Erica Kornblith

Dr. Erica Kornblith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, and a faculty member at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. Based at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC), she is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist and clinical researcher specializing in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cognitive aging.

Dr. Kornblith's educational background includes:

• PhD in Clinical Psychology from University of California, Berkeley (2015)
• APA Accredited Clinical Internship from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University (2015)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Rehabilitation Neuropsychology from VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (2016)
• Clinical Research Fellowship in TBI/Polytrauma Rehabilitation from San Francisco VA Health Care System (2019)
• Advanced Training in Clinical Research Certificate from University of California, San Francisco (2021)

Dr. Kornblith's research program focuses on understanding the impact of traumatic brain injury and social determinants of health on cognitive aging; characterizing cognitive and functional impairment in older adults with traumatic brain injury; and leveraging telehealth technology to increase access to effective treatment for as many TBI patients as possible regardless of demographics. Her research bridges clinical neuropsychology, geriatrics, and rehabilitation research, with particular attention to veteran populations. She examines how factors like race, ethnicity, and sex influence dementia risk following TBI, contributing significantly to our understanding of health disparities in neurological outcomes.

Her publication record shows a consistent focus on traumatic brain injury across the lifespan, with increasing attention to telehealth delivery of cognitive rehabilitation interventions in recent years. Dr. Kornblith's research spans epidemiological studies examining TBI prevalence and outcomes, clinical trials testing rehabilitation approaches, and investigations into the intersection of TBI with other health conditions like cardiovascular disease and dementia. Her work frequently addresses health disparities, examining how race, ethnicity, and sex influence TBI outcomes among older adults and veterans.

Dr. Kornblith has secured significant research funding for her work:

• Principal Investigator on a VA-funded clinical trial adapting cognitive rehabilitation for telehealth delivery to Veterans with TBI
• Principal Investigator on an Alzheimer's Association Research Grant studying the Role of Social Determinants of Health in Risk for Dementia after TBI (2022-2024)
• Principal Investigator on a UCSF Research Allocation Program grant developing a Multimodal Telehealth Intervention for Mild to Moderate TBI (2022)
• Co-investigator on an NIH-funded project (IK2RX003073) on Rehabilitation of Executive Function in Aging Veterans with History of TBI (2019-2025)

Dr. Kornblith's research is conducted in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Her work often involves partnerships with experts in neurology, geriatrics, and rehabilitation medicine, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of TBI research. She is particularly active in translating research findings into clinical practice through telehealth innovations that can reach veterans and older adults regardless of geographic location.