Beatriz Gavilán

Neuropsychologist at the Infant Brain Injury Unit at the Beata María Ana Hospital


My work involves producing cognitive profiles which, along with all of the information that I collect concerning both behavioural and emotional aspects, give me a full and accurate knowledge of the functioning of the child in his/her everyday life. This assessment also informs me of the child’s strengths and weaknesses, which enables our team to establish a treatment which fully meets the needs of the child and his/her family. My work includes the treatment of behavioural and/or emotional issues as well as providing guidance, support and advice to families. Contact with schools and the option to provide them with guidelines, where necessary, is also one of my basic tasks. I believe that a good infant treatment must clearly involve both parents and the school.

My first contact with practising neuropsychology was at the Aita Menni de Mondragón Hospital in 2002, where I did my training for my Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology.

In 2003, the Brain Injury Unit was created at the Benito Menni Hospital in Valladolid, where I started working as a neuropsychologist. One year later, we began to treat the infant population. At the same time, I started working with Dr. Concepción Fournier (infant neuropsychologist with extensive experience and a prestigious reputation) who passed on most of the knowledge that I now have and helped me to consolidate my vocation in this field. At the beginning of 2009, I transferred to the recently created Infant Rehabilitation Unit at the Beata María Ana Hospital in Madrid.

Although I embarked on my career focussing upon the adult population, I am now concentrating on children. I find working with them is highly gratifying and their response to the treatments is, in many cases, surprising.

Meanwhile, working in a multidisciplinary team is very enriching at both a personal and a professional level. Furthermore, this represents a great help and provides the opportunity to explore a problem from many different perspectives where we all share the same aim: to help and improve the quality of life of the children and their families.

University education

Graduated in Psychology from the Complutense University of Madrid, having completed the five years at the San Pablo CEU University – Specialising in Clinical Psychology. 1994 – 1999.

Masters in Cognitive Neuropsychology from the Complutense University of Madrid, 2000 – 2002.

PhD in Neuroscience from the Complutense University of Madrid, I obtained the Diploma in Advanced Studies (DEA) and am writing my doctoral thesis under the supervision of Dr. Concepción Fournier.

Non-university education

•    Family and brain injury. Beata María Ana Hospital, Madrid, 2010

•    XXIth Technical Conference of the Guttmann Institute: Infant Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. Barcelona, 2009.

•    Mental health research methodology. Hospitaller Sisters. Madrid, 2009.

•    Third Interdisciplinary Meeting concerning disabilities/developmental disorders and early care. Madrid, 2009.

 Publications

•    Fournier del Castillo M.C., Gavilán Agustí B. Global dysexecutive syndrome in infants as a side effect to a traumatic brain injury. In Tirapu J., García Molina A., Ríos Lago M. and Ardila A. (Eds.). Neuropsychology of the prefrontal cortex and executive functions. Editorial Viguera. Barcelona. 2011.
•    Gavilán B, Fournier M.C and Bernabeu J. Differences between the neuropsychological profiles of Asperger’s Syndrome and the Syndrome of non-verbal learning difficulties. Rev. Neurol 2007; 45: 713-9.

 Teaching activity

•    Teacher on the Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology. ISEP training. From 2009 until the present day.
•    Teacher on the Postgraduate Neuropsychology course. ISEP training. From 2009 until the present day.
•    Teacher on the Masters in Infant Neuropsychology. Complutense University of Madrid. Years 2009-2010, 2010-2011.
•    Teacher on the Neuropsychology courses at the Castile and Léon Psychologists’ Association, beginners, intermediate and higher levels. Years 2009, 2010, 2011.
•    Tutor of psychology students at the Complutense University of Madrid.

Research activity

Speeches and Communications at conferences (only as first author)

•    Attention disorders in children with unexpected brain injury: latest treatment progress. First International Conference on Infant Neuropsychology. Madrid, 2011.
•    Infant neuropsychology: contributions to educational practice. Specialist conference. FERE-CECA. Madrid, 2010.
•    Transdisciplinary approach in a case of traumatic brain injury. Selected as best communication, receiving the first professional prize at the Spanish-Brazilian Conference. Changes in Infant Neurology. Madrid, 2009.
•    Development and rehabilitation of executive functions. VIIth Conference of the Spanish Neurorehabilitation Society. Barcelona, 2009.
•        Scales of measurement of infant development. Course in Assessing Infant   Disability run by the UCM at the Niño Jesús University Hospital. Madrid, 2007.

Other relevant information

– Editor of Journal of Neurology

 Professional experience

•    Neuropsychology:

–    Infant Rehabilitation Unit at the Beata María Ana Hospital in Madrid. Assessment and Treatment of infant population, since January 2009.
–    Brain Injury Unit at the Benito Menni Hospital in Valladolid. Assessment and Rehabilitation of patients with Acquired Brain Injuries in adult and infant population. From February 2003 until December 2008.
–    San Francisco El Sabio School, Guidance and Psychology Department. Counsellor carrying out assessments and monitoring pupils aged from 4 to 18 years. From November 2001 until May 2002.

Languages

English

French

Interests

I enjoy visiting the countryside, playing sport and going to art exhibitions (I love painting). I also enjoy reading books or watching a good film, and spending my free time with my family and friends.