Palak Lunia, PSYD

Palak Lunia, Psy.D., is a Clinical Neuropsychologist with the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Dr. Lunia plays a central role in the epilepsy pre-surgical evaluation program and is an active member of the Center for Memory and Healthy Aging at HMH. In these roles, she conducts complex neuropsychological assessments to inform surgical planning, diagnostic clarification, and longitudinal care, working closely within a comprehensive interdisciplinary team that includes neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and allied health professionals to optimize patient outcomes.

Dr. Lunia earned her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from California Lutheran University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she received advanced training in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and specialty memory clinics. Her prior clinical training was completed in acute medical hospital settings at UCLA and in inpatient rehabilitation programs at Tewksbury Hospital, with concentrated experience in severe mental illness and complex neurological conditions.

Dr. Lunia is committed to advancing inclusivity and equity in clinical medicine. Her clinical and scholarly work examines the neuropsychology of bilingual and multilingual individuals, with a particular focus on how bilingual brain organization, language dominance, and sociocultural context shape cognitive performance, diagnostic validity, and health equity. Her work seeks to reduce diagnostic bias and improve access to high-quality neuropsychological care for linguistically diverse and medically complex populations. She is actively engaged in national professional organizations, contributing to mentorship initiatives and efforts that support the transition of trainees into independent clinical practice.