About
Dr. Michelle Braun is passionate about empowering individuals to boost brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s through the use of science-backed, motivational strategies. Her mission was sparked as a teenager when she witnessed the many challenges faced by older adults with memory problems. Inspired to improve the care and quality of life for those with memory problems, she pursued a career as a neuropsychologist specializing in memory and cognition, geriatric psychology, motivational enhancement, and brain health. Since then, she has been honored to share her expertise with thousands of patients and their families, and on PBS, Fox TV, her Psychology Today blog, radio, and in print media.
Dr. Braun earned her undergraduate degree in Cello Performance and Psychology from Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, WI, and a Master of Science and PhD in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Braun completed her internship at Yale University School of Medicine, and postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School/Boston VA Healthcare System. She returned to Boston as an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and Assistant Director of Inpatient Mental Health at the Boston VA. Dr. Braun has worked for 15 years as a clinical neuropsychologist in departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry in hospitals and academia. She serves as an Examiner for the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology, and is a previous board member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, where she chaired the Practice and Public Policy Committee. She is also a previous member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Psychological Association.
Dr. Braun was honored to be selected as a ‘40 Under 40’ award winner by the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2013. She was also thrilled to receive the Practitioner of the Year Award from the Alzheimer’s Association, the Runkel Award in Psychology from Carroll University, and the Early Career Award from the Milwaukee Area Psychological Association, among others. In her spare time, Dr. Braun loves dancing, playing basketball and other sports, spending time with family and friends, and Packers football.
Awards & Recognition
Awards & Recognition
Board of Directors, American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, 2013-2018
American Psychological Association Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology – Class of 2015-2016.
Board of Directors – Wisconsin Psychological Association, 2007-2008, 2011-2013.
Milwaukee Business Journal – 40 Under 40 Award, 2013
Runkel Award in Psychology – Carroll University, 2013
Early Career Award – Milwaukee Area Psychological Association, 2013
Practitioner of the Year – Alzheimer’s Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, 2008
Future Milwaukee Leadership Program – Marquette University, 2006
Select Recent Publications
Braun, M. M. (2019) The value of neuropsychological evaluation in medical practice. In Karen Sanders (Ed) Physician’s Field Guide to Neuropsychology – Collaboration Through Clinical Case Example. Springer.
Braun, M. M. (2019) Management of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia. In Lisa Ravdin and Heather Katzen (Ed)s Handbook on the Neuropsychology of Aging and Dementia (second edition). Springer.
Rousch, R., Braun, M. M., McFadden, S. H., de Mederios, K., & O’Neill, D. (2019). How the arts and humanities can help older persons with dementia and their caregivers be more resilient. In Barbara Resnick, Lisa Gwyther, and Karen Roberto (Eds) Resilience in Aging (second edition): The Key to Successful Aging. Springer.
Perry, W., Lacritz, L., Silver, C., Roebuck-Spencer, T., Denney, R. L., Meyers, J., McConnel C. E., Pliskin, N., Adler, D., Alban, C., Bondi, M., Braun, M. M., Cagigas, X., Daven, M., Drozdick, L., Foster, N., Hwang, U., Ivey, L., Iverson, G., Kramer, J., Lantz, M., Latts, L., Lopez, A. M., Malone, M., Martin-Plank, L., Maslow, K., Melady, D., Messer, M., Most, R., Norris, M., Shafer, D., Silverberg, N., Thomas, C., M., Thornill, L., Tsai, J., Vakharia, N., Waters, M., & Golden, T. (2019). Population Health Solutions for Assessing Cognitive Impairment in Geriatric Patients. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 33, 655–675.