Jennifer Heidler-Gary, PsyD in Baltimore: Neuropsychological Assessment and Memory Disorders
Jennifer Heidler-Gary is a clinical neuropsychologist specializing in cognitive and memory testing at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she holds faculty rank and directs clinical services for patients with dementia and acquired brain injuries. Her practice sits at the intersection of neurology and psychology—she does not provide traditional talk therapy but instead conducts detailed cognitive evaluations that help other specialists understand a patient's specific deficits and guide treatment planning.
What Heidler-Gary's practice actually is
Heidler-Gary runs a neuropsychology clinic embedded within Johns Hopkins medical infrastructure rather than an independent office. She and her team evaluate adults with suspected cognitive decline, memory loss, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other neurological conditions. The evaluations are medical services, not psychotherapy—patients are referred by neurologists, primary care doctors, or geriatricians who need objective data on memory, language, attention, and executive function. Tests take several hours and often span multiple sessions. Results go back to the referring physician and inform decisions about diagnosis, medication adjustments, or rehabilitation.
Services and what evaluation costs
Neuropsychological evaluations typically cost $2,500 to $4,500 depending on the scope and length, with most insurance plans covering the service when ordered by a physician. Medicare and major commercial insurers treat these as diagnostic testing rather than psychology services, though patients should confirm coverage with their insurance before scheduling. Heidler-Gary's clinic coordinates insurance authorization before the appointment. The evaluation itself is comprehensive: it can include 4 to 6 hours of testing across two or more visits, paper-and-pencil tasks, computerized cognitive tests, and structured interviews. A detailed written report follows, with recommendations for the referring physician and, when appropriate, the patient and family.
How Heidler-Gary compares to other neuropsychologists in Baltimore
Baltimore has several neuropsychologists in private practice and at University of Maryland Medical Center, but Heidler-Gary's primary distinction is her embedded position at Johns Hopkins and her particular expertise in dementia and neurodegenerative disease. Patients referred to her often need that specialization. Private-practice neuropsychologists in Baltimore may offer slightly shorter wait times (2 to 4 weeks) compared to Johns Hopkins clinic referrals (4 to 8 weeks), and some accept self-pay patients. However, Johns Hopkins neuropsychologists have direct access to neuroimaging and neurology consultation if findings raise new questions. Choose private practice if appointment speed is the priority and your insurance is straightforward; choose Heidler-Gary's Johns Hopkins clinic if your case involves memory loss or neurological disease and you want integrated medical evaluation.
Who this suits and who it does not
This practice is for adults with suspected cognitive decline, memory complaints, or known brain injury who need objective testing to clarify diagnosis. It works well for people over 60 with family history of dementia, stroke patients trying to understand residual deficits, and people with head injuries seeking baseline documentation. It does not suit patients seeking therapy for anxiety, depression, or relationship problems; a neuropsychologist will refer you elsewhere for those needs. It also does not suit patients who cannot sit for testing or who need urgent same-week appointments.
What the first visit involves
After referral from a physician, the clinic sends paperwork requesting medical history, current medications, and description of cognitive concerns. The first appointment includes a clinical interview (30 to 45 minutes) where Heidler-Gary or a postdoctoral fellow gathers detailed history, asks about memory and thinking changes, and reviews any prior imaging or lab results. Testing begins the same day or at a follow-up session, depending on complexity. Patients should plan 3 to 4 hours for a full battery and bring reading glasses, hearing aids, or other devices they use daily. A family member or caregiver can attend the interview but not the testing itself.
Hours, parking, and location
Heidler-Gary's clinic is based at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine on the East Baltimore campus (East Fayette Street area). Parking is available in hospital lots; visitors pay by card at pay stations ($4 per hour, day rates available). Clinic hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some early morning and afternoon slots available. Appointments are by physician referral only; patients cannot self-refer. Contact Johns Hopkins neurology or your primary care doctor to request a referral, and mention dementia or cognitive testing in the referral note so it reaches the appropriate clinic.
Heidler-Gary's neuropsychology service fills a specific gap in Baltimore's cognitive assessment landscape: she combines rigorous standardized testing with genuine expertise in the diseases most commonly driving referrals, making her clinic a benchmark option for patients and doctors trying to understand memory loss and dementia risk.
