The Psychology Department at Magee Rehabilitation consists of licensed PhD level staff with considerable expertise in working with disabled and geriatric populations. Most have specialty training and experience in the assessment and treatment of cognitive deficits found in brain injury, stroke, or neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease.

Members of the department specialize in the evaluation and treatment of chronic pain, and psychological consequences of spinal cord and brain injury. In addition, a master's level psychometrician performs psychological testing and a master's level biofeedback technician assists patients with stress management and techniques for relaxation and anxiety reduction.

Neuropsychological evaluations are performed in order to determine cognitive functioning following a neurological injury or disease. Recommendations are made to assist families, professionals, and patients understand strengths and limitations.

These evaluations may also help answer questions of patient competency to make decisions. Psychological evaluations of emotional functioning assist in psychiatric diagnosis and effective treatment of psychological issues. Evaluations may also facilitate a referral for psychiatric medication or a need for inpatient treatment. Patients are treated in individual, group, and family or couples therapy as needed.

Brenda M. Ivker, PhD
Director of Psychology
Business Phone: 1-800-96-MAGEE 

Dr. Ivker is Director of Psychology at Magee Rehabilitation where she has been on staff since 1985. Dr. Ivker’s BA in Psychology is from New York University; her Ph.D. in Neuropsychology is from the City University of New York, and she obtained post-doctoral clinical Psychology training at Temple University. Dr. Ivker did her clinical internship at Philadelphia State Hospital. Dr. Ivker is a member of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association and hold a certificate of proficiency in treatment of Substance Abuse.

Dr. Ivker’s primary clinical responsibilities at Magee are the assessment and treatment of individuals with brain injuries and the consequent cognitive and emotional dysfunction. When litigation is involved, Dr. Ivker works with patients and their attorneys and provides expert testimony as necessary. She also has expertise in working with people in the eighth and ninth decades of life and consulted to a life care community for ten years.

Prior to working at Magee, Dr. Ivker was employed by Philadelphia State Hospital and Haverford State Hospital where she worked primarily with patients committed by the court system. She has lectured by invitation to the Pennsylvania Bar Institute on mild to moderate head injury.

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Emily Askin, PhD
Business Phone: 1-800-96-MAGEE 

Dr. Askin’s primary focus on the Neuro–Rehab Unit at Magee is in assisting patients who are recovering from brain injuries, strokes and other neurological conditions. As a clinical neuropsychologist, her work includes providing psychotherapy (both individual and groups) surrounding the coping/adjustment issues that arise w/disability as well as the assessment of cognitive, behavioral and personality changes that have occurred as a result of the injury or event.

Dr. Askin came to Magee in August of 2005. Prior to joining Magee Psychological Associates, she worked as a clinical neuropsychologist, also on a Brain Injury and Stroke Unit, at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. Her primary area of interest includes impaired self-awareness following brain injury. Dr. Askin also has long-standing interest and experience working w/children with both developmental and acquired disabilities. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island in 2002, and completed internships and post doctoral fellowships and clinical experiences at North Shore University Hospital in Long Island, NY.

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Todd M. Lewis, PhD
Business Phone: 1-800-96-MAGEE 

Todd M. Lewis, PhD joined Magee Rehabilitation in 1994 as a clinical neuropsychologist. Dr. Lewis graduated from Fairfield University with a BA in Psychology and then completed his MS and PhD in neuropsychology from Drexel University. Following an internship at Kessler Rehabilitation Hospital, he completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the neurology department at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Lewis is presently the clinical neuropsychologist and brain injury clinical specialist on the neurorehabilitation team. Dr. Lewis's specialty is working with cognitive-behavioral changes which occur following traumatic brain injury.

In additional to his clinical responsibilities Dr. Lewis is a frequent lecturer on various aspects of cognitive and neurobehavioral issues following traumatic brain injuries, disease and illness.  Dr. Lewis is an adjunct professor at several local universities.

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Nancy Rosenberg, PsyD
Business Phone: 1-800-96-MAGEE 

Nancy Rosenberg, Psy.D. joined Magee's department of Psychology in 1990. She specializes in the treatment of individuals with spinal cord dysfunction and other neuromuscular conditions such as multiple sclerosis. She treats families and couples as well as individual patients. Dr. Rosenberg also has expertise in personality assessment and psychological testing. The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation utilizes her for the assessment of people with disabilities who express interest in being employed. Over the years she has also developed a subspecialty in the treatment of older adults struggling with declining physical and psychological health. All clinical training for Magee's peer mentor programs across disabilities is done by Dr. Rosenberg and she provides supervision to mentors when needed.

Dr. Rosenberg is certified by the APA College of Professional Psychology in the treatment of substance abuse disorders.

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Barbara Watson, PsyD
Business Phone: 1-800-96-MAGEE 

Dr. Barbara Watson earned her doctorate in clinical psychology, with a specialty in neuropsychology form the Graduate School of Mental Health Sciences at Hahnemann University in 1982. She has been on staff at Magee for 14 years and divides her time between the main hospital and Magee Riverfront, the hospital's outpatient facility in south Philadelphia. There, she is a member of the Day Hospital rehab team. Her work at Magee involves cognitive assessment and psychotherapy with individuals who have suffered brain injury by trauma, stroke or other neurological illness. She also serves as an expert witness in medical -legal cases. She is licensed to practice psychology in Pennsylvania.

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