Dr. H. Allison Bender, Director of Neuropsychological Services in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been awarded the Jerry Sweet Leadership Award by the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN). The national honor recognizes neuropsychologists whose recent leadership has made a distinctive and lasting impact on the field.
Dr. H. Allison Bender
Dr. Bender received the award in recognition of her work as Chair of the Inter-Organizational Practice Committee’s Task Force on Test Security and Third Party Observers, upon which she has spearheaded advocacy efforts to safeguard the integrity of neuropsychological assessments. Her leadership efforts include: conducting a discipline-wide survey, presenting findings at national conferences, collaborating with the American Psychological Association (APA) on policy development, and helping to shape the newly launched APA referendum on ethics and test security.
“Being recognized for these efforts by my peers has been both gratifying and humbling,” said Dr. Bender. “This work is about ensuring that the science and clinical practice of neuropsychology remain trustworthy and centered on patients.”
At Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Bender leads one of the few neuropsychology programs in the country embedded within a department of neurological surgery, providing psychological evaluations and support for patients navigating high-stakes medical decisions — from deep brain stimulation (DBS) candidacy to epilepsy surgery or recovery from complex brain tumors.
“We often meet patients at life-changing moments,” Dr. Bender said. “It’s incredibly meaningful to help ease their way during those critical points in their journey.”
Her approach reflects a broader philosophy: that neuropsychological care should honor a patient’s entire life story, not just their symptoms or diagnosis.
“Their background, identity, and lived experience are often just as important as the data we collect,” she said. It is her hope that this most-recent recognition helps bring awareness to how vital neuropsychology is to understanding the whole patient,” said Dr. Bender. “That’s where healing begins.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Bender hopes to expand collaborative efforts across departments such as Neurology, Oncology, Pediatrics, and Rehabilitation Medicine, while continuing to serve the neurosurgical patient population.
The Jerry Sweet Leadership Award not only honors her contributions but also highlights the growing role of neuropsychologists as thought leaders, advocates, and agents-for-change.
Learn more about our Neuropsychology Services at Weill Cornell Medicine: neurosurgery.weillcornell.org/service/neuropsychology-services
