By Jane Hauser
Director of Marketing & Outreach, NESCA
I recently had the opportunity to get to know the most recent clinician to join NESCA’s neuropsychology practice, Madeline Manning, Ph.D. Dr. Manning is a wonderful addition to NESCA’s Hingham location, where she joins Dr. Moira Creedon in serving families on the South Shore. I hope you can take the time to get to know more about her as well.
Tell us about your background.
My background in pediatric neuropsychology has been shaped within academic medical centers, where I’ve had the privilege of working with children and families navigating complex medical and developmental challenges. During my doctoral training at Northeastern University, my clinical experiences focused primarily on understanding neurocognitive, behavioral, and social-emotional functioning in children with medical complexities—such as epilepsy, brain tumors, cardiac conditions, and genetic disorders—and how these health conditions impact a child’s overall well-being and day-to-day life.
This foundation led me to an APA-accredited internship at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida, where I received rich and diverse training in both neuropsychological assessment and therapeutic modalities. It was there that I deepened my understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders and how they often co-occur with complex medical and psychiatric presentations.
From there, I completed a two-year clinical post-doctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. At MGH, I gained extensive experience assessing youth with a wide range of neurodevelopmental presentations—including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, and complex profiles where psychiatric, neurological, and socioecological factors all play a role.
Throughout this journey, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from and be supported by dedicated mentors, supervisors, and colleagues. Their guidance has been instrumental in shaping the clinician I am today, and I’m excited to bring that training and experience into my work with children and families at NESCA.
You mentioned your experience working with patients with medical complexities. Can you tell us more about who you worked with?
During my internship at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, I had the opportunity to work closely with medically complex pediatric populations. I provided neuropsychological assessments for children with epilepsy undergoing Phase 1 pre-surgical evaluations, helping to inform surgical planning and overall treatment decisions. I also assessed patients referred through the oncology, hematology, and neurogenetics clinics, which gave me valuable insight into how medical conditions and treatments, such as chemotherapy, can affect cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning.
During my postdoctoral fellowship at MGH, I continued to build on this foundation. While many of the presenting concerns for patients were centered around neurodevelopmental and psychiatric symptoms, I also had the opportunity to work with young patients navigating complex medical conditions—including pediatric stroke, epilepsy, and a range of genetic disorders.
These experiences further strengthened my understanding of how neurodevelopmental, medical, and psychiatric factors interact in shaping a child’s development. They also enhanced my ability to conduct comprehensive, individualized evaluations that consider the whole child—not just the diagnosis—and offer tailored recommendations to support them across settings.
What made you explore a new opportunity?
I’m someone who truly values lifelong learning, which in large part is why I’ve appreciated working in hospital settings—they’re often centered around collaboration, teaching, and tackling complex clinical questions as a team. That environment has been incredibly formative for me. At this point in my career, I feel ready—and genuinely excited—to transition into a group practice setting, and NESCA felt like the perfect fit. Their strong commitment to teamwork, continued education, and high-quality, individualized care really stood out to me.
On a more personal note, I recently became a mom, and embracing this new season of life has been so meaningful. Finding a role that allows me to continue growing as a neuropsychologist in a supportive, mission-driven environment, while also being closer to home and more present for my family, is something I feel incredibly grateful for.
Why were you interested in joining NESCA?
NESCA’s mission is closely aligned with my values—both as a clinician and as a person. I’ve long admired NESCA’s reputation for providing the highest level of care to families, and that made me eager to learn more about the organization. When I met Dr. Ann Helmus, NESCA’s founder and director, I was deeply impressed by her dedication to fostering a positive team culture, while also holding an unwavering commitment to clinical excellence. I’ve felt that same sense of respect and appreciation in the way everyone I’ve spoken to during my transition has been incredibly welcoming and clearly proud to be part of this team.
What also excites me about joining NESCA is how it offers the best of both worlds—an organization with the flexibility of a group practice that also emphasizes collaboration and continued learning, similar to a hospital setting. The weekly case conferences and team meetings create a space for discussing clinical questions, sharing resources, and learning from one another, which fosters professional growth and ultimately allows us to provide exceptional care to the families we support. I feel so fortunate to be joining the team at NESCA, and I can’t wait to get started!
What do you think you will be able to bring to NESCA?
What I look forward to bringing to NESCA is my strong foundation in both clinical assessment and developmental psychology, as well as my passion for supporting children and their families with empathy and care. My training has equipped me to evaluate youth across developmental stages—from as young as 2 years old through young adulthood— experiencing a wide range of challenges. I approach each case with a commitment to understanding the whole child and place a strong emphasis on collaboration—with families, schools, and medical providers—to ensure that my evaluations translate into meaningful, practical recommendations. My goal is also to empower families with the knowledge and tools they need to support their child’s growth, and I strive to bring a warm, patient, and culturally sensitive approach to every case.
You will be joining NESCA’s Hingham office? Who will you be seeing there?
At NESCA’s Hingham office, I’ll be seeing a diverse range of children, adolescents, and young adults who are navigating complex neurodevelopmental, social-emotional, and/or medical challenges. This includes children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, executive functioning difficulties, and those managing health-related conditions that impact cognitive and emotional development.
I’m especially looking forward to supporting families who may be seeking clarity around a diagnosis, looking for school-based recommendations, or working through transitions—whether that’s entering preschool, kindergarten, middle school, or preparing for high school and post-secondary life. I’m excited to collaborate with NESCA’s talented team of clinicians and to contribute to the high-quality, comprehensive evaluations that NESCA is known for.
You live on the South Shore. Why is it important to serve families in the South Shore communities?
As a South Shore native, I know there is a high level of need in this area for quality neuropsychological services. Families here are often traveling long distances in order to obtain the level of care their children need, which adds stress and limits access to services, especially for younger children or those with complex needs. That’s why it’s so exciting that NESCA has expanded its practice to Hingham!
There’s a real gap in local resources on the South Shore, and NESCA’s decision to meet families where they are at reflects a deep understanding of both the clinical and practical needs of this community. I’m thrilled to be part of that effort and to contribute to making high-quality neuropsychological care more accessible to families in this region.
Is there anything else you would like the NESCA community to know about you?
I’d love for the NESCA community to know that I’m deeply passionate about helping youth and families feel seen, understood, and supported every step of the way. I take a collaborative approach and aim to make the evaluation process not only informative, but also empowering, compassionate, and grounded in each child’s strengths.
Outside of clinical work, I am someone who values community, connection, and balance. I love being outdoors, spending time with family, and staying active—which helps keep me grounded and present in the work I do.
I’m truly honored to be joining the NESCA team, and I’m excited to grow alongside such an experienced and thoughtful group of professionals while contributing to the care of families in my own community.
About Dr. Madeline Manning
Dr. Madeline Manning is committed to providing comprehensive, collaborative evaluations that help
families better understand their child’s unique neurocognitive, developmental, learning, and social-emotional profiles. She specializes in the assessment of toddlers, school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults. Her expertise involves working with youth exhibiting a diverse range of clinical presentations, including neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention and executive functioning deficits, learning disabilities, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and associated emotional challenges. Dr. Manning is also trained in the assessment of children with medical complexities, recognizing how health conditions can impact a child’s development and functioning. She partners closely with families to develop practical, personalized recommendations that support each individual’s success and growth at home, in school, and within the community.
To book a neuropsychological evaluation at NESCA, complete NESCA’s online intake form.
NESCA is a pediatric neuropsychology practice and integrative treatment center with offices in Newton, Plainville, and Hingham, Massachusetts; Londonderry, New Hampshire; the greater Burlington, Vermont region; and Brooklyn, New York (coaching services only) serving clients from infancy through young adulthood and their families. For more information, please email info@nesca-newton.com or call 617-658-9800.
