My interests lie in the role of stigma in affecting individuals’ attitudes toward and likelihood of seeking mental health treatment.  While at UVA, I was involved in two primary studies.  The first, “Thoughts about Mental Health”, investigated the association between stigma attitudes toward mental health/mental health treatment and individuals’ attitudes about and willingness to seek mental health treatment with specific mental health professionals.  The second study, “Health Education”, extended the results of the first study, to consider the impact of an educational intervention for high school students.  This intervention was aimed at reducing stigma toward mental health/mental health treatment and increasing behavioral intentions to seek mental health treatment.

Currently the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.