People
Layla Banihashemi, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Bioengineering
Research Interests: Stress-related neural circuitry; Childhood threat and deprivation; Infant neurodevelopment and emotionality
Email: banihashemil@upmc.edu
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Kristen L Eckstrand, MD, PhD
Medical Director, UPMC LGBTQ+ Health
Medical Director, SAFE, SAFETY, & PFE Programs, Western Psychiatric Hospital of UPMC
Research Interests: trauma-related neural systems; LGBTQ+ health; adolescent neurodevelopment and resilience; organizational health equity capacity-building
Email: eckstrandkl@upmc.edu
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César G Escobar-Viera, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Research Interests: LGBTQ+ mental health, youth loneliness and social isolation, depression, suicide prevention; Social media-based interventions; Mixed methods
Email: escobarvieracg@upmc.edu
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Natacha De Genna, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Epidemiology
Research Interests: Perinatal substance use; LGBTQ+ and pregnancy; inequities in reproductive health; syndemics
Email: degennan@pitt.edu
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Erika E Forbes, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Psychology and Clinical and Translational Science
Research Interests: Clinical affective neuroscience; Reward & emotion neural circuitry in adolescents; Brain development
Email: forbese@upmc.edu
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Alison E Hipwell, PhD, PsyD
Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology
Research Interests: Reproductive mental health; Stress response; Intergenerational studies
Email: hipwellae@upmc.edu
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Karen Jakubowski, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Research Interests: Effects of violence and abuse on cardiovascular health and sleep; women’s health; menopause; language equity; community-based research partnerships
Email: jakubowskik@upmc.edu
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Michele D Levine, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences
Research Interests: Pregnant/postpartum health, women’s health; Binge eating and related eating behavior
Email: levinem@upmc.edu
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Sarah L Pedersen, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology
Research Interests: Health inequities in alcohol & substance use problems; alcohol response, impulsivity, ADHD
Email: pedersensl@upmc.edu
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Paula Powe, MD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Research Interests: Black fatherhood, Early childhood adversity, Effects of toxic stress; Mental health promotion
Email: powepm@upmc.edu
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Dana L Rofey, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Psychology and Clinical and Translational Science
Research Interests: Impact of obesity on the developing brain; Effects of hormones on cardiovascular health; Technological interventions for youth/young adults
Email: rofeydl@upmc.edu
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Brian C Thoma, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Research Interests: LGBT health; Suicidal behavior; HIV prevention
Email: thomabc2@upmc.edu
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Rebecca C Thurston, PhD
Pittsburgh Foundation Chair in Women’s Health and Dementia and Professor of Psychiatry, Clinical and Translational Science, Epidemiology and Psychology
Research Interests: Women’s health, sexual violence, menopause, cardiovascular disease, brain aging
Email: thurstonrc@upmc.edu
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Andrea M Weinstein, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Research Interests: Mobile cognitive assessment; Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; Psychosocial influences on cognition
Email: weinsteinam2@upmc.edu
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Tyia Wilson, PhD
Research Scientist
Research Interests: Black adolescents’ emotional health, racism & discrimination, substance use, social support
Email: Wilsontk2@upmc.edu
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Mary L Woody, PhD
Research Interests: Mechanisms of depression & anxiety; Neurocognitive interventions; Health equity
Email: woodyml@upmc.edu
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