Briana S. Last

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