Research Summary
I am a clinical psychologist and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. In this role I am involved in clinical, research, and training activities. My clinical interests are in individual and group treatment for a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and addiction. I have extensive experience and expertise in brief treatment and long-term treatment models including cognitive-behavioral, motivational interviewing/enhancement, problem-solving, relaxation training, and 12-step interventions. My clinical and research interests include addressing health and mental health disparities among low-income populations, the LGBT community, and individuals impacted by HIV as well as integrating digital interventions into treatment.
My research focuses on the evaluation of clinical interventions for nicotine dependence, factors predictive of smoking treatment success, and development of Internet-based interventions for health behavior change. Much of my research focuses on populations experiencing tobacco-related health disparities including LGBT individuals, individuals with HIV disease, smokers with drug dependence, and low-income groups. I have conducted clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of internet-based and telephone-based smoking treatment for LGBT cigarette smokers. I recently led a study evaluating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation treatment provided in HIV clinical care settings. Other work has focused on interventions with depressed smokers and the development of an extended smoking treatment model based on the conceptualization of nicotine dependence as a chronic, relapsing disorder.
Research Funding
August 1, 2017 - February 29, 2020 - A Facebook intervention for young sexual and gender minority smokers , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R21MD011765
September 29, 1994 - May 31, 2016 - Treatment for Complex Patients: Continuing and Extended Care , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: P50DA009253
April 1, 1980 - May 31, 2016 - Maintaining Nonsmoking , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DA002538
September 30, 2002 - May 31, 2007 - LGBT Internet Based Smoking Treatment , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DA015791
Education
Bowling Green State University, Ohio, BA, 1979, Psychology
DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, MA, 1983, Clinical Psychology
DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, PhD, 1987, Clinical Psychology