Dr. Susanna Sutherland is a clinical and health psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Her program of research focuses on perinatal psychopathology, with a particular emphasis on developing interventions to improve maternal mental health outcomes. Her work addresses the significant risks associated with perinatal depression and other mental health disorders, which not only impact maternal wellbeing but also contribute to adverse birth outcomes and long-term effects on offspring (Sutherland & Brunwasser, 2018). Dr. Sutherland’s lab integrates clinical research with a commitment to reducing healthcare disparities by addressing issues of access to care.
Dr. Sutherland’s research program is motivated by the urgent need to address the high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States. Her previous training in the implementation of clinical trials, alongside her study of the transmission of psychopathology from parents to children (e.g. Sutherland et al., 2019; 2021) and individual factors that perpetuate risk for psychopathology (e.g. Sutherland & Nestor, 2021) has uniquely positioned her to investigate the importance of supporting maternal mental health. She has additional interest in studying the intersection between conditions of women’s physical health and the impact on mental health (e.g. Windgassen, Sutherland et al., 2022; Sutherland et al., 2023).