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Briana S. Last is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Stony Brook University, with a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (2022). Her work focuses on improving mental health equity through policy research, implementation science, and community-based approaches. She examines social determinants of mental health, mental health workforce development, and clinical decision-making in public systems. Dr. Last leads the Mental Healthcare for All Lab, collaborating with governments, agencies, and clinicians to strengthen public mental health systems. Her research emphasizes workforce sustainability, anti-transgender policy impacts, and clinician well-being. She has published in high-impact journals like The Milbank Quarterly and Psychiatric Services . Her interdisciplinary methods combine qualitative and quantitative approaches, including mixed methods and implementation science frameworks. Current projects address workforce retention strategies, telehealth policy implications, and the sociopolitical context of gender-affirming care. Education: PhD in Clinical Psychology, University of Pennsylvania (2022) Labs: Mental Healthcare for All Lab Key Themes: Behavioral health policy, health equity, clinician-patient dynamics, LGBTQ+ mental health

• Mental Health Policy
• Implementation Science
• Health Equity
• +3 more

Ashli Owen-Smith is a behavioral scientist affiliated with the School of Public Health at Georgia State University , where her research focuses on mental health disparities, suicide prevention, and integrative/complementary approaches for complex mental-physical health conditions. She works with underserved populations including refugees/immigrants, incarcerated individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities through community-based participatory research and mixed-methods frameworks. Her current projects are funded by CDC , DBHDD , and DPH . Education: Ph.D. in Behavioral Sciences (Emory, 2009), S.M. in Public Health (Harvard, 2005), B.A. in Psychology (Smith College, 2001) Her research spans mental health , trauma , suicide prevention , and mindfulness-based interventions . Recent work examines telehealth adaptations for chronic pain and mental health, vaccine hesitancy in refugee communities, and social determinants of suicide . She leads studies on gender-affirming care and health disparities in LGBTQ+ populations. Key article trends include epidemiological analysis of suicide risk factors, COVID-19 impacts on mental health, ICD-10 coding for autism, and complementary medicine in trauma recovery. Subfields span telehealth , health equity , mental-physical comorbidity , and community engagement . Students she has mentored include C.A. Scarlett , T. Griner , and M.M. Sesay . Her work integrates public health policy , clinical research , and health systems analysis .

• Mental Health
• Behavioral Science
• Trauma
• +6 more

Dr. Shufang Sun is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University’s School of Public Health, and Associate Director of the Mindfulness Center. Her work focuses on understanding how stress, trauma, and systemic inequities contribute to health disparities, particularly among marginalized populations like LGBTQ+ individuals, youth, and communities affected by HIV. She develops mindfulness-based, technology-mediated interventions to promote mental health and reduce stigma, with a global focus including China, the Philippines, and Ukraine. Education: PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2018). Research interests include mindfulness interventions, mHealth (mobile health), global mental health, HIV prevention, minority stress, and stigma reduction. Her work emphasizes community-engaged research and rigorous evidence synthesis through meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Current projects include interventions for displaced Ukrainians, suicide prevention in rural China, and HIV prevention among transgender women in the Philippines. Her interventions address topics like queer resilience, pandemic mental health, and health equity for vulnerable groups. Awards include the APA’s Barbara Smith Early Career Award and Brown University’s Early Career Research Achievement Award. Grants: Principal investigator on NIH-funded projects totaling over $7.5M, including a $3M R24 grant for mindfulness evidence synthesis and a $621K NIMH grant for school-based suicide prevention in China. Labs/Teams: Director of the Mindfulness for Health Equity Lab, collaborating with global researchers on stigma reduction and digital health innovations.

• Mindfulness-based interventions
• mHealth (mobile health)
• Global mental health
• +7 more

Dr. Lauren Cirrincione is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle, Washington. Her academic appointment is within the Department of Pharmacy, which is part of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Washington. Dr. Cirrincione earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and a Master of Public Health (MPH) in epidemiology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She completed a clinical pharmacology fellowship in HIV at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Cirrincione's research program addresses mechanisms of hormone-mediated drug interactions, with a primary focus on clinical, translational pharmacology in transgender medicine. Her expertise spans Infectious Diseases, Mechanisms of Drug Interactions, Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacodynamics, Transgender and Gender Diverse Research, and Translational Research. Her work examines how gender-affirming hormone therapy interacts with other medications, particularly antiretrovirals, and investigates the clinical implications of these interactions for transgender patients. She has made significant contributions to understanding estradiol concentrations in gender-affirming therapy, kidney function assessment in gender-diverse populations, and the inclusion of transgender individuals in clinical trials. Her publications demonstrate a consistent focus on improving pharmacological care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals, with recent work examining adolescent transgender medicine, psychotropic medication interactions, and self-injection experiences among transgender people on hormone therapy. Her research bridges clinical pharmacology with gender-affirming care, addressing critical gaps in evidence-based practice for this population. Dr. Cirrincione teaches PHRMCY 535: Pharmacotherapeutics V at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. Her scientific contributions have advanced the field of transgender pharmacology, with particular emphasis on clinical applications and evidence-based approaches to medication management for transgender patients.

• Infectious Diseases
• Mechanisms of Drug Interactions
• Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacodynamics
• +5 more

Brandon L. Velez is an Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at the Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. His research examines the intersections of oppression and collective identity with mental health and career outcomes for sexual, gender, and racial/ethnic minority populations. He is affiliated with the Counseling & Clinical Psychology department and leads the Stigma, Identity, and Intersectionality Research Team. Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, University of Florida, 2014 Predoctoral Internship, Georgia Institute of Technology Counseling Center, 2014 M.S. in Psychology, University of Florida, 2011 B.S. in Psychology (summa cum laude), B.A. in Religion (cum laude), Minor in Anthropology, University of Florida, 2009 Dr. Velez’s work focuses on minority stress , intersectionality , and the well-being of multiply marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ people of color, transgender individuals, and women of color. His studies explore how systemic discrimination and coping strategies influence mental health , body image , and career development , often integrating theories like objectification and work adjustment. His recent publications analyze: Protective effects of womanist attitudes on women of color Minority stress in transgender communities and bisexual women Applications of work theory to racial and sexual minorities Resilience mechanisms against systemic oppression Scientific honors include graduating summa cum laude (B.S.) and cum laude (B.A.) from the University of Florida. He does not currently advise new Ph.D. students for the Fall 2025 cohort.

• Counseling Psychology
• Minority Stress
• Social Justice
• +5 more

Chandan J Vaidya is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Georgetown University, directing the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (DCNL). His research focuses on cognitive neuroscience mechanisms underlying adaptive behaviors, particularly implicit learning, executive control, and their dysfunction in ADHD, ASD, and other developmental disorders. Using multidisciplinary methods including fMRI, behavioral testing, and genetic analysis, he investigates how dopamine systems, brain connectivity, and environmental factors influence cognitive processes. Primary appointment: Professor, College of Arts and Sciences - Department of Psychology Education: Ph.D. from Syracuse University Research interests include neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroimaging of cognitive control, and translational neuroscience. Recent work examines striatal connectivity changes in ADHD due to stimulant use, executive dysfunction subtypes in autism, and brain correlates of reward processing in obesity. Key findings highlight hyperconnectivity in ASD, dopamine genotype influences on executive function, and age-related changes in default mode networks. Ongoing studies explore transdiagnostic models of psychopathology and precision medicine approaches in neurodevelopmental disorders. Lab activities focus on translational research bridging basic neuroscience with clinical applications. Collaborations involve pediatric neurology, psychiatry, and computational modeling.

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Developmental Disorders
• ADHD
• +5 more

Dr. Han Du is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and leads the Du Research Lab. His methodological expertise includes Bayesian statistics, longitudinal data analysis, structural equation modeling, meta-analysis techniques, and machine learning applications in psychological research. Dr. Du's substantive research applies quantitative methods to developmental, clinical, cognitive, educational, and health psychology. His recent publications focus on transgender adolescent stress assessment, LGBTQ+ mental health in military contexts, social network interventions for HIV prevention, and minority stress theory applications. He teaches advanced statistical methods and supervises graduate students in quantitative psychology.

• Bayesian Methods
• Longitudinal Data Analysis
• Structural Equation Modeling
• +3 more

Katie L. Kaput is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She provides high-quality, personalized endocrine care with a focus on preventative health and chronic illness management at the Sugar House Health Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Education: Bachelor's in Biology from the University of Georgia, Medical Degree from Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine, Residency at National Jewish Health/Saint Joseph Hospital, and Endocrinology Fellowship at the University of Utah. Research & Clinical Interests: Span endocrinology and internal medicine, with expertise in Adrenal and Parathyroid Disorders Osteoporosis & Metabolic Bone Disease Thyroid and Pituitary Disorders Transgender Health Cystic Fibrosis Endocrinology Clinical Excellence: Patient testimonials highlight her exceptional bedside manner, expertise, and patient-centered approach. She works alongside Heather and Kaj, noted for their professionalism and care.

• Endocrinology
• Internal Medicine
• Metabolic Disorders
• +9 more

Sara Abelson, PhD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Health and Population Science at Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine and serves as Senior Director at The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs. Her work focuses on advancing structural approaches to enhance student success, mental health equity, and basic needs security in higher education through applied research and program development. Dr. Abelson's educational background includes: PhD, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI MPH, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI BA, Cornell University Her research centers on adolescent and young adult mental health, health equity, and social determinants of health, with particular attention to structural and systemic drivers of health inequities. She investigates how school settings influence youth health outcomes and serve as intervention points for promoting wellbeing. Her work bridges research, policy, and practice to develop evidence-based approaches for reducing inequities in higher education settings. Dr. Abelson's publication record shows a clear evolution toward increasingly sophisticated analyses of mental health disparities in educational contexts. Recent work examines racial/ethnic disparities in mental health service utilization, gender minority mental health, and the impact of political events on vulnerable student populations. Her research consistently emphasizes structural interventions over individual-level approaches. Among her notable recognitions: 2022 Weiss Writing Prize for her pivotal publication on college mental health Lewis Barbato Award from the American College Health Association K. Patricia Cross Future Leader Award from the American Association of Colleges & Universities George Orley Mental Health Advocate Award Dr. Abelson has extensive consulting experience with major educational organizations including the American Council on Education, Center for Community College Student Engagement, and Association of Public & Land-grant Universities. Her current projects focus on evidence-based interventions for student mental health, community college mental health initiatives, and integration of basic needs and mental health resources to improve educational attainment. As Senior Director at The Hope Center, she leads initiatives addressing the critical intersection between mental health and basic needs security, developing comprehensive approaches to student wellbeing that recognize the interconnected nature of these challenges in higher education.

• Adolescent and young adult mental health
• Health equity
• Social determinants of health
• +5 more

Sophie Ryan is a Climate and Health Research Fellow at Appalachian State University's Department of Geography and Planning, supported by the National Academy of Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography (candidate) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and advanced degrees in Geography from Appalachian State University and the University of Vermont. Education : Ph.D. Candidate in Geography (UNC Chapel Hill), M.A. in Geography (Appalachian State), B.S. in Geography (University of Vermont) Ryan's research integrates medical geography and climate science to explore mental health impacts of extreme weather events. Her work combines spatiotemporal modeling , health data analysis , and disaster response studies , focusing on youth, older adults, and vulnerable populations. Recent projects examine greenspace effects on mental health , compound climate events , and pandemic-related health disparities . Her publications highlight climate-mental health linkages , spatial epidemiology , and social vulnerability in disaster contexts. Articles address topics like heat-stress and mental health , transgender youth post-disaster trauma , and suicide risk disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryan employs distributed lag models , cluster analysis , and geospatial techniques to assess environmental health impacts. Scientific Awards : NASEM Climate-Health Fellow

• Climate and Health
• Medical Geography
• Mental Health
• +12 more

Jessica Glazier is an Assistant Professor in the Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology at Clark University, Worcester, MA. She completed her Ph.D. and M.S. in Psychological Science at the University of Washington (2022 and 2019, respectively) and a B.A. in Psychology & Music from Albion College (2015). Her research focuses on challenging societal norms about social categories like gender, race, and sexual orientation, emphasizing inclusivity for marginalized groups such as transgender, multiracial, and asexual individuals. She employs methods from social, developmental, cognitive psychology, and interdisciplinary approaches like feminist and LGBT studies. Research Interests Exploring how social categorization affects perceptions and experiences of individuals who defy traditional norms Examining consequences of gender/racial essentialism on prejudice and discrimination Investigating gender development in youth, including transgender and cisgender children Addressing statistical methodology limitations in psychological science Recent Research Trends Her 2024 work highlights challenges in LGBTIQ+ research inclusivity and examines gender attitudes across diverse children. Recent projects (2023–2024) emphasize statistical frameworks for meaningful inference, intersectionality in harassment perceptions, and the role of adult beliefs in shaping children’s identity autonomy. Earlier studies (2019–2022) established foundational insights into gender categorization mechanisms and transgender children’s developmental similarities to cisgender peers. Teaching & Mentoring Teaches Advanced Social Psychology (PHD) and Statistics (undergraduate), prioritizing student learning through dedicated skill-building sessions. Mentored research assistants (e.g., Liza Moore, Martina Khurana) and supervised Elizabeth Abel’s honors project on race and gender essentialism. Actively supports early-career researchers via peer mentoring programs. Labs & Collaborations Conducts research within Clark University’s Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology lab environments, collaborating with institutions like Northeastern University and international teams on child development and social categorization projects.

• Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Gender Studies
• +5 more

Briana Last is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Stony Brook University, specializing in Clinical Psychology. She holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (2022) and focuses on improving mental health service accessibility and quality through interdisciplinary research. Her research emphasizes three core domains: social determinants of mental health, implementation strategies for service improvement, and structural factors influencing clinician decision-making. She employs mixed methods and community-based participatory approaches, prioritizing marginalized populations affected by systemic inequities. Key interests include behavioral health workforce development, policy analysis, and dismantling barriers to equitable mental healthcare. Her lab, the Mental Healthcare for All Lab, collaborates with governments, agencies, and clinicians to translate research into actionable policies. Notable projects address clinician burnout interventions, public mental health system gaps, and anti-transgender policy impacts. Recent work critiques scientifically unfounded bans on gender-affirming care and evaluates federal loan repayment programs for mental health workforce retention. Publications span topics like AI chatbots in mental health, state policy effects on LGBTQ+ populations, and trauma therapy implementation. Her work highlights how clinician work conditions directly shape patient care quality, advocating for systemic changes to enhance both provider well-being and patient outcomes.

• Mental Health Policy
• Implementation Science
• Health Equity
• +3 more

Patrick C. Shih is an Associate Professor of Informatics in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington, where he also serves as the Director of Graduate Studies for Data Science and Co-Director of the Animal Informatics MS and PhD track. He directs the Societal Computing Lab (SoCo Lab) and is a core faculty member of the Health Informatics PhD track. Dr. Shih's research focuses on how to better support health and wellbeing, specifically that of underserved and vulnerable populations, through the design, development, and evaluation of sociotechnical systems and community-based mechanisms. His work also designs technologies to amplify human and animal capabilities in animal-assisted interventions, improve animal welfare, and cultivate empathy for others. His research spans human-computer interaction, social media, collective intelligence, crowdsourcing, and online and geographic communities, with a particular emphasis on leveraging awareness of individual and community activities embedded in social media for civic engagement platforms. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward health equity research, particularly focused on African American/Black communities, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, breast cancer survivorship, and autism spectrum disorder. His work increasingly integrates generative AI, mobile health applications, and community-based participatory design approaches to address health disparities in vulnerable populations. ACM Senior Member (2020) NSF CAREER Award recipient Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award (2018-19) IU Groups Scholars Program STEM Mentor of the Year (2018-19) Multiple best paper awards at top-tier conferences Dr. Shih has successfully secured significant funding for his research, including a $3.7 million award to investigate inequities in environmental stressors and cognitive decline in urban and rural older adults. He serves on numerous editorial boards and program committees for leading HCI and computing conferences. His teaching portfolio includes courses on usable AI, mobile and pervasive design, and social computing. He leads the Societal Computing Lab, which focuses on developing technologies that address societal challenges through community engagement and participatory design.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Social Media
• Collective Intelligence
• +11 more

Patricia Peter, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) and Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Coordinator at Yale School of Medicine. She specializes in diabetes, thyroid disorders, and hormone-related conditions. Dr. Peter holds board certifications in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. Her clinical practice focuses on personalized diabetes management, thyroid diseases, and transgender health. She completed her MD at Yale University School of Medicine (2011), residency at Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2014), and endocrinology fellowship at Yale-New Haven Hospital (2016). Dr. Peter’s research investigates diabetes treatment strategies, healthcare cost optimization, and hormone therapy impacts. Notable work includes studies on SGLT inhibitors in type 1 diabetes, personalized management of type 2 diabetes, and thyroid cancer radiotherapy. She actively participates in committees such as the Inpatient Glycemic Management Steering Committee and the Section of Endocrinology Education Committee. Her academic contributions span peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and commentaries, emphasizing translational research and clinical guidelines. Dr. Peter’s clinical affiliations include the Yale Diabetes Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital, where she integrates research and patient care to improve outcomes in endocrinology and metabolic disorders.

• Diabetes Care
• Endocrinology
• Thyroid Disorders
• +5 more

Dr. Tong Sun is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at Yale School of Medicine, specializing in surgical pathology and cytopathology with a focus on gynecological and genitourinary pathology. Her research emphasizes translational and molecular studies in cancer diagnostics, including the application of next-generation sequencing and molecular markers in cytology. Education & Training: M.D. from Peking University Health Science Center (2002) Ph.D. in Molecular Oncology from Peking Union Medical College (2007) Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2011) Clinical and Anatomic Pathology Residency at University of Massachusetts Medical School (2019) Cytopathology Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital (2020) Research Interests: Dr. Sun’s work bridges clinical practice and research, focusing on improving diagnostic accuracy through molecular profiling and cytological techniques. Key areas include: Genetic markers in castration-resistant prostate cancer Application of the Paris and International Systems for Urine/Serous Fluid Cytopathology Next-generation sequencing in urothelial and gynecologic malignancies Cytomorphologic challenges in transgender health and histological correlation Publications & Trends: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles and 5 book chapters, highlighting advancements in cervical cytology, thyroid nodules, endometrial cancer prognosis, and ovarian cyst diagnostics. Recent work emphasizes molecular features of pancreatic and lung carcinomas. Awards: Warren R. Lang Resident Physician Award (2020) Journal of American Society of Cytopathology Physician-in-training Award (2022) Grants & Labs: Collaborates with Yale’s Gelb Genitourinary Translation Research Center and frequently publishes with co-authors like Guoping Cai and Adebowale Adeniran. No specific lab mentioned, but active in interdisciplinary cancer research teams. Future Work: Expanding studies on KRAS mutations in biliary stenosis, SMARCA4-deficient lung carcinomas, and clinical validation of novel diagnostic tools in serous fluid cytology.

• Cytopathology
• Molecular Oncology
• Genitourinary Pathology
• +3 more