Dr. Niall Pender

Biography

Dr Niall Pender has been Head of Department of Psychology and Principal Clinical Neuropsychologist at Beaumont Hospital Dublin since 2003, in addition to his work at the Hermitage Medical Clinic, Lucan since 2010. Prior to this he was consultant neuropsychologist and clinical lead of the Neuro-behavioural Rehabilitation Unit at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, London and honorary lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, London. He is also an Associate Professor in Neuropsychology at the Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine Trinity College Dublin and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He works as a clinical neuropsychologist with people who have suffered neurological/neurosurgical injuries and illness with a special interest in the cognitive, emotional and behavioural changes seen in neurodegenerative diseases and acquired brain injuries. Niall completed his primary BA degree in Psychology at UCD in 1991 followed by an MSc in Neuropsychology at the University of Wales in 1992. He undertook his clinical psychology training (MSc, 1993-1996) at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London where he also subsequently completed his PhD in Neuropsychology in 2005. He completed his post-qualification Diploma in Clinical Neuropsychology at the Institute of Psychiatry in 1997 while working as a neuropsychologist at the Lishman Brain Injury Unit, Maudsley Hospital,London. Niall is currently Chair of the Board of Headway (the national acquired brain injury charity), and is a member of the Boards of the Motor Neurone Disease Research Foundation, and the Neurological Alliance of Ireland. He has been working as a medico-legal expert witness in civil and criminal cases for 23 years.