Cognitive FX brings together a team of experts that work in one location, focused on bringing extraordinary treatment and results to each of our patients.
Partners and Practitioners
Co-Founder, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Clinical Director
Dr. Alina K. Fong, PhD
Dr. Alina K. Fong, PhD
Co-Founder, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Clinical Director
To honor her father, who was a Vietnam War veteran, Dr. Alina K. Fong chose to work at the Veteran’s Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System for her PhD internship. At Veteran’s Affairs, Dr. Fong worked extensively with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans.
Mark D. Allen earned a PhD in Cognitive Science at Johns Hopkins University with post-doctoral training in Cognitive Neuroscience and Functional Neuroimaging at the University of Washington. As a cofounder, Dr. Allen developed the scientific foundation and technological innovations that make treatment at Cognitive Fx unique and exceptional. Dr. Allen is a pioneer in the development of fMRI for use in clinical settings.
Dr. Lynn Gaufin graduated from the University of Utah and then attended medical school at Cornell University in New York City. After medical school he join the Army and was a surgeon in the military before finishing his Neurological Residency at University of California Los Angeles.
E. Bruce McIff is a Fellow of the American College of Radiology and a Fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology. Dr. McIff is also a senior member of the American Society of Neuroradiology. He practiced Neuroradiology and Interventional Radiology for 37 years at UVRMC in Provo Utah, and was on the medical staff of most hospitals in Central and Southern Utah..
Dr. Caleb Epps serves as a Diagnostic Radiologist for Cognitive FX. He joined the CFX team in 2016 first as a Radiology Research Associate where his research included the diagnostic uses of fNCI and Notus Neurocogs in the assessment of cognitive function in Major Neurocognitive Disorder, development of a theoretical model of neurovascular coupling in PCS pathophysiology, and the discovery of imaging biomarkers in PCS....
Thomas Tervort holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Prior to earning his doctorate Dr. Tervort worked in cardiology performing diagnostic testing before becoming a Registered Nurse and working with cardiac and cardiothoracic surgery patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Following this he worked in neurosurgery educating and addressing the needs of surgical patients while he completed his doctoral degree.
Dr. Spangler is a Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience working in both clinical and academic settings. She earned her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Oregon followed by a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
With 13 years of experience in the medical field, I am delighted to serve as the Registered Nurse at Cognitive FX, where I address all medical needs and concerns for patients during their time in the clinic.
Haydn earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Athletic Training from Weber State University in 2005. As a licensed Certified Athletic Trainer, Haydn has extensive experience in clinical and sports settings focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation from sports related injuries.
Jory received his master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Pacific University in Oregon. He has 8.5 years of experience in neuro outpatient and inpatient rehab. He is a certified Lymphedema therapist, Graston Technique massage, LSVT Big and Loud for Parkinson’s, Bioness, and AMPS. He has evaluated and treated patients with a broad range of neurological impairments. He also specializes in pediatrics working with children with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and developmental delays with an emphasis in sensory integration.
Bethany received her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Brigham Young University, and a Master's in Occupational Therapy at the University of Utah in 2009. She has gained experience working with patients in skilled nursing facilities in 3 different states, home health patients, and children in an outpatient clinic in Beijing, China
Bailey received her undergraduate degree in Therapeutic Recreation at Brigham Young University, and graduated with her Master's in Occupational Therapy from the University of Utah in 2023.
April is a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Utah and her Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Brigham Young University. She has had the opportunity to work with patients in a variety of settings and plays a critical role in helping patients improve their cognitive skills.
Emily attended BYU for her bachelor’s degree and the University of Utah for her master’s degree. Her field of study is in Speech-Language Pathology. Emily has worked as a speech pathologist for 15 years.
Michelle is a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, receiving both her Bachelor's Degree in Communication Disorders and her Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Utah. She has had the opportunity to work with patients in a variety of settings, including Neurologic Rehabilitation.
Melanie has been working as a speech language pathologist since 2006. She graduated with a Masters of Science from Brigham Young University. She has worked in a variety of settings and joined the NeuroCognitive therapists at Cognitive FX in January 2021.
Natalie has been a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist since 2003. She received her bachelor degree at Utah State University and her masters at BYU. She has worked in a variety of settings with much of her experience being in neurological rehab. Natalie is passionate about helping her fellow humans improve their quality of life and has thoroughly enjoyed joining this talented team at Cognitive FX.
Toshi graduated from Brigham Young University Idaho with a degree in exercise science in 2016. He then graduated from Idaho State University with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2019. While in school he did rotations in vestibular therapy, outpatient orthopedic, pediatric and acute care settings.
Andy is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and a Z-Health Performance Master Trainer. He spent the first years of his career working in Orthopedics, assisting in surgery and clinical duties, as well as taking care of Athletic Training duties for a local hospital. He also worked as Head Athletic Trainer and Director of Human Performance for a specialty physical therapy clinic.
With a passion for sports and maximum performance, Jake has taken his license for Massage Therapy (LMT) to new levels. Having studied Health Science at Salt Lake Community College, he has also earned certificates in nutrition as well as strength and conditioning. These he has successfully combined with his extensive real-world experience working with patients in many modalities including a Physical Therapy and a Sports Medicine clinic.
Sotero graduated for Utah State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Movement Science in 2015. He then graduated from the University of Idaho with his Master’s of Science degree in Athletic Training in 2018.
Racquel is a Certified Athletic Trainer. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. She then received a Master of Science degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Utah in 2019. Racquel has worked as an athletic trainer with collegiate dancers and youth athletics, specializing in a variety of manual therapy techniques
Sara has been a certified fitness trainer for 15 years through the American Council of Exercise. She worked for 5 years at the University of Chicago Hospital in their Executive Health Clinic as a patient advocate and as their exercise consultant.
Braquel is passionate about all things sports and movement. Graduating as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Provo College in 2022, Braquel has worked in both outpatient and inpatient physical therapy offices, specializing in orthopedic sports medicine. Having worked with a variety of clientele, she is excited to help patient's recover and get back to the things they love most
Brian is delighted to work with the CFX team and patients. He does structural and functional MRI exams. Having worked as a MRI tech more than a decade, he understands how valuable a good exam can be to a patient's progress. He also understands that many patients are nervous about the exam and so strives to make the experience more gentle and pleasant for them.
Liz graduated from Utah Valley University with her Bachelors in exercise science in May of 2024. She enjoys getting to know the patients and working at CFX!
Ada graduated from Brigham Young University in April of 2024 with a bachelor's degree in Human Development. She is excited to be at CFX and enjoys working with and getting to know each patient.
Taylie graduated from Brigham Young University in April 2024 with a degree in Exercise and Wellness. She comes from a large family of athletes and has seen firsthand the effects of brain injuries. Having been a patient at Cognitive Fx herself several years ago, Taylie understands the impact that an injury can have on a person’s life and appreciates that something can be done about it.
Julia earned a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University. She has previously worked with youth and geriatric patients in a variety of settings, and she is excited to help patients as they receive treatment at Cognitive FX!
Brinley is currently a junior at Brigham Young University pursuing a Bachelors of Neuroscience. She began working at Cognitive FX the summer of 2024 as a PCC and NIT assistant and is very grateful to be on a team with such talented professionals.
Evan is currently a pre-med student at BYU, majoring in neuroscience. As a former patient here at Cognitive FX, Evan finds it extremely rewarding to be able to help those dealing with the life-altering effects of PCS and TBIs. After graduating from BYU, he plans on attending medical school before pursuing a career involving research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
I’ve had the pleasure of working here at CFX since November 2023! I am a pre-medical student at BYU studying Cellular Biology and Physiology. In addition, I am a member of Edward’s lab at BYU, researching mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. As someone who has personally experienced ten concussions, I understand how difficult PCS can be, and am dedicated to providing the best care to anyone who comes here to CFX!
Mitch is graduating from Brigham Young University in April with his degree in Neuroscience. He is entering his first year of medical school where he hopes to pursue the practice of neurology and psychiatry. He is a published researcher, having wet lab experience studying iron metabolism and novel cancer treatments.
Andrew Cobb received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University and has worked here in the Provo/Orem community to help those in need. Before working with Cognitive FX, he worked directly with youth in outpatient facilities at Wasatch Behavioral, as well as the senior population in care facilities, and at the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. He pursued his degree to be better equipped to help those struggling with mental health or other life challenges, and is always grateful for the chance to make a positive difference in the lives of those around him. He loves watching the NFL, playing sports, and tinkering with the computer that he built.
Evan graduated with a neuroscience degree from Brigham Young University in April 2024. He has been a part of the Cognitive FX team as a TMS technician since October 2024. He has worked in various research and laboratory roles across the biotech and hospital industries. Originally from San Diego, California, he has lived in Provo since 2018, where he enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, climbing, biking, and essentially everything else in Utah’s beautiful mountains.
As the General Manager, Barbara leads and empowers our patients and diverse team of specialists on the CFX team. Her teammates would add that she's one of the kindest people leaders they've had the pleasure to work with. Within 5 years of joining Cognitive FX, her leadership has helped us grow from serving just 130 concussion victims a year to now over 650 a year—and will continue to increase in years to come. She is invested to spread the gift of recovery to those in need.
Jordan Ward graduated from Brigham Young University with her degree in Neuroscience in June of 2018. Jordan works as a Project Manager to improve treatment for patients and improve how the clinic operates.
Alexis grew up in a family of athletes and saw first-hand the challenges of brain injury for patients as well as their caregivers. Watching her loved ones fight for their recovery inspired her to seek answers about the process of brain injury recovery. Alexis’s passion led her to earn her bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology from Brigham Young University
Hunter is grateful to work at Cognitive FX, to witness individuals improve their symptoms and get back to doing what they love. Hunter joined the CFX team in August of 2024 with his background in leadership and Business Management degree from Utah Valley University. His true passion is being in the mountains as often as possible. He has coached snowboarding for over 10 years, so you're likely to see him on the hill. You might also see him mountain biking, fly fishing, playing beach volleyball or doing any other outdoor sports Utah has to offer.
Stacy has a degree in Political Science from Brigham Young University and has worked with non-profits for the last two decades in various capacities. Stacy’s skillset includes marketing, public relations, non-profit management, CRM maximization, project and event management and developing and implementing communications strategies. Stacy started at CognitiveFX just before the pandemic and feels passionately about helping our patients move forward in recovery.
I’m Justin Wong, a Communications graduate from Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho), where I earned my degree with an emphasis in Video Production. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, I’ve always been surrounded by diverse cultural influences that shaped my passion for storytelling through visual media. At BYU-Idaho, I honed my skills in filmmaking, editing, and content creation. My education gave me a strong foundation in both the technical and creative sides of video production, allowing me to combine my love for storytelling with the tools needed to bring ideas to life. I’m passionate about creating content that resonates with people. Whether through engaging videos or powerful narratives, I strive to craft stories that inform, entertain, and inspire. As I move forward in my career, I’m excited to explore new opportunities in video production and to contribute to projects that make an impact.
Kayla Merrick joined the team in 2021, and has been greatly enjoying her time working the front desk. She graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University in December 2019, with a Bachelors Degree in English, and dual minors in Creative Writing and Japanese. She has lived in Utah all her life, aside from two years she spent in Japan, and speaks fluent conversational Japanese
Jessica Ricks went through EPIC Treatment in 2018 and has been working for Cognitive FX since the beginning of 2020. She has an Associates Degree in Science and is planning to graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Biology at Utah Valley University in May 2022. Jessica is originally from Springfield, Oregon and has lived in Utah since 2016
Hi, I'm Lauren, a Logistics Specialist at Cognitive FX. I graduated in 2023 from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a degree in Human Development, and I joined Cognitive FX shortly after graduating. In my role, I consult with patients to discuss their history and help them understand the next steps in their treatment journey. I also advise them on travel logistics, including flights and accommodations, to ensure their visit to Provo, Utah, is as smooth as possible. I’m here to provide guidance and support, making the process as easy and stress-free as I can. Outside of work, I enjoy connecting with people, learning new things, and exploring Utah’s beautiful outdoors.
Katie joined the team in March of 2024 and loves meeting people from all over the world. She loves to travel and feels like she gets a little taste of that through the patients that we see each week. Katie has her Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from Brigham Young University. As a logistics specialist, she helps patients understand their options for treatment and is with them every step of the way, even after they have gone home!
Sarah joined the Cognitive FX team in September of 2018 and loves every moment of her time here. As one of the Office Administrators, Sarah ensures the office runs as smoothly as possible by maintaining the scheduling for Cognitive FX. Sarah loves how she is able to get to know each patient that comes through our doors.
Megan recently joined the team in October 2024, and has loved interacting with the patients and being a part of the incredible work Cognitive FX is doing. Originally from Maryland, she moved to Utah from Arizona in May 2024, to pursue education in Radiologic Technology. She has a background in Education and Creative Entrepreneurship.
Amanda Pasti, originally from Brazil, joined the Cognitive FX team in October 2024 deeply motivated by the opportunity to be part of a team that strives to make the lives of others better. As an Administrative Coordinator, Amanda ensures the smooth processing of administrative documents, effective communication with patients, and managing records requests. In addition to her professional expertise, Amanda holds an Associate degree in Business and Leadership Skills and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's in Business Management at Brigham Young University. She is also a trained classical pianist, having performed in music concerts, choirs, and special education projects in Brazil and Europe. Amanda is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
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