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.
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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
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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
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Corinne Cather, PhD
CENTER DIRECTOR,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY
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Alex S. Keuroghlian, MD, MPH
STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY
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Anne Whitman, PhD, CPS
SENIOR PEER CONSULTANT
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Abigail Donovan, MD
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY
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A. Eden Evins, MD, MPH
PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY
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Oliver Freudenreich, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY
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Daphne Holt, MD, PhD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY
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Kim Mueser, PhD
PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY
STAFF
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Cheryl Foo, PhD
ASSOCIATE CENTER DIRECTOR, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
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Faith Scanlon, PhD
CLINICAL RESEARCH FELLOW
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Kamila Bhiku, BS
PROGRAM MANAGER
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Julia London, BA
SENIOR CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR
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Catherine Leonard, BS
CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR II
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Stephanie Shou, BA
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
CONSULTANTS
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Paul Alves, CARC, NCPRSS, MAPGS
PEER CONSULTANT
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Valeria Chambers, CPS, EdM, CAS
PEER CONSULTANT
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Stan Langston
PEER CONSULTANT
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Sharina Jones
PEER CONSULTANT
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Ryan Markley, BA, CPS
PEER CONSULTANT
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Jacqueline Martinez, FPS, CPS
PEER CONSULTANT
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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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