
Joseph "Audie" Black, Ph.D., ABN
Practice Location and type:
Dr. Black is a board-certified Clinical Neuropsychologist. He joined St. Luke’s Health System - Idaho's largest health system - when he was fortunate to return to his hometown of Boise, Idaho in 2018 to be closer to family.
Please tell us about your professional practice:
I provide comprehensive outpatient and inpatient C&L evaluations to patients with a wide-variety of neurological conditions (e.g., CVA, TBI, brain tumors, neurodegenerative disease), with an emphasis on evaluating patients 50+ years of age. I also support the St. Luke’s Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) program led by Neurosurgery, conducting evaluations at three points: pre-surgical screening, post-lumbar drain trial during acute admission, and 6-month post-ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. I am the former Associate Director of Training for the psychology internship at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In addition to my clinical and teaching roles, I have been honored to be in positions to give back to the profession. I recently completed a term on the Executive Board of Directors for the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology (ABN), where I served as Treasurer, and as an examiner for candidates pursuing board certification. Prior to moving home to Idaho, I also served on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Psychological Foundation, where among other roles I chaired a small grants program dedicated to increased access to Psychological services in the Commonwealth for at-risk communities.
What activities do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy woodworking (currently putting the finishing touches on custom dining room cabinets), culinary adventures, mountain biking, and my newest pursuit with my spouse, Jessica: fly fishing on Idaho's world-class rivers. My 2.75-year-old son, Kellen, enjoys helping in the shop, kitchen, and hiking the mountains. He also caught his first fish this past summer, which was a highlight (for three minutes, until he became enthralled by chasing nearby ducks).
Why did you join NAN?
I joined NAN in 2014 for the rich networking and educational opportunities offered. Along the way, I have gained appreciation for the critical role NAN also plays in advocacy for our profession, including through its participation in the IOPC and NAN's Legislative Action and Advocacy Committee.
Do you have any advice to offer or anything else you’d like to add?
Maintain your curiosity, remember WHY you wanted to be a Neuropsychologist in the first-place when faced with challenges, relentlessly seek to improve your personal practice, invest in mentorships (both receiving and giving), and look for opportunities to best serve your patients, including outside the clinic walls.