About

The Massachusetts General Hospital Center of Excellence (COE) for Psychosocial and Systemic Research was funded by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health in 2018. Our Center highlights the current, increased awareness of the central role of psychosocial approaches to treatment, prevention, illness management, and recovery in mental health.
In addition to spearheading numerous pilot studies, the COE executes quality improvement and research projects that are driven by community priorities and needs.
Visit our Community Collaborations page and our Peer-Led Projects page to learn more. 

Our Mission

The COE is guided by the core objectives of:

Implementing research and quality improvement projects.
Developing interventions for individuals—as well as family members of individuals—who are at risk for/experiencing mental health challenges.
Training a new generation of providers and researchers in evidence-based practices.
Remediating healthcare disparities for at-risk populations.

Involvement of Persons with Lived Experience

We promote collaboration between researchers, recovery communities, and stakeholder groups by partnering with Peer Consultants (PCs), who are persons in recovery from mental health challenges and/or substance misuse. PCs identify and address the priorities, needs, and experiences of individuals with mental health challenges, and they are empowered to develop and implement projects with support from COE staff.

Steering Committee

The COE has convened a Steering Committee comprised of persons with lived experience, their family members, and professionals who work in mental health. The Steering Committee meets quarterly and guides us on how to engage individuals from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, promote quality improvement initiatives, and develop our annual research agenda. We often seek assistance from the Steering Committee in disseminating research findings to key stakeholder groups.

LEADERSHIP

Photo of Dr. Cori Cather

Corinne Cather, PhD

CENTER DIRECTOR,

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY 

Alex S. Keuroghlian, MD, MPH

STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY 

Anne Whitman, PhD, CPS

SENIOR PEER CONSULTANT

Abigail Donovan, MD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY 

A. Eden Evins, MD, MPH

PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY 

Oliver Freudenreich, MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY 

Daphne Holt, MD, PhD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY 

Kim Mueser, PhD

PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY 

STAFF

Cheryl Foo, PhD

ASSOCIATE CENTER DIRECTOR, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Faith Scanlon, PhD

CLINICAL RESEARCH FELLOW

Kamila Bhiku, BS

PROGRAM MANAGER

Julia London, BA

SENIOR CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Catherine Leonard, BS

CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR II

Stephanie Shou, BA

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

CONSULTANTS

Paul Alves, CARC, NCPRSS, MAPGS

PEER CONSULTANT

Valeria Chambers, CPS, EdM, CAS

PEER CONSULTANT

Stan Langston

PEER CONSULTANT

Sharina Jones

PEER CONSULTANT

Ryan Markley, BA, CPS

PEER CONSULTANT

Jacqueline Martinez, FPS, CPS

PEER CONSULTANT

Sandra Whitney-Sarles, MS, CPS, COAPS

PEER CONSULTANT

EMERITUS STAFF

Derri Shtasel, MD, MPH – Leadership
Diana Arntz, PhD – Research Fellow
Julia Browne, PhD – Research Fellow
Katia Canenguez, PhD – Research Fellow
Arundati (Arun) Nagendra, PhD – Research Fellow
Abigail Wright, PhD – Research Fellow
Katherine Kritikos, MPH – Program Manager
Lisa LeFeber, BA – Clinical Research Coordinator
Hannah Skiest, BA – Clinical Research Coordinator
Vanya Zvonar, BA – Clinical Research Coordinator

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Your donation will support our mission to develop and implement life-changing interventions.