Rate My Professor Sarah Wilson

Professor Sarah Wilson is a Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology and Music Neuroscience in the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, at the University of Melbourne. She serves as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Life), Co-CEO of the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Head of the Clinical and Music Neuroscience Lab, and Clinic Director and Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist at Neuropsychology East Melbourne. Holding qualifications including a PhD, FAHMS, FASSA, MAPS, and MCCN, she earned a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology in 1991. With over 25 years of experience treating cognitive, emotional, and social challenges in neurological and mental health disorders, Wilson established a pioneering hospital-based rehabilitation service for epilepsy patients and families, followed by a community clinic for functional neurological disorders. Her clinical methods have become benchmarks for best practice, transforming global clinical approaches.

Wilson's research explores the neurobiological bases of auditory and music abilities in healthy and clinical populations, brain-cognition-behaviour relationships, psychosocial functioning, genetics of singing and music ability, music-emotion-wellbeing links, and epilepsy comorbidities. Leading an active lab with national and international collaborations, including the Epilepsy Research Centre and BRAMS, her work has secured multiple international prizes, established the first international standards for neuropsychological practice in epilepsy, and ranks her as the 11th most cited researcher in Clinical Neuropsychology worldwide. She chairs the Diagnostic Methods Commission of the International League Against Epilepsy and serves on its Epilepsy Education Task Force. Key publications include 'Indications and expectations for neuropsychological assessment in epilepsy surgery candidates' (Epilepsia, 2015), 'ILAE clinical practice recommendations for the medical treatment of depression in adults with epilepsy' (Epilepsia, 2021), 'Timing of referral to evaluate for epilepsy surgery: Expert Consensus Recommendations' (Epilepsia, 2022), 'Positive illusions determine quality of life in drug-resistant epilepsy' (Epilepsy & Behavior, 2020), and 'The Genetic Basis of Singing Ability: A Twin Study' (2009).