Joan M. Cook

Dr. Joan M. Cook is the Albert E. Kent Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. She specializes in traumatic stress, geriatric mental health, and implementation science. Her clinical work includes supporting trauma survivors such as combat veterans, sexual assault victims, and World Trade Center bombing survivors. Cook has secured eight federal grants and contributed over 150 peer-reviewed publications. Her research emphasizes PTSD assessment, veteran mental health, and evidence-based therapy dissemination.

Education: PhD and MS from Nova Southeastern University (1999 and 1995, respectively).

Research focuses on PTSD in aging populations, mental health service implementation, and trauma advocacy. Notable projects include studies on PTSD symptom trajectories in veterans and the impact of mild traumatic brain injury. She also explores disparities in mental health care access and peer-led interventions for sexual abuse survivors.

Publications highlight her work on PTSD checklist validation, veteran resilience during the pandemic, and comparative analyses of sexual assault survivors across age groups. Her op-eds in CNN, TIME, and Newsweek amplify mental health awareness.

• Awards: 2020 YSM Teaching Excellence Award, 2016 APA Trauma Psychology Service Award
• Grants: NIH, AHRQ, PCORI-funded studies on PTSD, veteran health, and implementation science

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on veteran health initiatives and trauma care implementation. Active in guideline development (APA PTSD guidelines) and trauma psychology leadership roles.