Kimberly A Yonkers

Dr. Kimberly A. Yonkers is a Professor and Katz Family Chair in Psychiatry at UMass Chan Medical School. She holds additional appointments in the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and NeuroNexus Institute. With a BA in Political Science/Women's Studies from Amherst College and an MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, her career spans clinical research, education, and leadership in perinatal mental health.

• Education: Amherst College (BA), Columbia University (MD)
• Departments: Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Obstetrics & Gynecology, NeuroNexus Institute
• Research focus: Perinatal psychiatry, substance use in pregnancy, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and mental health screening
• Key collaborations: Yale University, T.H. Chan School of Medicine

Her publications bridge psychiatry, obstetrics, and public health, with recent work on AI-driven agitation prediction in emergency departments, digital interventions for perinatal mental health, and substance use disorder management during pregnancy. She has contributed extensively to understanding the interplay between hormonal changes and psychiatric conditions, particularly in women's health contexts.

Dr. Yonkers has developed clinical guidelines for treating mood disorders in pregnancy, validated screening tools for premenstrual syndromes, and conducted cost-effectiveness analyses for maternal health programs. Her work emphasizes transdisciplinary approaches to improving maternal and infant outcomes through integrated care models and pharmacological research.

Notable contributions include clinical trials on sertraline for PMDD, fluoxetine's effects on fetal membranes, and policy papers on child protective services reporting. Her research has been cited over 1,000 times in PubMed Central, reflecting significant impact in mental health and perinatal care domains.