Mary F. Cwik

Mary F. Cwik, PhD, MA, is a Senior Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and holds a joint appointment in Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She is affiliated with the Center for American Indian Health and the Department of International Health. Her research focuses on reducing mental health disparities among Native American communities and populations in East Baltimore.

• PhD, Southern Illinois University, 2005
• MA, Southern Illinois University, 2002
• BA, Johns Hopkins University, 1995

Dr. Cwik's research centers on suicide prevention, substance misuse, trauma, and culturally informed mental health interventions. Her work emphasizes community-academic partnerships, protective cultural factors, and the development of evidence-based practices tailored to Indigenous contexts. She specializes in mixed methods, randomized controlled trials, and emergency department-based screening and surveillance models.

Her recent publications highlight trends in youth suicide prevention, cultural adaptation of mental health measures, and the impact of structural factors on Indigenous health. Key themes include suicide risk screening, community resilience, and the feasibility of trauma-informed care in tribal settings.

• Governor’s Citation Suicide Prevention in Maryland, 2008
• Doctoral Fellowship, 2002–2004
• Masters Fellowship, 2001–2002
• Polish Heritage Scholarship, 1999–2000
• Morris Goldseker Scholarship, 1999–2000
• Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society
• Golden Key National Honor Society
• Phi Beta Kappa Society

Dr. Cwik has served as PI or co-PI on multiple federally funded grants from NIMH, NIH, SAMHSA, and IHS. She has contributed to national initiatives including the APA Committee on Human Research and the Zero Suicide National Implementation Team for American Indians and Alaska Natives. She mentors students and collaborates extensively with tribal communities, particularly the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

She leads or co-leads key research initiatives such as the Southwest Hub for American Indian Youth Suicide Prevention Research and the trauma-informed assessment and treatment feasibility study. Her work is implemented through community-based programs and academic partnerships that prioritize cultural relevance and sustainability.