Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Catholic University, Andres Bello, Venezuela, 1981
Master of Science in Applied Psychology, Nova University, FL, 1986
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, Nova University, FL, 1989
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Nova University, FL, 1992

Teaching

Supervision and Mentoring of Faculty, Fellows, Interns and Students:

Faculty

• Senaida Fernandez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 2008-present
• Angela Restreppo, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, UMMC, 2008-2010
• Diane Blake, MD, Department of Pediatrics, UMMS, 1999-2004
• Yunsheng Ma, MD, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, UMMS, 1994-2002
  

Fellows

• M. Christine David, DO. MPH Thesis, 2008-2010
• Senaida Fernandez, Ph.D. Post-doctoral research scientist, 2007-2008
• Jamie Bodenlos, Ph.D., Post-doctoral research fellow, 2006-2008
• Angela Restrepo, MD, Research fellow, 2005-2008
• Olga Gumieniak, MD, Research fellow, 2002-2003
• Dorothea von Goeler, MD, MPH, 2001-2002
• Rodolfo Reni, MD, Foreign medical graduate, 1998-1999

Students and Interns

• Alejandro Arroyo, NIH Minority Summer Intern, 2010
• Yendelela Cuffee, Ph.D. candidate CPHR, 2009-2011
• Lauren Geller, Ph.D. Doctoral thesis, 2009-2011
• Ashley Keller, Ph.D. candidate CPHR, 2009-2010
• Lynn DiTaranto, Independent study, 2008-2009
• Sarah Burns, Independent study, 2007-2008
• Jennifer Maddox, 3rd year student, Howard University, summer intern, 2003
• Karen Zakrzewski, erd year student, College of the Holy Cross, 1999-2000

Services

UMASS

• Member, Strategic Planning Workgroup, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, 2010-present
• Member, Diabetes Interest Group, 2010-present
• Member, Admissions Committee, Clinical & Population Health Research (CPHR), Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2009-present
• Member, Multicultural Research Academic Interest Group, 2009
• Chair, Faculty Diversity Scholars Program Committee, 2008-present
• Member, Behavior, Health and Disease Task Force, UMass Life Sciences Initiative, 2008
• Member, Psychology Steering Committee, 2007-pressent
• Member, Financial Taskforce, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, 2006-present
• Member, Senior Advisory Group, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, 2006-present
• Chair, Obesity and Diabetes Workshop, Clinical and Populaton Health Research Retreat, 2004
• Member, Women's Faculty Committee, 2001-present

NATIONAL

• Member, NIDDK Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1 GRB-1 J1), 2007
• Member, NIDDK Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1 GRB-1 M2), 2004
• Chair, Adherence Track, Society of Behavioral Medicine Planning Committee, 2004
• Member, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's National Advisory Committee: Health e-Technology Initiative, 2002-2004

On Going Projects/ Grants

Barriers and Facilitators of Mental Health Services Utilization among Latinos
NIMH R01MH085653 (Role: MPI with Stephenie Lemon, Ph.D.)                  5/1/11-2/28/15
This prospective cohort study will use an ecological framework to examine the impact of culturally specific sources of stress and resources on mental health services utilization among Latinos in Lawrence, MA. 

Percent Dietary Saturated Fat Composition in Pregnancy & Postpartum Weight Loss
UMMS CCTS (Role: Co-PI with Tiffany Moore-Simas, MD)                        1/1/11-12/31/13
This prospective cohort study will use an ecological framework to examine the impact of culturally specific sources of stress and resources on mental health services utilization among Latinos in Lawrence, MA. 

Improving Orthopedic Outcomes Through a National TJR Registry                                                        NIH/AHRQ P50HS0188910 (Role: Co-Investigator; PI: Patricia Franklin, MD) 9/30/10-9/29/14                    The proposed national orthopedic outcome registry will collect important patient, surgical, and delivery setting data to answer critical patient and surgeon questions about optimal implant selection, surgical timing and approach, and peri-operative care for the large number of patients who undergo total joint replacement and other procedures each year. Research will also address TJR value in young patients and use disparities. 

Virtual World Health Behavior Counseling for Patients with Diabetes
NIH (Role: subcontract PI; PI: John Weicha, MD)                                   9/30/10-9/29/12
This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of a theory-driven iintervention delivered through interactive sessions within a virtual reality environment (i.e., Second Life or SO) to improve diabetes self-management health behaviors. 

UMMS Prevention Research Center for Obesity and Related Conditions
CDC U48DP001933 (Role: Co-Investigator; PI: Stephenie Lemon, Ph.D.)      9/30/09-9/29/14
This center grant is developing community-based participatory research infrastructure among organizations in Worcester, MA to develop public health workforce capacity and community-responsive interventions and programs. 

Diabetes Self-Management for Disengaged Low-Income Latinos
CDC U48DP001933 (Role: Co-PI; PI: Sephenie Lemon, Ph.D.)                     9/30/09-9/29/14
This RCT will test the effectiveness of disseminating of an evidence-based self-management intervention among low-income Latinos with diabetes who are disengaged from safety net institutions using community health workers.

Case Management for Underserved Hispanic Type 2 Diabetes Population
NIH/NIDDK R01DK084325 (Role: subcontract PI; PI: Garry Welch, Ph.D.)      7/01/09-6/30/14
This study will evaluate a practice-based, culturally sensitive Case Management Intervention (CMI) that targets system, provider and patient barriers to diabetes care.  A randomized clinical trial will compare the effect of the CMI versus Usual Care (UC) in improving HbA1C, blood pressure and LDL cholesterol among low-income Hispanic patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. 

Promoting Breast Cancer Screening in Non-Adherent Women
NIH/NCI R01CA132935 (Role: Co-Investigator; PIs: R. Luckmann & M. Costanza) 3/27/09-1/31/14
This study will compare the effectiveness of 3 interventions on adherence to screening mammography guidelines, and determine the incremental cost per unit increase in on-time mammography utilization of the interventions.