Lisa LaRowe

Lisa LaRowe, PhD, is an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a research faculty member at the Mongan Institute Center for Aging and Serious Illness at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her work focuses on health behavior change among midlife and older adults with chronic pain, particularly substance cessation and physical activity adherence.

• Education: PhD in Clinical Psychology from Syracuse University
• Training: Predoctoral internship in Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine at Brown University's Alpert School of Medicine
• Fellowship: NIA F32-funded postdoctoral training at Brown University School of Public Health

Research interests center on chronic pain mechanisms, substance use patterns, and interventions to improve quality of life for aging populations. She develops tailored behavioral approaches to address pain-related anxiety, self-efficacy, and health disparities.

Recent publications highlight her focus on pain-substance use interactions (alcohol, cannabis, tobacco), health behavior interventions, and policy solutions for opioid use disorder and pain management. She co-directs the Consulting & Coaching Core at the Mongan Institute.

Her work utilizes multi-method approaches, including clinical trials, psychometric validation, and epidemiological analysis. She contributes to pain management frameworks for cancer survivors, rural communities, and individuals with comorbid chronic pain.