About Dr. Baena

Dr. Baena is a bilingual neuropsychologist practicing in California and who is also licensed in Arizona, Washington State, and Colombia.  She earned her master’s degree in Psychology and doctoral degree in Neuropsychology from the University of Arizona. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Spanish/Cross-Cultural Adult Neuropsychology at Baylor College of Medicine. She speaks both English and Spanish fluently and is passionate about providing culturally sensitive care to people from all backgrounds.

Dr. Baena has experience working with many types of neurological and medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, brain injuries, brain tumors, and mental health challenges. She also conducts evaluations to help guide treatment decisions for patients who are considering surgeries such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), epilepsy surgery, or other neurosurgical procedures (WADA, language mapping). In addition, she provides evaluations related to worker’s compensation cases and immigration matters.

Her interest in clinical neuropsychology began after seeing firsthand how brain injuries and trauma can affect not only a person’s mental and physical health but also their relationships and daily life. Over time, that interest grew into a true passion as she pursued specialized training in neuropsychology and gerontology.

When working with patients, Dr. Baena takes a flexible and individualized approach to assessment because she believes that no two people are the same. Each person brings their own unique experiences, challenges, and goals, and she adapts her approach to meet their specific needs and the reasons for their evaluation. This way of working has allowed her to learn from her patients and be a strong advocate for them.

Dr. Baena also believes that education and communication are essential parts of the care that she provides. She strives to ensure that patients and their families understand how brain health connects to thinking, emotions, and daily functioning. She frequently works with families, schools, religious communities, and other support systems to help them better understand and support their loved ones.

One of her ongoing goals is to raise awareness among healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers about the importance of cognitive health when planning treatments. She is especially passionate about helping to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and promoting brain health across diverse communities.

“Neuropsychology must balance scientific rigor with an appreciation of the patient’s subjective experience, integrating both objective data and the personal narrative of the individual.”

— Prigatano, G. P. (1999). Principles of Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. Oxford University Press.

Education and Experience:

Licenses:
CA License #: 34772
PSYPACT TAP: 20546
AZ License #: 005181
WA License #: 61455452
Tarjeta Professional Colombia #: 287637

Formal Training and Education:
Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Spanish/Cross-cultural Adult Neuropsychology
Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Houston, Texas.

Psychological Internship
Baycrest Centre, Toronto, Canada.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology with a Major Area of Study in Neuropsychology
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

Master’s in Psychology (M.A.)
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

Bachelor’s in Psychology (B.A.)
Psychology (Honors). Certification in Life-Span Development and Gerontology.
University of Akron. College of Arts and Sciences, Akron, Ohio

Professional Memberships:
American Psychological Association
National Latinx Psychological Association
American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology
International Neuropsychological Society
National Academy of Neuropsychology
Sociedad Colombiana de Neuropsicología.