Clinical Psychology Research

Melissa Dvorsky, PhD, focuses on evidence-based program implementation strategies in schools, with a special interest in helping children, adolescents and emerging adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their families be resilient and successful. Her current research projects leverage technology to optimize, personalize and disseminate treatment programs for youth and families with ADHD, learning and behavior challenges. Her research programs aim to improve access to, and effectiveness of, mental health treatments for youth with attention, behavior, organizational, executive functioning and/or academic difficulties in schools and communities.

Alan Gerber, PhD, focuses his research on understanding how mental health challenges, such as loneliness and depression, develop in autistic individuals. His work integrates behavioral tasks, questionnaire measures and neuroimaging methods (e.g., EEG) to identify cognitive and social-emotional risk factors associated with mental health outcomes. A central goal of his research program is to use this information to develop and test mechanistic and targeted interventions to improve mental health and quality of life for autistic individuals. Dr. Gerber’s research program offers opportunities for students interested in autism, clinical psychology, neuroscience and intervention development.

Leandra Godoy, PhD, researches how to improve the early identification, prevention and treatment of mental health concerns through the integration of mental health into pediatric primary care settings. She is currently evaluating universal mental health screening efforts within primary care, a child mental health access program (which provides phone-based psychiatric and care coordination support to pediatricians) and a peer-to-peer model of support for families trying to connect from primary care to outpatient mental health services. Dr. Godoy has a particular focus on early childhood mental health and health disparities research.

Steven Hardy, PhD, studies neurocognitive functioning and academic outcomes in youth with sickle cell disease and explores interventions to address disease-related neurocognitive deficits and improve quality of life. Dr. Hardy also conducts research to monitor the effects of childhood cancer treatments on neurocognitive outcomes. Other areas of interest include self-management of pediatric sickle cell disease and non-pharmacological treatments for chronic pain.

Linda Herbert, PhD, focuses her research on child and family adjustment to pediatric food allergy. Dr. Herbert’s two ongoing studies include an evaluation of the concerns of parents of very young children with food allergy and an assessment of food allergy-related anxiety and adherence among adolescents. Dr. Herbert’s long-term research aims are to develop clinical programs that can help families at the point of food allergy diagnosis and as food allergy management transitions from parent to adolescent.

Eleanor Mackey, PhD, focuses her research on improving health and well-being in children and adolescents with obesity and diabetes. Dr. Mackey’s current research focuses on helping families make difficult lifestyle changes to manage their illness as well as enhancing weight loss following bariatric surgery in adolescents. Dr. Mackey is currently researching the effects of weight loss on cognitive function in adolescents as well as evaluating predictors of outcomes following bariatric surgery. She is also working with colleagues to improve eating and exercise behaviors in young children with type 1 diabetes.

Carrie Tully, PhD, aims to improve coping and adjustment for families of children with chronic illness, diagnosis or pediatric injury. Her current research includes determining the factors related to family resilience after a young child’s burn injury. She also collaborates with colleagues on research efforts to improve adjustment and health behaviors in families of young children with type 1 diabetes.

Deborah Zlotnik, PhD, aims to improve the quality of therapeutic care on inpatient psychiatric units for children and adolescents primarily hospitalized for suicidality. Her current research includes examining the effectiveness of a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) training program for unit providers, examining the impact of a clinical screening project on patient care, and exploring the impact of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in patients on an inpatient psychiatric unit.