Dr. Rapport
Editorial Board, Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment (1998-present)
Editorial Board, Behavior Modification (1989-present)
Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (1998-2010)
Editorial Board, Clinical Case Studies (1999-present)
Editorial Advisory Board, The ADHD Report (2006-present)
Editorial Board, Journal of Clinical Child Psychology (1999-2008)
Dr. Rapport joined the faculty at UCF in 2000 as professor and director of the Ph.D. clinical training program. He graduated from Florida State University, served his clinical internship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic), and accepted his first faculty position at the University of Rhode Island.
Dr. Rapport opened and directed the Children’s Learning Clinic-I at URI for 5 years. He subsequently served as an associate professor and the clinical/program director of Child Psychiatry Inpatient Services in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stony Brook University Hospital and continued to provide services for children and their families through the Children’s Learning Clinic-II for the ensuing 5 years until relocating to the University of Hawaii in 1990. Dr. Rapport served as professor and chair of graduate studies at the University of Hawaii for the ensuing 10 years, and established/directed the Children’s Learning Clinic-III during this time span. He currently serves on four journal editorial boards, was previously a member of the APA task force for upgrading the science and technology of assessment and diagnosis in children, and achieved Fellow status in the American Psychological Association in 2011 in recognition of his significant and continuing contributions to the field of clinical child psychology throughout his career.
Dr. Rapport’s research interests focus on children and the field of developmental psychopathology. He is particularly interested in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), developing conceptual models related to long-term outcome (e.g., scholastic success), and understanding the primary deficits associated with ADHD. His research findings over the past decade indicate that underlying working memory deficits in children with ADHD are functionally related to their primary core symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity (see the CLC-IV Publication page for relevant studies), and to many of the adverse functional outcomes (e.g., interpersonal relationship difficulties) associated with the disorder. His current research focuses on understanding which components of the central executive and related WM subsystem mechanisms and processes are deficient in children with ADHD to facilitate the design of translational cognitive training interventions for these children. Incoming students working under Dr. Rapport’s mentorship will be involved in the design, development, and evaluation of a WM intervention training program based on the CLC-IV research team’s collective findings over the past 10 years, as well as with on-going investigations utilizing brain mapping (fNIRS) to understand the complex interplay among WM deficits, arousal, and hyperactivity.
Dr. Rapport is particularly interested in working with students who have a keen desire to learn, are highly motivated, tenacious, wish to specialize in clinical child psychology, possess the ability to excel in quantitative research, and seek academic careers as professionals (note: 15 of Dr. Rapport’s past students currently hold academic positions throughout the country and one in South Korea). They must also enjoy working with children and be dedicated to making a significant difference in children’s lives as a prerequisite to joining the on-going efforts of the UCF Children’s Learning Clinic-IV. Students interested in applying to the Clinical Psychology Training Program at UCF and working with Dr. Rapport’s research team are encouraged to review the more detailed description of our current and planned research under the ‘CLC-IV Lab’ tab on the main page.
Personal Interests: scuba diving (PADI certified), flying airplanes (solo pilot license), jumping out of airplanes (a 1-time thrill), nature, downhill skiing, cooking, boating, hiking, reading, traveling, crossword puzzles.