Shane Bierma, Ph.D. (2019, University of Tennessee, Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology; 2019, Post-Doctoral Fellow, LSUHSC).
Dr. Bierma specializes in comprehensive neuropsychological and psychological assessment of cognitive disorders, including early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and other neurocognitive conditions. Her work integrates evaluation, diagnosis, and psychotherapy for individuals experiencing cognitive decline across complex medical presentations. She maintains active collaborative projects with colleagues across LSUHSC and the School of Allied Health, and several other Southeastern Universities, supporting interdisciplinary research, training, and clinical initiatives related to people living with HIV (PWH), cognitive disorders/functioning, inflammation, and brain health.
Dr. Bierma teaches intersectionality of identity in healthcare settings, psychological assessment, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. She also specializes in working with gender and sexual minority (GSM) populations, providing evaluations and psychotherapy related to identity, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and gender-affirming surgery, as well as clinical supervision and training for trainees desiring to build competency in this area.
She currently serves as Director of the Assessment Clinic for LSUHSC interns, postdoctoral fellows, and external practicum students, teaching thorough comprehensive psychological assessment, conceptualization, and theory; Director of Research for the Department of Psychiatry https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/Psychiatry/student_research.aspx, Director of the Cognitive Disorders Program within the HOP Clinic, and Associate Training Director of LSUHSC’s postdoctoral fellowship.
Dr. Bierma is recruiting a postdoctoral fellow for the 2026-2027 academic year with interests in the assessment and treatment of neurocognitive disorders, and PWH. Dr. Bierma’s fellowship track provides training in psychiatric inpatient, HIV Outpatient (HOP), and assessment. They participate in training didactics with interns and practicum students and provide consultation for psychiatry residents for psychotherapy cases. Fellows on this track are provided with administrative time to prepare for the EPPP, and most complete the exam by spring semester. Fellows have the options of working on existing research, completing their own research project, and complete a specialty rotation in their area of interest.
Dr. Bierma’s most distinguished academic honor is being the champion of the of the Section of Psychology’s Annual Cookie Challenge consistently since 2019.