Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Michael Tramontana, PhD

Michael

Tramontana

PhD

Associate Professor

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Village at Vanderbilt

1500 21st Ave South, Suite 2200

Nashville

Tennessee

37212

michael.tramontana@vumc.org

Dr. Michael Tramontana has been a member of the faculty since 1989. His primary involvement has been in the area of neuropsychology involving both children and adults. He collaborates closely with other departments at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, including Neurology and Pediatrics. Areas of focus include traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He has authored books and journal articles in neuropsychology and serves on the Editorial Board for Applied Neuropsychology.

Karen Stewart, PhD

Karen

Stewart

PhD

Assistant Professor

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss

Dr. Stewart has published a number of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on assessment and treatment of a range of eating and weight related issues. She has also published in the area of integrated care and associated cost savings. Her research interests are focused on behavioral approaches to optimizing care of patients with obesity in a medical setting and the intersection of emotional and physical well-being.

Lanoye A, Stewart KE, Rybarczyk BD, Auerbach SM, Sadock E, Aggarwal A, Waller R, Wolver S, Austin K. The Impact of Integrated Psychological Services in a Safety Net Primary Care Clinic on Medical Utilization. J Clin Psychol [print-electronic]. 2016 Aug 8/9/2016; PMID: 27505218, DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22367, ISSN: 1097-4679.

Stewart KE, Fischer TM, Hirji R, Davis JA. Toward the reconceptualization of the relationship between occupation and health and well-being: Vers la reconceptualisation de la relation entre l'occupation et la santé et le bien-être. Can J Occup Ther [print-electronic]. 2016 Oct; 83(4): 249-59. PMID: 27799603, PII: 0008417415625425, DOI: 10.1177/0008417415625425, ISSN: 1911-9828.
Stewart KE, Haller DL, Sargeant C, Levenson JL, Puri P, Sanyal AJ. Readiness for behaviour change in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: implications for multidisciplinary care models. Liver Int [print-electronic]. 2015 Mar; 35(3): 936-43. PMID: 24521540, PMCID: PMC4266620, DOI: 10.1111/liv.12483, ISSN: 1478-3231.

King LA, Urbach JR, Stewart KE. Illness anxiety and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Cognitive-behavioral conceptualization and treatment. Eat Behav [print-electronic]. 2015 Dec; 19: 106-9. PMID: 26276708, PII: S1471-0153(15)00063-X, DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2015.05.010, ISSN: 1873-7358.

karen.stewart@vumc.org

Dr. Karen Stewart has been a member of the faculty since 2016. She is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral medicine with expertise in weight management and treatment of disordered eating and mood/anxiety disorders. She works in the Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss helping patients prepare for weight loss surgery.

Andrew Molnar, PhD

Andrew

Molnar, Jr.

PhD [he/him]

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Division of Psychology

Member, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center

Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychology

Vanderbilt University

Dr. Molnar [he/him] joined the faculty in 2018 after providing clinical services at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He is a clinical-child psychologist, with specialization in pediatric neuropsychology. At Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Molnar manages the Pediatric Neuropsychology Service within the Department, providing cognitive assessment services with his team of licensed psychometrists and trainees to child, adolescent, and young adult patients with neurological and other chronic health conditions. His team evaluates patients with such conditions from early childhood [0-5 years of age], to young adult ages, providing information to help patients and families make decisions about educational and other programming services in their communities. Beyond the clinical endeavors, Dr. Molnar teaches in clinic to psychology trainees and psychiatry residents and fellows, lectures in various didactic series in the Department and across VUMC, and collaborates on several research projects.

Village at Vanderbilt

1500 21st Ave South, Suite 2200

Nashville

Tennessee

37212

Dr. Molnar is particularly interested in early childhood development, executive function, and mental health correlates in youth with neurological and other chronic health conditions. He currently is a collaborator to specialized research projects at VUMC and Vanderbilt University involving young patients with delirium in pediatric intensive care, youth with Tourette syndrome, and preschoolers prenatally exposed to substances.

Representative Publications

Since Joining VUMC in 2018:

Harman, J. L., Molnar, A. E., Cox, L. E., Jurbergs, N., Russell, K. M., Wise, J., & Willard, V. W. (2018). Parent-reported executive functioning in young children treated for cancer. Child Neuropsychology, 26, 1-13. doi: 10.1080/09297049.2018.1503647. PMID 30049262.

Cox, L. E., Kenney, A. E., Harman, J. L., Jurbergs, N., Molnar, A. E., & Willard, V. W. (2019). Psychosocial functioning of young children treated for cancer: Findings from a clinical sample. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 36(1), 17-23. doi: 10.1177/1043454218813905. PMID 30798688.

Jurbergs, N., Harman, J. L., Kenney, A. E., Semenkovich, K., Molnar, A. E., & Willard, V. W. (2019). Cognitive and psychosocial development in young children with brain tumors: Observations from a clinical sample. Children, 6(11), 128, published online 19 November 2019. doi: 10.3390/children6110128. PMID 31752377.

Kenney, A. E., Harman, J. L., Molnar, A. E., Jurbergs, N., & Willard, V. W. (2020). Early cognitive
and adaptive functioning of clinically referred infants and toddlers with cancer. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 27, 41-47. doi: 10.1007/s10880-019-09619-1. PMID 30993575.

Harman, J. L., Molnar, A. E., Jacola, L. M., Corr, A., Scott, A., Potter, B., Schwartzberg, S., Boyer, H., Greear, J., & Willard, V. W. (2021). Establishing a hospital-based early intervention program for young children with cancer: A quality improvement initiative. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 9(4), 323-333. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10/1037/cpp0000375.

Boggs, J. E., Pullen, A., Molnar, A. E., Hodges, J., & Reiss, U. M. (2023). Screening for inattention,
hyperactivity, and impulsivity in children with haemophilia: A quality improvement intervention. Haemophilia, 29(1), 210-218. doi: 10.1111/hae.14656. PMID 36112768.

Berl, M.M., Koop, J.I., Ailion, A., Bearden, D.J., …Molnar, A.E. …Perry, M. S. (2023). Leveraging expertise and optimizing clinical research: Initial success of a pediatric epilepsy surgery collaborative. Epilepsia. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/epi.17579. PMID 36897767.

Cárdenas, E.F., Hill, K.E., Estes, E., Ravi, S., Molnar, A.E., Humphreys, K.L., & Kujawa, A. (2024). Neural and behavioral indicators of cognitive control in preschoolers with and without prenatal opioid exposure. Child Neuropsychology, 30(2), 329-347. doi: 10.1080/09297049.2023.2196397. PMID 37070372.

Schwartzman, J.M., Williams, Z.J., & Molnar, A.E. (2024). Parent and provider differences in ratings of mental health and neurodevelopmental concerns in children with neurologic disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, online ahead of print.
doi: 10.1007/s10880-23-0999-0. PMID 38400951.

Watson, K.H., Eckland, M., Schwartzman, J.M., Molnar, A., Boon, W., Hiller, M., Scholer, S., Mace, R., Rothman, A., Claassen, D.O., Riordan, H.R., Isaacs, D.A. (2024). The association of quality of life with psychosocial factors in adolescents with Tourette syndrome. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, online ahead of print. doi: 10.1007/s10578-023-01656-0. PMID 38311626.

Ravi, S., Molnar, A.E., Cárdenas, E.F., Kujawa, A., & Humphreys, K.L. (2024, accepted and in press). Associations between opioid exposure in gestation, childhood adversity, and preschool age cognitive functioning. International Journal of Behavioral Development.

Molnar, A.E., Walker, J.S., Roback, H.B., & Welch, L. (2024). Psychological Assessment. In M.H. Ebert, P.R. Martin, M.McVoy, R.J. Ronis, & S.H. Weissman (Eds.), Current Diagnosis and Treatment : Psychiatry, Fourth Edition. New York, New York: McGraw Hill LLC.

andrew.e.molnar@vumc.org

Dr. Molnar's pediatric neuropsychology practice serves diverse pediatric patients with neurological and other chronic health conditions throughout VUMC. Within that broad scope, he has specialized interests in youth with brain tumors, cancer, seizure disorders, Tourette syndrome, prenatal exposure to substances, and spina bifida.

Lindsey C. McKernan, PhD, MPH

Lindsey

Colman

McKernan

PhD, MPH

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Division of Psychology

Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt

3401 West End Avenue

Nashville

Tennessee

lindsey.mckernan@vumc.org

Dr. McKernan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, having joined the faculty in 2014. Clinically, Dr. McKernan specializes in treating the intersection between co-occurring chronic health conditions and mental health. She has particular interests in working with trauma and chronic illness, and has additional expertise in clinical hypnosis.

Currently, Dr. McKernan works as a clinician at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine (OCIM) and Department of Urologic Surgery. Dr. McKernan also oversees the health psychology postdoctoral fellowship position at OCIM through the Department's APPIC-approved program.

Research Description

Dr. McKernan is currently funded by the National Institute of Health to develop innovative psychosocial treatments for specific pain populations served at VUMC. Recognizing that pain is a highly unique experience to the individual, the lab and its collaborators are working to administer psychosocial interventions for urologic populations, specifically interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

The lab's focus is to inform treatment and intervention delivery through applying patient-informed approaches to care, understanding unique patient-level factors that influence pain, expanding treatments to a wider audience, and using data science to inform intervention efforts.

Dr. McKernan has a highly collaborative research lab and you can follow her work by visiting mckernanlab.com or following updates on twitter through @LCMPhD.

Follow @LCMPhD

Sonia Matwin, PhD

Sonia

Matwin

PhD

Assistant Professor

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital

1601 23rd Avenue South, Suite 3060

Suite 3050

Nashville

Tennessee

37212

Matwin S, Chang G. Readiness to change and risk drinking women. J Subst Abuse Treat [print-electronic]. 2011 Apr; 40(3): 230-40. PMID: 21193283, PMCID: PMC3072060, PII: S0740-5472(10)00237-0, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2010.11.004, ISSN: 1873-6483.
Ellington L, Sheldon LK, Matwin S, Smith JA, Poynton MM, Crouch BI, Caravati EM. An examination of adherence strategies and challenges in poison control communication. J Emerg Nurs [print-electronic]. 2009 Jun; 35(3): 186-90; quiz 274. PMID: 19446121, PMCID: PMC3167489, PII: S0099-1767(08)00055-X, DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2008.02.015, ISSN: 1527-2966.
Ellington L, Matwin S, Jasti S, Williamson J, Crouch B, Caravati M, Dudley W. Poison control center communication and impact on patient adherence. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2008 Feb; 46(2): 105-9. PMID: 18259957, PMCID: PMC3167482, PII: 789498762, DOI: 10.1080/15563650701338914, ISSN: 1556-3650.
Wainryb C, Brehl BA, Matwin S. Being hurt and hurting others: children's narrative accounts and moral judgments of their own interpersonal conflicts. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev. 2005; 70(3): 1-114. PMID: 16359348, PII: MONO350, DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5834.2005.00350.x, ISSN: 0037-976X.

sonia.matwin@vumc.org

Sonia Matwin completed her Ph.D. in Social Psychology, at the University of Utah in 2007, after which she worked as a Research Associate in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. In 2013, Dr. Matwin completed a clinical respecialization program at Suffolk University, and began working as an Associate Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Brigham and Women's Hospital, integrating her research on patient provider communication with her clinical practice. During this time, Dr. Matwin became increasingly involved in teaching evidence-based psychotherapy, which is currently her primary focus as an Assistant Professor and the Director of Psychotherapy Education in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Dr. Matwin's primary clinical, teaching, and research interests focus on the provision and teaching of CBT and mindfulness-based therapies, as well as the use and integration of technology for both teaching and treatment.

Clinical Description

Dr. Matwin's areas of clinical expertise include: Cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and mindfulness-based psychotherapy, health behavior change and related decision-making, psychological distress related to chronic disease management, health behavior change, anxiety, and depression.

Research Description

Dr. Matwin engages in research that examines the theory and practice of effective health communications, particularly in relation to health promotion and related decision-making. Dr. Matwin is also active in the development, testing, and teaching of novel mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of anxiety and depression; as well as the use and integration of technology for teaching and treatment.

Tarah Kuhn, PhD

Tarah

Kuhn

PhD

Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Division of Psychology

Clinical Director, Vanderbilt Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody

Dr. Tarah Kuhn is a licensed clinical psychologist and has been a member of the faculty since 2005. Areas of expertise include juvenile justice, trauma and system level interventions. Dr. Kuhn is the Clinical Director of the Vanderbilt Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody (COE) providing ongoing consultation, training, dissemination of best practices and statewide quality improvement projects. The COE is part of a statewide network funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee to improve the public health by enhancing the quality of services provided to children in or at-risk of entering the Tennessee child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

In the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Kuhn provides teaching and supervision for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship program, Psychiatry residents, as well as Psychology practicum students, Predoctoral Interns and Postdoctoral Fellows.

Dr. Kuhn's research interests include trauma informed care, child welfare, juvenile justice and systems of care.

Representative Publications

Thome, J., Gracey, K., Epstein, R., Cull, M., Kuhn, T., Raman, R. (2024). Reporting of Child Maltreatment during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Southern State in the United States. Public Health Reports. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/00333549241245846.

Joseph, J., DesAutels, S., Gracey, K., Kronenberg, M., Kuhn, T, Raman, R. (2023). Child and family outcomes of the Safe Babies Court Team – A scoping review. Children and Youth Services Review, Volume 149, 106956, ISSN 0190-7409, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106956.

Siciliano, R. E., Anderson, A. S., Vreeland, A. J., Gruhn, M. A., Henry, L. M., Watson, K. H., Liu, Q., Cole, D. A., Ebert, J., Kuhn, T., & Compas, B. E. (2023). Physiology and emotions: Within individual associations during caregiver–adolescent conflict. Psychophysiology, 60, e14397. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.14397

Henry, L., Watson, K., Cole, D. A., Torres, S., Vreeland, A., Siciliano, R., Anderson, A. S., Gruhn, M., Ciriegio, A., Broll, B., Ebert, J., Kuhn, T., & Compas, B. E. (2023). Mean-level correspondence and moment-to-moment synchrony in adolescent and parent affect: Exploring associations with adolescent age and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Development and Psychopathology, 35(2), 809-822. doi:10.1017/S0954579422000062

Anderson, A.S., Siciliano, R., Henry, L., Watson, K., Gruhn, M., Kuhn, T., Ebert, J., Vreeland, A., Ciriegio, A., Guthrie, C., Compas, B.E. (2022) Adverse Childhood Experiences, Parenting, and Socioeconomic Status: Associations with Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Adolescence. Child Abuse & Neglect. doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105493.

Henry, L., Gracey, K., Shaffer, A., Ebert, J., Kuhn, T., Watson, K., Gruhn, M., Vreeland, A., Siciliano, R., Dickey, L., Lawson, V., Broll, C., Cole, D., Compas, B. (2021). Comparison of Three Models of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Associations with Child and Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 130(1), 9-25. doi: 10.1037/abn0000644

Vreeland, A., Ebert, J., Kuhn, T., Gracey, K., Shaffer, A., Watson, K., Gruhn, M., Henry, L., Dickey, L., Siciliano, R., Anderson, A., Compas, B. (2020). Predictors of Placement Disruptions in Foster Care. Child Abuse & Neglect, 99. 104283. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104283

Kuhn, T., Cyperski, M., Shaffer, A., Gracey, K., Adams, M., Billings, G., Ebert, J. (2019) Installing Trauma Informed Care Through the Tennessee Child Protective Services Academy. Psychological Services (Vol. 16, 143-152). doi.org/10.1037/ser0000320

Kuhn, T., Ebert, J., Gracey, K., Chapman, G. & Epstein, R. (2015) Evidence-Based Interventions for Adolescents with Disruptive Behaviors in School-Based Settings. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinics of North America, 24 (2), 305-317

Bank, B., Kuhn, T. & Blackford, J. (2015) Modifying Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Incarcerated Female Youth: A Pilot Study. Journal of Juvenile Justice, 4 (1), 1-17

tarah.kuhn@vumc.org

Dr. Kuhn’s background includes clinical work with children and families with histories of complex trauma and juvenile justice involvement. An additional focus has been on multi-systemic collaboration to improve services and advocate for the clinical needs of children and families. Areas of training and technical support include Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Trauma and Resiliency Informed Care within child serving systems.

Joseph LaBarbera, PhD

Joseph

LaBarbera

PhD

Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Division of Psychology

Village at Vanderbilt

1500 21st Ave South, Suite 2200

Nashville

Tennessee

37212

Joseph.LaBarbera@vumc.org

Dr. Joseph LaBarbera, who has been a member of the faculty since 1978, is a clinical psychologist specializing in work with children, adolescents, and young adults. His primary professional activities include psychotherapy and evaluation of psychological and educational problems. Frequently, evaluations are sought for young people by their parents; other times professionals such as psychiatrists, primary care physicians, therapists, and teachers may want direction or assistance. Dr. LaBarbera has an active forensic practice and works with attorneys and courts.

Kimberly Kayser, PhD

Kimberly

Kayser

PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Division of Psychology

kimberly.kayser@vumc.org

Dr. Kayser is a pediatric neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She received her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her internship at Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine and 2-year post-doctoral fellowship at Advanced Neurobehavioral Health of Southern California in pediatric neuropsychology.

Dr. Kayser was previously on faculty at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases (CCCBD) as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics through the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. During her time at the CCCBD, she developed and launched an integrated multi-line pediatric neuropsychology service, allowing for the incorporation of neuropsychological services into standard healthcare practices. In her role, Dr. Kayser directed and oversaw the planning, development, and implementation of clinical service operations, training, and research. She has consulted and lectured nationally and internationally on topics related to the establishment and implementation of tiered systems of neuropsychological surveillance and care. Dr. Kayser joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2019.

Clinical Description

Dr. Kayser's clinical work focuses on neuropsychological monitoring and evaluation of infants, children, and adolescents with neurological, developmental, genetic, and systemic medical conditions. She additionally provides evidence-based treatments for diverse pediatric populations, with a strong interest in early childhood and infant mental health.

Research Description

Dr. Kayser's research has focused on investigating the impact of cancer and associated treatments on the developing brain and how those disruptions impact general functioning and quality of life. Most recently, her research has been dedicated to establishing practical and effective methods for detecting and screening neurobehavioral functioning.

Monica Jacobs, PsyD, ABPP

Monica

Jacobs

PsyD, ABPP

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Division of Psychology

Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital

monica.l.jacobs@vumc.org

Monica Jacobs, PsyD, ABPP is board certified in neuropsychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. She joined the Department of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2010 as a Neuropsychologist. She provides neuropsychological evaluations for adults for a broad range of referral questions including dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. She also provides consults in the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Assessment Program. These evaluations include cognitive assessment and return to work decisions of professionals referred for comprehensive mental health evaluations by various licensing boards and hospitals.

Lawrence Gaines, PhD

Lawrence

Gaines

PhD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Division of Psychology

Village at Vanderbilt

1500 21st Ave South, Suite 2200

Nashville

Tennessee

37212

lawrence.gaines@vumc.org

Dr. Larry Gaines has been a member of the faculty since 1987. He initiated behavioral medicine-clinical psychology services for VUMC programs in surgical weight loss and inflammatory bowel disease. He is interested in symptom dimensions of depression and chronic disease, particularly inflammatory bowel disease.

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