, M; Casnellie, LA; Pater, C; Trotman, G. Transitioning from Pediatric to Adult Care in Endocrinology. 2019.

Communication is key: the utility of a revised neuropsychological report format. Baum, KT; von Thomsen, C; Elam, M; Murphy, C; Gerstle, M; Austin, CA; Beebe, DW. Clinical Neuropsychologist. 2018; 32:345-367.

Adolescent cancer survivors' posttraumatic stress symptoms: Concordance between self-report and maternal-proxy report. Erickson, SJ; Krapf, EM; Gerstle, M. Journal of Health Psychology. 2017; 22:1789-1798.

Patient Ratings and Comments

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