Lab Alumni

Ruifeng (Richard) Cui, Ph.D. Richard is interested in studying risk factors for suicide and how the predictive utility of risk factors such as depression differs by gender, age, and physical health. He is also interested in treatment utilization and treatment outcomes research. His master’s thesis investigated predictors of attendance and adherence in insomnia treatment. His doctoral dissertation examined associations between depressive symptoms and suicide risk. Richard is currently a MIRECC Postdoctoral Advanced Fellow at the VA Pittsburgh Health Care System.

Julie Lutz, Ph.D. Julie is interested in the identification of risk factors and possible avenues for prevention of suicide in older adults. To date, she has conducted research on social (e.g., social support, perceived burdensomeness, help-seeking) and health-related (e.g., specific health conditions, disability) risk factors for late-life suicide. Julie is currently a Health Science Specialist/Project Director at the Palo Alto VA.

Merideth Smith, Ph.D. Merideth is a psychologist and training director for PSIMED Corrections Inc. As a psychologist, Merideth provides clinical services to inmates with severe behavioral and mental health problems housed in West Virginia's maximum security prison. As a training director, she develops and provides training on mental health and behavioral issues for all mental health and correctional staff in the Division of Corrections. Her research interests focus on program evaluation for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. At this time, research projects include evaluating suicide assessment and protocols in prisons, developing intensive treatment for inmates engaging in nonsucidial self-injurious behavior, and evaluating the use of naltrexone to reduce opiate and alcohol abuse for individuals paroling to the community.

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Price, Ph.D. Elizabeth Price is a postdoctoral fellow in Health Services Research and Development at the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX. Her research interests are masculinity, depression, and suicide risk in older adults. She is currently focused on ways to integrate evidence-based psychological interventions for older adults into existing health systems.

Sarra Nazem, Ph.D. Sarra is the Deputy Director at the National Center for PTSD Dissemination & Training Division at the Palo Alto VA. Sarra’s research program utilizes innovative methods (e.g., development of pioneering assessment tools, leveraging of technology) to provide empirical data informative to both upstream and downstream suicide prevention approaches. Sarra is also the Training Director of the Dissemination & Training Division Advanced Fellowship Program.

Jay Gregg, Ph.D. Jay's research interests are broadly in the assessment and treatment of posttraumatic stress, depression, hopelessness, and suicidality in later life. Jay is a Staff Psychologist at the Durham VA Medical Center. His duties are divided across the PTSD Clinic, where he is the geriatrics specialist, and the OEF-OEF-OND (Returning Veterans) Clinic, where he primarily works with high risk patients.

Patricia (Patty) Bamonti, Ph.D. Patty is currently the inpatient geropsychology fellow at the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Her main research focus is on understanding factors underlying the connection between physical disability and depression in older adults, in order to improve interventions for depression in older adults. She is also interested in examining barriers to participating in pleasant events among older adults with chronic medical conditions and disability.

Rebecca (Becky) K. Henning, Ph.D. Becky's primary research interests include dementia, depression in late life, and psychological comorbidities associated with Parkinson's disease. Becky is currently a staff psychologist at the Pittsburgh VA, where she completed her internship and a postdoctoral fellowship in geropsychology. She provides assessment and treatment to veterans in the Primary Care and Insomnia clinics and is a supervisor for the Pittsburgh VA's Primary Care (PRIME) rotation.

Alisa O'Riley Hannum, Ph.D. Alisa O'Riley Hannum is a board certified Clinical Geropsychologist. Her work focuses on providing treatment, evaluation, functional assessment, and consultation to older Veterans with severe mental illness and dementia.

Michael R. Nadorff, Ph.D. Michael is primarily interested in clinical geropsychology, behavioral sleep medicine, and suicidal behavior. In particular, his recent work has examined the mechanisms by which sleep disorders confer suicide risk across the lifespan and interventions that may reduce suicide risk. Michael is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training at Mississippi State University.