Menu
Bethany Gilstrap was always interested in the inner workings of the mind, but she was set on her current path—researching treatments and working towards a cure for Alzheimer’s disease—after a family experience with the disease. When Bethany’s grandmother first showed signs of disorientation and was diagnosed with dementia, Bethany couldn’t help being deeply affected.
The road to diagnosis wasn’t a positive experience for the family. This situation spurred Bethany, who was already studying psychology, to focus on neuropsychology.
“I wanted to be the provider that my family didn’t have when we needed guidance and support,” says Bethany, who is now a Neuropsychologist in the outpatient neurology clinic at Sentara Fort Norfolk.
Bethany and her fellow team members have worked to develop the neuropsychology program at Sentara for more than 10 years. The program helps specialists diagnose through an exhaustive process of exclusion, meaning they rule out all other possibilities for the dementia in order to finally arrive at Alzheimer’s.
“The process can be taxing and frightening regardless of whether you are the patient, the family or the provider,” Bethany explains, citing her personal experience. “I am so thankful for how close our team has become. It allows us to support each other through difficult situations and show up in more meaningful ways for our patients and their families. This is a difficult field and without the support from my team, I don’t know if I’d still be in it.”
Bethany, who lives in Virginia Beach with her husband Andy and two daughters, begins each day running a 5K. She’s also an avid baker and started a tradition of baking cupcakes for fellow coworkers’ birthdays. Now, they have a full-fledged birthday committee that ensures a sweet treat, balloons and a card for the special day. Bethany’s young daughter inherited her baking skills and has started a small business selling cupcakes and cakes.
Bethany Gilstrap was always interested in the inner workings of the mind, but she was set on her current path—researching treatments and working towards a cure for Alzheimer’s disease—after a family experience with the disease. When Bethany’s grandmother first showed signs of disorientation and was diagnosed with dementia, Bethany couldn’t help being deeply affected.
The road to diagnosis wasn’t a positive experience for the family. This situation spurred Bethany, who was already studying psychology, to focus on neuropsychology.
“I wanted to be the provider that my family didn’t have when we needed guidance and support,” says Bethany, who is now a Neuropsychologist in the outpatient neurology clinic at Sentara Fort Norfolk.
The Sentara Healthcare team is nearly 30,000 people strong, all working with a unified objective to create an environment of health and healing for our patients. Join us today.
Sentara is recognized nationally for clinical quality and safety and is strategically focused on innovation and creating an extraordinary health care experience for our patients and members.