Faculty

This section presents information separately for the clinical psychology postdoctoral program and the clinical neuropsychology postdoctoral program.

Carissa Balderas, PhD, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) is a Transplant Psychologist in the Emory Transplant Center within Emory Healthcare. She conducts pre-transplant psychological evaluations for individuals seeking solid organ transplants. She also provides individual and group psychotherapy for individuals pre- and post-surgery. Dr. Balderas received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2016. Her primary clinical and research interest include providing evidenced based health related psychotherapy for individuals with chronic medical conditions and addressing health disparities. In addition to her work in the transplant clinic, Dr. Balderas is a Diplomat in Behavioral Sleep Medicine and has experience treating sleep disorders and working with individuals with chronic pain.  

Bekh Bradley, PhD, Associate Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) at Grady Health System, is Co-Director of the Trauma and Genetics Program, which researches the environmental and genetic factors contributing to PTSD risk/resilience in patients seeking care in the primary care clinic at GHS. The Grady Trauma Project also has a small, clinical treatment program that provides group and individual therapy for Grady patients with PTSD. Dr. Bradley is also the Director of the Atlanta VA Mental Health Service Line and serves as a mentor for residents. He received his PhD in clinical community psychology in 2000 from the University of South Carolina. His primary research interests are in PTSD, interpersonal violence, intersection of race and social class, and personality disorders.

Lindsey Burrell, PhD, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) at Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, provides outpatient clinical services through the Severe Behavior Program as well as the Feeding Program. Her research focuses on developing, evaluating, and delivering community viable parent-mediated interventions to decrease disruptive behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders and improve feeding in young children. She received her PhD in clinical psychology at Texas Tech University, where she was also a research team member in the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Group.

Nate Call, PhD, BCBA-D, Associate Professor (Pediatrics), is the Interim Clinical Director at the Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. In addition, he maintains clinical activities in the Severe Behavior Day Treatment Program and the Brief Behavioral Interventions Program. He supervises postdoctoral residents in the assessment and treatment of severe behavior disorders. This work has led him to work primarily with children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families. His specific interests include identifying the basic behavioral mechanisms that influence the occurrence and maintenance of problem behavior, as well as the procedural fidelity with which caregivers implement behavioral interventions for problem behaviors.

Sheena L. Carter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) is an applied developmental psychologist in the Division of Neonatology.  She is the lead psychologist with the Emory Regional Perinatal Center.  She participates in the education of Pediatric Residents and Neonatology Fellows and regularly lectures and leads workshops on supporting the development of medically high-risk infants.  She has contributed for many years to outcomes research that impacts neonatal care through her participation in the National Neonatal Research Network.  In addition to neonatal outcomes research, she is especially interested in improving access and utilization for services that support emotional development.

Jordan Cattie, PhD, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), is the Director of the Emory OCD & Anxiety Intensive Program. She supervises postdoctoral residents based in the OCD & Anxiety Intensive Program, and provides individual, group, and family therapy (primarily Exposure Therapy with Response Prevention and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to patients in the program. She received her PhD in 2016 from the UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. Her areas of interest include increasing access to evidence-based therapies through clinical and training activities.

Marianne Celano, PhD, ABPP, Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) at Emory Healthcare – Emory Brain Health Center, received her PhD in 1986 from the University of Maryland. Board certified in couple and family psychology, her major interests are in child maltreatment, pediatric asthma, treatment engagement, family therapy, and cross-cultural issues. She is a certified Level 1 trainer in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). A NIMH funded clinical researcher, who has served as an associate editor of the Journal of Family Psychology and President of APA’s Division of Family Psychology, Dr. Celano is a scientist-practitioner-educator-advocate role model for residents. Dr. Celano has received several teaching awards, including Teacher of the Year and Supervisor of the Year Award from Emory University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Outstanding Teaching Award, Psychology Division, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Claire D. Coles, PhD, Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Pediatrics), directs both the Emory Neurobehavioral and Exposure Clinic Division of Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Programs, and the Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Development Laboratory at Emory Healthcare – Emory Brain Health Center. She is the primary clinical and research supervisor for residents in these programs. Dr. Coles received her PhD in Developmental Psychology in 1980 from Emory University and completed a clinical respecialization in 1985. Her major research interests are high-risk infants and young children and behavioral teratology related to the effects of maternal substance abuse on development. A well-funded and well-published nationally recognized leader in behavioral teratogenics, who served on the National Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effects, she is a scientist-practitioner-educator-advocate role model for residents with an interest in effects of prenatal events and developmental psychopathology.

Laura Dilly, PhD, NCSPP, Adjunct Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) at Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, is a member of the Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics team. She conducts developmental and diagnostic evaluations with young children. She specializes in evaluations for children referred regarding a possible autism spectrum disorder. As both a licensed psychologist and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, her research focuses on bridging the worlds of school-based and medically-based psychological services for children and adolescents. Dr. Dilly earned her doctoral degree in school psychology from Michigan State University. Prior to joining the Marcus Autism Center, she served in the public schools for 10 years, working as a lead psychologist and training coordinator.

Sarah Dunn, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) at Grady Health System is board certified in clinical psychology. She is the Clinical and Education Director of the Nia Project and provides individual and group therapy supervision for postdoctoral residents based in this program. The psychologist associated with the Grady Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service, she supervises the resident based on this service. As the Director of the Psychological Assessment Service at Grady, she supervises postdoctoral residents conducting these assessments. She received her PhD in 2009 from Georgia State University. Her areas of expertise include risk assessment, crisis management, and emergency room psychology; psychological assessment including forensic evaluations; suicide, trauma including family violence, serious mental illness, and personality disorders; and clinical supervision.

Glenn Egan, PhD, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), the Assistant Director of Forensic Training based in the Psychiatry and Law Service at Grady Health System, provides assessment supervision for residents doing forensic psychology work and for those working with adults with serious mental illness. He co-directs the Forensics Seminar. Dr. Egan received his PhD in 1989 from Georgia State University. His major interests are forensic psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and schizophrenia.  

Eugene Farber, PhD, ABPP, Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), is the Director of Internship Training in Health Service Psychology within the Emory University School of Medicine. Board certified in clinical psychology, he serves as the Director of Behavioral Health Services at Grady Health System’s Infectious Disease Program. He also directs the Time Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy seminar. He received his PhD from Georgia State University in 1990. His major interests are in the areas of integrated health care for underserved populations, HIV-related behavioral health services, relational psychodynamic theory, existential psychology, integrative psychotherapy, and psychology education and training.

Grace Fong, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Division of Hematology and Oncology, is a primary assessment supervisor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology for residents at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her PhD in 2004 from American University. Board certified in clinical neuropsychology, she conducts neuropsychological evaluations of pediatric cancer and blood disorder patients. Her primary research interest is in neuro-oncology.

Chanda C. Graves, PhD, ABPP, Associate Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) is the Associate Director of Internship Training in Health Service Psychology. Board certified in child and adolescent psychology, she provides assessment and intervention supervision for child and adolescent psychology residents in the Infectious Disease Program at Grady Health System. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Her current research interests include pediatric psychology, coping with chronic illness, HIV-related mental health services, disparities in access to healthcare, and culturally competent intervention.

Kallio Hunnicutt-Ferguson, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), is a psychologist through Emory Healthcare - Emory Brain Health Center. She directs psychology practicum training at the Emory Brain Health Center and coordinates the clinic's DBT skills group program. Board certified in cognitive and behavioral psychology, she currently serves as a treatment team lead for the OCD IOP and works with the clinic's Addictions Team. Her interests are in providing evidence-based psychotherapies, in particular CBT and exposure-based therapies, to individuals with PTSD, anxiety, and OC-spectrum disorders. She received her PhD in clinical psychology in 2014 from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

Lisa Ingerski, PhD, ABPP, Associate Professor (Pediatrics), is a clinical and research supervisor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology for residents at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the training coordinator in the Division of Hematology and Oncology for pediatric psychology residents based at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her PhD in 2008 from the University of Florida. Board certified in clinical health psychology, she provides consultation-liaison services for children and adolescents receiving treatment at Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and is the primary pediatric psychologist in the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Clinic. Her research interests include adherence, promotion of quality of life, and measurement of clinical outcomes in the pediatric neuro-oncology population.

Julie A. Kable, PhD, Associate Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), is the Assistant Director of the Emory Neurobehavior and Exposure Clinic and the primary supervisor for the Medication Management Clinic at Emory Healthcare – Emory Brain Health Center. Dr. Kable received her PhD from Purdue University in 1995 after an internship in Pediatric Psychology at the University of Miami. Dr. Kable’s research interests include behavioral teratology, the psychophysiological assessment of attention, particularly in infancy, and the effects of prenatal exposure to tobacco and alcohol. She is also involved in international research on effects of prenatal exposures on child development as well as nationally recognized for development of interventions for affected children.

Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, ABPP, Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychology, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine) is the Chief Psychologist at Grady Health System; Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Director of the Postdoctoral Residency Program. Board certified in clinical psychology, couple and family psychology, and clinical child and adolescent psychology, is the primary supervisor for the Nia Project, which she directs. She leads the Postdoctoral Residency and Family Therapy Seminars. Dr. Kaslow received her PhD in 1983 from the University of Houston. Her clinical and research interests are in family violence, suicide, family therapy, and psychology education and training. She is the Past President of APA (2014) and of four divisions of APA, Past Chair of APPIC, Past-President of ABPP, and former Editor of the Journal of Family Psychology. She is a federally funded and well-published investigator who has received multiple national awards. She models the integration of practice, scholarship, education, advocacy, leadership, and the value of active involvement in the larger professional community.

Cheryl Klaiman, PhD, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) is a clinical-researcher in the Clinical Assessment Core for Research at the Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her Ph.D. in School and Applied Child Psychology from McGill University under the mentorship of Jacob Burack. She completed her internship and post-doctoral training at the Yale Child Study Center where she worked with Drs. Ami Klin, Fred Volkmar, Robert Schultz, and Sara Sparrow. She joined the faculty of the Yale Child Study Center as an Associate Research Scientist, and then relocated to California where she was the Director of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Interdisciplinary Care Team at Children’s Health Council in Palo Alto, CA. She joined the team at The Marcus Autism Center and Emory University in January of 2012 where she works on the clinical characterization team among other various research projects. Research interests include early diagnosis and screening of autism spectrum disorders, innovative treatment strategies and clinical trials.

James Klosky, PhD, ABPP, Professor (Pediatrics) is the Director of Psychology within the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from The University of Memphis in 2004 upon completion of his internship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After a two-year postdoctoral residency at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dr. Klosky spent the next 11 years on faculty where he served as the Director of Psychological Services in Cancer Survivorship and the Founder/Co-Director of the Fertility Preservation Clinic. Board certified in clinical health psychology, since 2010, Dr. Klosky’s work as a Principal Investigator has been funded by the National Institutes of Health consistent with his research program in behavior-based cancer prevention and control. Dr. Klosky provides clinical care to pediatric, adolescent, and young adult hematology/oncology patients, and provides both clinical and research supervision to residents.

Dorian A. Lamis, PhD, ABPP, Associate Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) at Grady Health System, serves as the Associate Director of the Emory Postdoctoral Residency Program in Health Service Psychology for Grady Health System and Emory Healthcare – Brain Health Center. Board certified in clinical psychology, he directs the Bipolar Clinic and Research Program (BCRP) at the Grady Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic, where he provides assessment and intervention supervision for residents. He is also the Associate Director for Research for the Nia Project and has a supervisory role related to the research conducted by the postdoctoral residents associated with the Nia Project. Dr. Lamis received his PhD from the University of South Carolina. His primary interests include assessment and treatment of mood disorders, substance use, and suicidality in adults diagnosed with serious mental illnesses.

Erica D. Marshall-Lee, PhD, ABPP, Associate Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) at Grady Health System, serves as the Associate Director of the Emory Postdoctoral Residency Program in Health Service Psychology for Advocacy and Diversity. Board certified in clinical psychology, she is the Clinical Director of the Action in Recovery (AIR) psychosocial rehabilitation/peer program at Grady Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic and the primary supervisor for residents at that site. She received her PhD in 2001 from the University of Mississippi. Her primary interests are adults with serious mental disorders, personality disorders, and PTSD, as well as multiculturalism, diversity, and social justice

Abigail Powers Lott, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) at Grady Health System, is a clinical and research supervisor for the Grady Trauma Project and serves as Co-Director of the project. Board certified in clinical psychology, she is currently running a mindfulness-based group intervention in the primary care clinic at Grady for patients with comorbid PTSD and depression and in the GYN/OB clinic for pregnant patients with PTSD and depression symptoms. Her research interests include understanding psychological and biological mechanisms underlying the link between early and chronic trauma exposure and negative mental and physical health outcomes, as well as promoting culturally-relevant interventions for Grady patients that target emotion dysregulation and autonomic dysfunction.

Jordan Gilleland Marchak, PhD, ABPP, Associate Professor (Pediatrics), is a research supervisor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology for residents at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her PhD in 2010 from the University of Georgia and is a former Emory postdoctoral resident. Board certified in child and adolescent psychology, her primary research interests are in the areas of pediatric cancer survivorship and transition readiness for youth with chronic illnesses.

Laura Mee, PhD, Associate Professor (Pediatrics), is a pediatric psychologist for the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and provides clinical supervision for residents providing consultation liaison services. Dr. Mee received her PhD in 1991 from the University of Florida. Her primary clinical and research interest areas are pediatric psychology, adherence to medical regimen, adolescent transition to adult medical care and coping with chronic medical conditions.

Joanna Lomas Mevers, PhD, BCBA, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), is the Interim Director of the Severe Behavior Program at the Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She oversees the daily operations of the Day Treatment Program, the Brief Behavioral Interventions Program and Outpatient Program. She supervises postdoctoral residents in the assessment and treatment of severe behavior disorders for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or related disabilities. Her specific interests include increasing the social validly of behavioral interventions, increasing efficiencies in caregiver training and understanding the key components to maintain long-term treatment effects for behavioral interventions to treat problem behaviors.

Colin Muething, PhD, BCBA-D, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) is a psychologist and the Program Manager for the Intensive Outpatient Program in Severe Behavior at the Marcus Autism Center, a division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He received his doctorate in School Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. He completed his doctoral internship and postdoctoral residency at Marcus Autism Center. Recently, he was appointed President of the Georgia Association of Behavior Analysis. He also serves on the editorial boards for the Journal of Behavioral Education, Learning Disabilities Quarterly and Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. His research interests include assessment and treatment for severe problem behavior, the mechanisms that mediate treatment effectiveness and reporting large outcomes from these treatments.

Heather Prayor-Patterson, PhD, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) is a psychologist working alongside interdisciplinary teams at the Seavey Comprehensive Internal Medicine Clinic and the Emory Bariatric Center. She uses evidence-based therapies to treat insomnia, health behavior non-compliance, mood and anxiety disorders, obesity, and chronic pain. She also conducts evaluations to assess candidacy for weight loss surgery and performs behavioral interventions for pre-surgery candidates and for patients in post-surgery follow-up. She received her doctoral degree in Medical/Clinical Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed a residency in Health Psychology at the Cleveland Clinic. Her interests include disparities in chronic health conditions in African Americans and in informational needs of lower-income, minority patients.

Bonney Reed, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), is a pediatric psychologist within the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Nutrition. Board certified in clinical health psychology, her clinical interests and research focus on youth diagnosed with chronic GI disorders and their families. She received her PhD in 2013 from the University of Georgia and is a former Emory postdoctoral resident. Her primary research interests are in the areas of integration of psychosocial assessment into GI medical care, adherence, and the transition of medical responsibility for youth with chronic illnesses.

Shana Richardson, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) and Senior Psychologist in the Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics Department of the Marcus Autism Center, a division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Richardson’s training is in the assessment and treatment of common childhood internalizing and externalizing disorders, with a focus on developmental disabilities, and at Marcus she specializes in autism diagnostic evaluations for young children. Dr. Richardson received her doctorate in clinical psychology at Georgia State University, completed her doctoral internship at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, and was a postdoctoral resident with the Emory program, in the Assessment and Diagnostics Department at Marcus.

Mindy Scheithauer, PhD, BCBA-D, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), is a psychologist in the Severe Behavior Department at the Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She obtained her PhD from Louisiana State University with emphases in clinical and biological psychology and a minor emphasis in school psychology. She completed her doctoral training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute through John Hopkins University in the Neurobehavioral Unit and her postdoctoral residency at Marcus in the Severe Behavior Department. Dr. Scheithauer oversees an outpatient community-based treatment program and supervises trainees in the day-treatment program. These programs use function-based treatments to target problem behavior exhibited by individuals with developmental delays. Her research focuses on the assessment and treatment of problem behavior, specifically with an emphasis on functional analyses of self-injurious behavior and the use of behavioral assessments in drug development.

Kandi Felmet Schmidt, PhD, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) is the Transplant Psychologist in the Emory Transplant Center within Emory Healthcare. She performs assessments and provides evidence-based individual, group, couples/family therapy for individuals pre- and post-operation. She received her PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology in 2016 from Georgia State University. Her primary interests are in providing culturally sensitive interdisciplinary care for individuals with complex medical conditions.

Tomina J. Schwenke, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), psychologist through Emory Healthcare – Emory Brain Health Center, and Program Director, Competency Restoration Program, based in the Psychiatry and Law Service provides treatment, assessment, and consultation within clinical and forensic settings. Board certified in counseling psychology, she collaborates with multidisciplinary legal and medical practitioners and provides supervision for postdoctoral residents doing forensic psychology work. Dr. Schwenke received her PhD in 2012 from Georgia State University and her masters in Deafness Rehabilitation and Counselor Education at New York University. A graduate from an interpreter education program at City University of New York, she is a nationally certified sign language interpreter. Her major interests are forensic psychology, deaf studies, and traumatology.  

William G. Sharp, PhD, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), provides assessment and treatment for children in the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Day Treatment and Outpatient Programs at the Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he is also the Program Director. He provides research and clinical supervision to residents in the feeding program. He earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from University of Mississippi in 2006. In addition to providing assessments and treatments for youth with feeding disorders, he provides outpatient behavioral services for children with chronic medical conditions. His research interests include the determinants of help-seeking behavior, the use of motivational enhancement techniques (e.g., motivation interviewing) to increase treatment attendance and adherence, and the application of empirically supported treatments in applied settings. 

Soumitri Sil, PhD, ABPP Associate Professor (Pediatrics), is a pediatric psychologist board certified in clinical health psychology who serves as a clinical and research supervisor at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her PhD in 2011 from the University of Maryland Baltimore Country.  She provides outpatient therapy for children and adolescents receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders, with particular emphasis on cognitive-behavioral treatment for pain management at Scottish Rite. Her primary research interests are in the areas of pediatric chronic pain and developing and evaluating psychological treatments to promote the health and functioning of youth with chronic pain.  

Jennifer Stapel-Wax, PsyD, Associate Professor (Pediatrics), is on the research faculty at the Marcus Autism Center, a division of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.  Her primary clinical and administrative roles are as the Director of the Infant and Toddler Community Outreach Research Core and as Director of Clinical Research Operations. She has worked clinically with children and families for over 25 years and has extensive experience in clinical practice, graduate level teaching, training and supervision and research in the community. Her specialties include assessment of young children, neurodevelopmental disorders, early intervention, and consultation/liaison in multiple systems of care. Her current focus is to lead community-based research and outreach projects for infants and toddlers at risk for autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Stapel-Wax also provides leadership for community-based projects with a focus on universal design, early brain development and prevention.

Beth Thompson, PsyD, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) is a pediatric psychologist and serves as a consultation liaison supervisor at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her PsyD in 2010 from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology. She provides consultation-liaison services and outpatient therapy for children and adolescents receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders. She also works closely with the bone marrow transplant team and conducts pre-transplant evaluations. Her primary research interests are in pica and coping with chronic illness.

Naadira C. Upshaw, PsyD, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) is a pediatric psychologist in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her doctoral degree in 2017 from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology. She completed a year of postdoctoral residency at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine before electing for a second year of residency at Emory for specialized training working with youth with blood and cancer disorders. She provides consultation-liaison services across inpatient and outpatient settings within Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Hematology/Oncology service, as well as in the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Aflac Cancer Survivor Program at Scottish Rite Her primary interests include pediatric psychology, professional development for trainees with diverse backgrounds, and health related quality improvement projects. 

Renee’ Ussery, PsyD is a senior psychologist at the Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and is part of the Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis Program. She has been evaluating children and adolescents for almost 20 years as a licensed clinical psychologist. She has extensive experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as children who present with more prominent mental health issues. Dr. Ussery received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University.

Angela Vaz, PhD, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), is the Aflac Psychology Clinical Director and serves as a clinical supervisor on the Aflac consultation-liaison and outpatient therapy rotations at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her PhD in 2007 from the University of Central Florida.  She provides consultation-liaison services and outpatient therapy for children and adolescents receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders.

Valerie M. Volkert, PhD, BCBA-D, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), is a psychologist program manager in the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program at Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She received her doctorate in school psychology from Louisiana State University in 2007. She was previously faculty at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, and adjunct faculty at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she became the Training Director for the Applied Behavior Analysis PhD Program and Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders. In 2015, Dr. Volkert joined the Marcus Autism Center. She sees patients in the outpatient clinics of the Feeding program, supervises interns and residents, and pursues lines of clinical research. Of particular interest are treatments to increase advanced feeding skills (e.g., self-feeding and chewing).

Rachel Waford, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Professor (Rollins School of Public Health with a secondary appointment in the Department of Psychiatry) is involved in several research studies through the School of Public Health investigating factors related to treatment engagement and retention for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, including mental health factors. Dr. Waford joined the Department of Psychiatry training faculty following completion of her Emory/Grady postdoctoral residency in 2014. Board certified in clinical psychology, she is currently supervising psychology practicum students and interns, and psychiatry residents. She also has a full-time private practice in Decatur, GA where she specializes in individual therapy and family therapy for individuals living with severe mental illness, with a focus on early intervention for psychosis in young people. Dr. Waford received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Louisville.  

Justin L. Williams, PhD, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), is a pediatric psychologist within the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, she provides consultation-liaison services across inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as psychological and neuropsychological testing for children and adolescents receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders. She received her doctoral degree in 2015 from Georgia State University, and she completed postdoctoral residency at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her primary interests include youth with hematological disorders, diversity-related initiatives, community engagement, and mentorship and training of trainees of diverse backgrounds.

Stormi White, PsyD, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) is a Program Manager for the Marcus Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics Department. Her clinical and research interests include early identification and intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the clinical characterization of rare variant disorders. Dr. White received her doctorate in school psychology from University at Albany, State University of New York and completed her postdoctoral residency at Vanderbilt University’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD). Before joining Marcus Autism Center, Dr. White was an Assistant Professor at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW), where she held administrative titles of head of psychology and co-clinical director in the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD). 

Keith A. Wood, PhD, ABPP Associate Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) is the director of the Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) service at the Grady Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic and is the psychologist associated with Project ARROW. He also offers mentorship in administrative supervision at Grady Health System. Dr. Wood received his PhD in 1976 from the University of Florida. Board certified in clinical psychology, his major interests are in cross-cultural psychiatry, serious mental illness, and short-term crisis intervention. As a member of enumerable community boards and a person extremely well connected in the Atlanta community, he serves as a model for residents, particularly minority residents, for community involvement and leadership.

Adult Neuropsychology Residency Faculty Supervisors

Michelle M. Haddad, PhD, Assistant Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) at Emory Healthcare – Emory Brain Health Center, received her doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in medical/clinical psychology with a dual emphasis on rehabilitation psychology and neuropsychology. She conducts neuropsychological assessments and brief psychotherapeutic intervention with inpatients undergoing comprehensive medical rehabilitation. She additionally conducts follow-up outpatient neuropsychological assessments with patients previously seen on the inpatient unit. Her research interests include the development of novel neuropsychological measures for use with inpatient rehabilitation populations, as well as predicting ecological outcomes of inpatient rehabilitation.

Sabrina Na, PhD, Assistant Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) is a neuropsychologist in the Division of Neuropsychology at Emory Rehabilitation Hospital. She received her doctorate in 2019 from Georgia State University in the joint Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology & Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience programs. She conducts outpatient neuropsychological assessments on patients with a variety of neurological and neurodegenerative conditions. Her research interests are in long term outcomes from acquired brain injuries (particularly brain tumor, stroke, and traumatic brain injury), as well as use of network-based neuroimaging methods to understand the mechanisms through which these injuries result in variability in cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial outcomes.

Stella D. Nelms, PhD, Assistant Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) is the Pain Psychologist for the Division of Neuropsychology at Emory Healthcare – Emory Brain Health Center. She received her doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin in counseling psychology in 2006. Dr. Nelms was the palliative care psychologist at the Atlanta VA Medical Center for 9 years. She teaches interpersonal communication to first year physical therapy students at Emory. Her clinical interests include adult adjustment to illness and coping with medical conditions, palliative care, and pain management. Her research interests related to the intersection of pain and culture, disability, and resilience in African American women, as well as and perceptions of the medical system among chronically ill patients. 

Anastacia A. Nichols, PsyD, Assistant Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine), is a neuropsychologist in the Division of Neuropsychology at Emory Rehabilitation Hospital and for the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program through Emory Healthcare – Emory Brain Health Center. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology in 2017. She completed her predoctoral internship on the neuropsychology track at the Bay Pines VAMC and her 2-year postdoctoral neuropsychology residency at Emory. Dr. Nichols conducts neuropsychological evaluations on patients with a variety of neurological conditions including TBI, CVA, neurodegenerative disorders, and tumors. She also provides cognitive rehabilitation therapy to neurological outpatients and veterans with comorbid mild TBI and PTSD. Her research interests include diagnostic subtyping of neuropsychological disorders, functional recovery from mild TBI in both military and civilian populations, iatrogenic effects in mild TBI, and cognitive rehabilitation outcomes and program development.

Suzanne Penna, PhD ABPP/ABCN, Assistant Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) at Emory Healthcare – Emory Brain Health Center, is the director of the adult neuropsychology residency, co-director of the neuropsychology internship track, and the graduate neuropsychology practicum. Dr. Penna received her doctorate from Georgia State University in clinical psychology with a neuropsychology emphasis. Board certified in clinical neuropsychology, he conducts neuropsychological assessments on patients with a variety of neurological conditions including TBI, CVA, neurodegenerative disorders, and tumors. She also is involved in training at the Atlanta VAMC, where she serves as clinical educator in the Cognitive Disorders Clinic Center of Excellence. Dr. Penna’s research interests are in functional recovery from mild TBI in both military and sport populations, and investigation in the neuropsychological and emotional effects of neuroendocrine disorders.

Donald J. Bearden, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Assistant Adjunct Professor (Neurology), Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Bearden supervises pediatric neuropsychology related to epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders in inpatient and outpatient settings. He received his doctoral degree from Georgia State University in the joint Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurosciences Programs. His research and clinical interests include pediatric epilepsy, complex neurological disorders, and sickle cell disease, and associations among pain and emotional and neurocognitive problems in children and adolescents.

Thomas G. Burns, PsyD, ABPP, Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Board certified in clinical neuropsychology and clinical psychology, he supervises pediatric neuropsychology related to concussion and brain injury. He received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology and is board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology, Clinical Psychology, and maintains a subspecialty board certification in Pediatric Clinical Neuropsychology. Dr. Burns’ research interests include treatment of pediatric neurological disorders using fMRI. His clinical interests include diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, brain injury and central nervous system disorders.

Laura S. Blackwell, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, supervises pediatric neuropsychology related to acquired and traumatic brain injuries in the inpatient and day rehabilitation programs. Dr. Blackwell received her doctorate in Pediatric Psychology from the University of Miami. Dr. Blackwell’s clinical interests include neuropsychological assessment of children with acquired and traumatic brain injury. Her research interests include measuring and predicting outcomes following pediatric brain injury; characterizing the recovery trajectories of children with disorders of consciousness and examining early predictors of outcome in this population; examining biological markers and platelet functioning in children with moderate to severe brain injury; and exploring factors impacting recovery from mild traumatic brain injury.

Ashley Fournier-Goodnight, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, supervises pediatric neuropsychological assessment in the inpatient and day rehabilitation programs. She received her doctorate in School Psychology from Texas Woman’s University. Her clinical and research interests include assessment and intervention following acute traumatic/acquired brain injury, school reentry and programming for children who are chronically ill/medically fragile, early childhood assessment and intervention, and assessment, intervention, and outcomes in posterior fossa syndrome. 

Cortney Fritz, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, works in the Inpatient Rehabilitation and Day Rehabilitation programs. She completed her doctoral training at Georgia State University in the joint Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurosciences programs. Her doctoral internship was completed at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and her two-year postdoctoral residency in pediatric neuropsychology was at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Her clinical and research interests include assessment and intervention following acquired and traumatic brain injury, and pediatric cancer and stroke.

Elyssa Gerst, PhD, Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Gerst supervises pediatric neuropsychology related to congenital heart disease, concussion, and other neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders in the outpatient setting. She completed her doctoral training at the University of Houston. Her doctoral internship was completed at Children’s Hospital Colorado and her two-year postdoctoral residency in pediatric neuropsychology was completed at Children’s National Health System. Her research and clinical interests include cognitive development in children with complex medical histories, the impact of congenital or acquired neurological disorders on neuropsychological functioning and supporting optimal outcomes in children and adolescents.

Robyn Howarth, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist and Practice Director of the Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, supervises pediatric neuropsychology related to acquired and traumatic brain injuries in the inpatient and day rehabilitation programs. She received her doctorate from the University of Iowa. Dr. Howarth’s clinical interests include acquired brain injury in pediatric populations (TBI, brain tumors, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis), particularly during intensive rehabilitation. Her research interests include the neurocognitive effects of acquired brain injury on children and adolescents over time (TBI, pediatric brain tumors, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis); utility of assessment measures to serially track cognitive recovery following acquired brain injury during inpatient rehabilitation; and physiological responsiveness and functional outcomes in children and adolescents with disorders of consciousness following an acquired brain injury.

Dawn Ilardi, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, supervises neuropsychological rehabilitation assessment within the inpatient and day rehabilitation programs. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Emory University. Dr. Ilardi’s research interests are related to the neuropsychological aspects of psychosocial functioning and family and patient adjustment after pediatric acquired brain injury.

Jacqueline M. Kiefel, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, supervises pediatric neuropsychology related to acquired brain injuries. She received her doctorate from City University of New York. Dr. Kiefel’s research interests include evaluation and treatment of children with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. Her clinical interests include recovery from coma and evaluation of children with brain injuries and spina bifida.

David J. Marcus, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine), serves as the Associate Director of the Emory Postdoctoral Residency Program in Health Service Psychology for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Neuropsychology Training. He is also the Training Director and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He supervises pediatric neuropsychology related to outpatient neurodevelopmental issues. He received his doctorate from University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in Child Psychology. His research and clinical interests include epilepsy, neurofibromatosis, and genetic/metabolic disorders.

Susan McManus Lee, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, supervises pediatric neuropsychology related to acquired brain injuries. She received her doctorate at Georgia State University in the joint Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology & Behavioral Neurosciences programs. Her clinical and research interests pertain to functional outcomes following acquired brain injuries, as well as acute assessment and intervention to improve neurobehavioral outcomes and academic success.

Kim E. Ono, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Neuropsychology, Division of Neurosciences, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Ono completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Harvard University and her doctoral degree at University of Miami in the Child Clinical Program. Dr. Ono supervises and works clinically within the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Epilepsy program, including conducting outpatient and pre- and postsurgical evaluations to monitor cognitive development in children and adolescents diagnosed with epilepsy. Dr. Ono’s clinical and research interests pertain to developmental trajectories and risk and/or protective factors in neurological populations.

Kathleen M. O’Toole, PhD, ABPP, Assistant Clinical Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine) and Senior Neuropsychologist, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, supervises pediatric neuropsychology related to acquired brain injuries. She received her doctorate in School Psychology with a specialization in Developmental Neuropsychology from Georgia State University. Dr. O’Toole’s research interests include long-term follow-up of children with acquired brain injuries. Her clinical interests include diagnosis and treatment of acquired brain injury and developmental disorders.

This section presents information on the physician faculty associated with the training programs, separately for the clinical psychology postdoctoral program and the clinical neuropsychology postdoctoral program.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 

Peter Ash, MD, Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) is Director of the Law and Psychiatry Service is active in the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law and co-directs the Forensics Seminar

Robert O. Cotes, MD, Associate Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) directs the Clinical & Research Program for Psychosis at Grady Health System and works with the resident in Project ARROW.

Vasiliki Michopoulos, PhD, Associate Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), is the Co-Director of the Grady Trauma Project.

Grayson Norquist, MD, Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), is the Chief of Psychiatry at Grady Health System.

Ann Schwartz, MD, Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) is Director of the Consultation Liaison Service, Grady Health System, and the Psychiatry Residency Training Director.

Jennifer Stevens, PhD, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), is Co-Director of the Grady Trauma Project.

David Thylur, MD, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) is the primary psychiatry supervisor for the postdoctoral resident on the Grady Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service.

Monica Ward, MD, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) is the Medical Director for the Adult Short-Term Inpatient Unit and will serve as the primarily psychiatry supervisor for the postdoctoral resident associated with the Motivational Interviewing project.

Jennifer Wootten, MD, Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), is the Medical Director of the Grady Outpatient Services.

CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

ADJUNCT FACULTY

The following is a representative group of adjunct faculty and community members who serve as off-site supervisors and/or job mentors for the postdoctoral residents.

Vivian Auerbach, PhD, ABPP, Adjunct Associate Professor (Rehabilitation Medicine and Psychology) received her doctorate in 1983 from the University of Houston in clinical neuropsychology. Her clinical practice emphasizes diagnosis and treatment of cognitive disorders resulting from traumatic brain injury. She provides professional development consultation and supervision of residents with a specific emphasis in neuropsychology.

Bianca Brooks, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) at Marcus Autism Center, a Division of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, is a member of the Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics team. Dr. Brooks conducts developmental and diagnostic evaluations with young children referred regarding a possible autism spectrum disorder. Her interests include reducing disparities in early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, bridging the gap between early diagnosis and timely treatment of autism, social skills groups, and mentoring trainees of diverse backgrounds. She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Georgia State University in 2017.

Emily Edwards, PsyD is a licensed psychologist at the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, in the Multidisciplinary Feeding Program. She provides assessment and treatment for children in the Feeding Day Treatment and Outpatient Programs. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and doctoral internship at University Nebraska Medicine: Munroe-Meyer Institute in Omaha, Nebraska with an emphasis in pediatrics feeding disorders. She completed her postdoctoral residency in the Multidisciplinary Feeding Program at Marcus Autism Center through Emory University School of Medicine.

Lauren Edwards, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), received her PhD in 2010 from University of Tennessee. Her major interests are in emotion dysregulation, attachment, personality disorders, and mood/anxiety difficulties. She is also interested in the business side of psychology and owns a group practice, Edwards Psychological Associates, and co-owns Daily DBT.  She supervises postdoctoral residents in the provision of a DBT skills training group.

Adriana Flores, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences), received her Clinical Psychology Ph.D. in 2000 from Miami University and her postdoctoral residency at Emory. She is a Forensic Psychologist in private practice and routinely consults and testifies in high profile court cases. She supervises forensic psychology postdoctoral residents.

Sobha P. Fritz, PhD, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), serves as a mentor for residents in the program. She received her degree in 2003 in clinical psychology with a focus in clinical child/pediatric psychology from the University of Florida. Dr. Fritz is a psychologist in Endocrinology, primarily providing services in the areas of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Her areas of interest include adherence to the medical regimen and coping with a chronic illness.

Meena Lambha, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor (Pediatrics) and Psychologist in the Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics Department at the Marcus Autism Center. At Marcus, Dr. Lambha conducts autism diagnostic evaluations for children seen through the clinic and various research studies. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Auburn University, completed her doctoral internship at A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, and completed her postdoctoral residency with the Emory program, in the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Department.

Noelle Santorelli, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) received her PhD in 2010 from Georgia State University. Her major interests are in anxiety, depression, personality disorders, parent-child relations and DBT. She supervises postdoctoral residents in the provision of a DBT skills training group.