About Us
The North Jersey Neurodevelopmental Center (NJNC) provides comprehensive neuropsychological services to children and adults with a variety of medical, developmental, and psychological concerns. The focus of such services is to assess and determine a relationship between the brain and behavior and, where appropriate, to provide applicable and useful recommendations.
Our staff is comprised of well-trained and experienced neuropsychologists who are highly qualified in the areas of assessment and intervention. We endorse a comprehensive approach to assessment that recognizes neuropsychological functioning as a developmental process influenced by multiple factors. We are committed to providing you and your child/family with the highest quality of care by appreciating the uniqueness of each case we see and by working with you and your child/family to understand and address effectively your presenting concerns.
Our doctors also understand the importance of education to the community. We are dedicated to providing outreach services to the community by presenting on a variety of different topics relevant to neuropsychology to schools, families, and other professionals. We also provide consultation, teaching, and supervision services to schools, organizations, and other professionals. By doing so, we hope to increase the availability of relevant evaluation and treatment services to families in need of care.
Dr. Elizabeth C. Kera
Dr. Elizabeth Kera obtained her B.A. in Psychology as an Honors Scholar at New York University in 2000. In 2006, she completed her Ph.D. in neuropsychology at the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York. AS part of her specialized training, she completed an APA-accredited internship with a focus in neuropsychology at North Shore/Long Island Jewish Medical Center, as well as a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at Children's Specialized Hospital of New Jersey. Before forming the North Jersey Neurodevelopmental Center with Dr. Catania, Dr. Kera was the Associate Clinical Director of Neuropsychology at the Epilepsy Center at Hackensack Medical Center, as well as neuropsychologist at Children's Specialized Hospital. She went on to establish the pediatric neuropsychology service at Westchester Medical Center, after which she became the Director of the Division of Psychology and Neuropsychology at the Neuroscience Institute/Department of Neurology at Hackensack University Medical Center, a division she continues to lead today. Dr. Kera is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine where she is able to play an integral role in providing education regarding the value of neuropsychological evaluation in neurologic populations. Dr. Kera has co-authored numerous publications and presented on a variety of topics in neuropsychology. She is active in several neuropsychological organizations in the Northeast and internationally, serving on the Global Engagement Committee of the International Neuropsychological Society as a representative for Croatia with the goal of helping to develop/strengthen neuropsychology as a field in other countries.
Dr. Kera is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology. She specializes in the neuropsychological assessment of a variety of both pediatric and adult populations. Combining a working knowledge of clinical neuropsychology, neuroscience, and developmental psychology, Dr. Kera partners with patients, their families, and other professionals to provide a comprehensive assessment of cognitive functioning, and develop appropriate treatment plans/recommendations within the various settings.
Dr. Lori Catania
Dr. Lori Catania is a licensed pediatric neuropsychologist who has been practicing clinically since receiving her Ph.D. from Drexel University in 2001. She completed her internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute/ Johns Hopkins Medical School, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School. Before entering private practice, Dr. Catania was the Director of Training in the Department of Neuropsychology and Neurorehabilitation at Children's Specialized Hospital. In 2007, she began working in a private practice and joined with Dr. Kera in 2011 to form the North Jersey Neurodevelopmental Center.
In addition to her clinical and training responsibilities, Dr. Catania has also been involved in teaching at the college level, most recently as a Visiting Assistant Professor at William Paterson University. Her current research interests include assessing concussion activity in young athletes. Additionally she has also been co-author on numerous publications, and been asked to present on a variety of different topics at both professional and local community conferences.
Clinically, Dr. Catania has extensive experience working with a variety of pediatric populations, including, but not limited to, children and adolescents with medical conditions, learning issues, and/or behavioral concerns.