Biography:

I currently am the senior Medical Psychologist at Loyola University Medical Center's (LUMC) Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery program.  I have been with this clinic since it's inception in 2011 and assisted in creating Psychology's role on this multidisciplinary team. In addition, I established the Behavioral Cardiology Program in partnership with the Loyola Medicine Preventative Cardiology and Lipid Program.  My clinical practice also includes management of the Behavioral Medicine Consult Liaison Service which provides assessment and treatment in the inpatient hospital setting across a wide range of hospital services including General Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Trauma, Neurology, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, OB-GYN, and Gastroenterology.  I have been Director of Clinical Training (DCT) in Psychology at LUMC since 2015.  In this role, I oversee the psychology training experiences in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Loyola including six different advanced therapy externships, research externships, and a health psychology fellowship.  This year, I was chosen to become Chief of the Psychology Department and oversee the department of 15 Psychologists.  I also engage in on-going education efforts in the Medical school and conduct clinical research.  My research experience thus far in my career has focused on aspects of health psychology that converge with my clinical activities.