Meet Emily Garcia

Anaheim Clinical Psychology Impact Fellow

Watching her grandfather’s mental and physical deterioration from Parkinson’s disease opened Emily Garcia’s eyes to the importance of finding new ways to treat this debilitating disease as well as to the effect income disparity can have on patient outcomes. This experience guided her undergraduate journey at Florida International University, where, in addition to her course work, she gained hands-on experience working as a psychometrist and as an undergraduate and post-baccalaureate research assistant.

As a psychometrist, Garcia administered and scored neuropsychological assessments while working with diverse populations, ranging in age from young children to the elderly. Many of her clients were Latino, and her interactions with them revealed to her how affordable, culturally sensitive care empower people to challenge stigma, embrace community support, and be inspired by their progress.

In addition to her clinical experience, Garcia worked as a research assistant in Florida International University’s Research Exploring Motivational and Emotional Development in Youth (REMEDY) Lab, where she was promoted to head research assistant and assumed a broad range of responsibilities, including managing data collection and ensuring compliance with safety protocols.

While pursuing her degree in The Chicago School’s Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program, Garcia hopes to further advocate for community-driven care grounded in culturally competent, evidence-based practices. She believes the fellowship will allow her to expand equitable services, support underserved populations, and drive initiatives that produce meaningful, lasting impact in the mental health field.

After receiving her Psy.D. degree, Emily plans to pursue a career in neuropsychology, with a focus on supporting older adults affected by neurodegenerative and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke. She is passionate about expanding access to affordable, evidence-based mental health care and neuropsychological services for underserved populations.

“As an Impact Fellow, I will seek to provide evidence-based care while advancing initiatives that create lasting impact, drive systemic change, and empower communities to achieve equitable mental health outcomes,” she says.