School of Medicine
Showing 1-85 of 85 Results
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Sherry Ann Beaudreau
Clinical Professor (Affiliated), Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
Staff, Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBioDr. Beaudreau is a licensed clinical psychologist with board certification in geropsychology. As PI of the Mental Health, Neurocognition, and Treatment in Older Adults lab, she conducts late life clinical research and mentors trainees in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center at VA Palo Alto. Nationally, she directs the 28-site VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. She holds appointments as Clinical Professor (Affiliated) in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine and as an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. In her capacity as a VA Subject Matter Expert in Problem Solving Training, she is actively involved in clinician trainings, consultation, and development of program materials for the national roll-out of Problem Solving Therapy for Suicide Prevention.
Her overarching research aims to leverage knowledge about the cognitive profiles of older adults with psychiatric disorders or at risk for suicide to inform the development and optimization of psychiatric behavioral interventions, including Problem Solving Therapy. She is the PI of a 5-year, multi-site randomized control trial to determine the efficacy of Problem Solving Therapy for reducing suicidal ideation over and above usual care. She is a Fellow of the Behavioral and Social Sciences section for Gerontological Society of America and the division of Adult Aging and Development for American Psychological Association. Additionally, she serves on several journal editorial boards including American Psychologist, Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, and Clinical Gerontologist. In the department, she co-chairs the Stanford/VA Palo Alto interdepartmental Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuroscience Grand Rounds, an interdisciplinary forum featuring national and international experts in geriatrics (http://med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/education/gpngrandrounds.html) and is a member of the departmental Nominations and Awards committee. -
Meiram Bendat
Adjunct Professor, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
BioAs an attorney, psychotherapist, and founder of Psych-Appeal, the first private mental health insurance advocacy law firm in the United States, I investigate and challenge discriminatory barriers to mental health services by managed care organizations. I focus on the design and implementation of mental health parity and standards for medical necessity and network adequacy. I also research regulatory capture by health plans.
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Jessica Yelena Breland
Clinical Associate Professor (Affiliated), Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
Staff, Psych/Public Mental Health & Population SciencesBioJessica Breland, MS, PhD is a licensed psychologist and a Core Investigator at the Center for Innovation to Implementation in the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Dr. Breland received her PhD in psychology from Rutgers and completed her clinical internship at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX.
Her work focuses on using quantitative and qualitative methods to: 1) assess outcomes related to the implementation of evidenced-based treatments, especially through controlled trials in novel settings (e.g., primary care) or with novel methods (e.g., apps); 2) identify and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health; and 3) enhance care for patients with chronic conditions, such as obesity or diabetes. -
Sara Marie Cohen-Fournier
Adjunct Lecturer, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
BioDr. Sara Marie Cohen-Fournier received her undergraduate degree in Science from McGill University, her masters of arts in Oral History from Columbia University, and her medical degree from Université de Montréal. She did her residency in Psychiatry at McGill University and her fellowship in Addiction Medicine at Stanford University. She is currently an adjunct clinical instructor of Addiction Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine. She practices in rural Northern Quebec, where she works in part at the community center, the Native Friendship Center and at the OUD local clinic. She is interested in under-standing the essence of spirituality, culture, biology, psychology,and society in mental health.
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Burcin Ikiz
Adjunct Lecturer, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
BioBurcin Ikiz, PhD, is a neuroscientist whose work explores how climate change, environmental degradation, and broader ecological crises affect brain health across the lifespan. Her research focuses on identifying the neurobiological and psychosocial impacts of climate-related stressors, such as air pollution, heat, displacement, and food insecurity, and translating these insights into public policy, prevention, community-based adaptation strategies, and planetary health solutions.
Dr. Ikiz is the Founder and Director of EcoNeuro, a research initiative that bridges neuroscience and the environment, and the Chair of the International Neuro Climate Working Group (NCWG), a global consortium comprising over 300 researchers, clinicians, and public health experts. NCWG was recently recognized by the World Economic Forum as one of the top global initiatives addressing the intersection of mental health and climate change. She is also the Co-Founder and President of Banyan Commons, a nonprofit action tank advancing ecological brain resilience.
In 2025, she was named a Grist 50 Climate Fixer, recognized among climate and justice leaders building equitable, science-driven futures. I advise international organizations, including the World Health Organization and the Council on Foreign Relations, and serve on scientific and advisory boards for leading climate and health initiatives, such as the Climate Mental Health Network and the Climate Cares Centre.
Her ongoing projects include developing a Brain Resilience Index and creating a landmark State-of-Science Report on climate change and brain health. She also leads international research and policy initiatives on heat, air pollution, brain aging, and neurodevelopment; has contributed to the State of Global Air 2025 report; and supports WHO efforts to develop training tools on air pollution, brain, and mental health. She is co-editing a forthcoming open-access book with MIT Press, Toward an Ecological and Green Neuroscience Universe. Dr. Ikiz is a frequent speaker at international policy forums, including the United Nations, COP, and World Bank thematic dialogues.
At Stanford, she contributes to transdisciplinary efforts linking psychiatry, neuroscience, and planetary health, with a focus on advancing brain health equity in an era of ecological change. She is also collaborating with Stanford’s CIRCLE Initiative, which spearheads community interventions for climate-related mental health. -
Audrey Evers
Casual - Non-Exempt, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
Current Role at StanfordClinical Psychology Doctoral Student, PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium
Clinical Research Coordinator, Depression Research Clinic -
George Mark Freeman MD PhD
Clinical Associate Professor (Affiliated), Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
Staff, Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBioDr. Freeman serves as the Site Director for Stanford Psychiatry Residency Training at VA Palo Alto Hospital. His interests include caring for patients with complex mental health conditions, providing medical education to Stanford trainees, and remaining up to date on the latest in neuroscience advances.
EDUCATION
B.S. Biology (Neuroscience), Duke University
M.D. Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University in St Louis
Ph.D. In Biological and Biomedical Sciences (Neuroscience), Washington University in St Louis
RESIDENCY TRAINING
Psychiatry Residency (Research Track), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION
Diplomate, General Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Physician and Surgeon Medical License, California
SELECTED SCHOLARSHIPS AND HONORS
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Outstanding Resident Award
James L. O’Leary Prize for Research in Neuroscience Finalist
Ruth L Kirschstein National Research Service Award
United States Fulbright Scholar -
Julia Alexsandra Galiza Soares
Life Sciences Researcher 1, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
Current Role at StanfordREACH Postbac Scholar, Life Science Research Professional I
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Edwin Kim
Clinical Assistant Professor (Affiliated), Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
Staff, Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBioDr. Edwin Kim, MD FAPA is an expert and leader in addiction treatment and physician health, who is board-certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Addiction Psychiatry. Dr. Kim is the Director of Addiction Treatment Services at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, and a Clinical Assistant Professor (Affiliated) at Stanford University School of Medicine. At the VA Palo Alto, Dr. Kim teaches and supervises medical students, residents and fellows. He is also the President-Elect of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs, and a Councilor-at-Large of the Northern California Psychiatric Society. He currently serves as a Medical Director at the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Physicians’ Health Program and Nurses’ Health Program.
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Carmen McLean
Clinical Professor (Affiliated), Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
BioCarmen McLean, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher with the Dissemination and Training Division of the National Center for PTSD at the Palo Alto VA Health Care System. Dr. McLean’s research focuses on increasing the implementation and reach of evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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M Windy McNerney, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor (Affiliated), Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
Staff, Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesBioDr. M. Windy McNerney is the Director of Biological Sciences for the MIRECC at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Palo Alto, and a Clinical Associate Professor (Affiliated) at Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. Dr. McNerney holds a particular passion for not only understanding the neurophysiology and biochemistry of mental health diseases, but also advocating for these invisible diseases. Her research focuses on neurodegeneration, depression, TBI, PTSD, and addiction. She is collaborating with researchers to integrate brain imaging and biochemical markers in hopes to better understand these diseases. She also is taking a lead role at the VA in investigating the biochemistry of magnetic brain stimulation and is the leader of the NeuroNado Laboratory. At Stanford University, she is the professor of two popular courses examining the biological and societal issues surrounding substance use disorder, with a major focus on opioids such as fentanyl. She has individually mentored over 25 students from underrepresented groups in STEM activities and leads monthly seminars aimed at facilitating career development. In her free time, she is a community advocate for the treatment of mental health and educates groups about the dangers of fentanyl.
She earned her BS from UC Davis and her PhD from the University of Notre Dame. While at ND, she interned at NASA Ames on Human Factors Engineering. She then went on to a postdoctoral position at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (DOE), and then completed a fellowship at the WRIISC program at the VA and Stanford University.
Selected Publications:
McNerney MW, Gurkoff G, Berryhill M (2023). The rehabilitation potential of neurostimulation for mild traumatic brain injury in animal and human studies. Brain Sciences, 13, 1402.
McNerney MW, Kraybill EP Narayanan S, Mojabi F, Venkataramanan V, Heath A (2023). Memory-related hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor activation pathways from repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the 3xTg-AD mouse line. Experimental Gerontology, 183, 11323.
Shuken, S, McNerney MW (2023). Cost and benefits for popular p-value correction methods I three models of quantitative omic experiments. Analytical Chemistry, 95, 2732.
McNerney MW, Heath A, Narayanan S, Yesavage J (2022). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cholinergic signaling in the 3xTgAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 86, 499..
Heath AM, Brewer M, Yesavage J, McNerney MW. (2021). Improved object recognition memory using post-encoding repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Brain Stimulation, 15, 78.
Yang AC, Vest RT, Kern F, Lee DP, Agam M, Maat CA, Losada PM, Chen MB, Schaum N, Khoury N, Toland A, Calcuttawala K, Shin H, Palovics R, Shin A, Wang EY, Luo J, Gate D, Schultz-Schaeffer WJ, Chu P, Siegenthalar J, McNerney MW, Keller A, Wyss-Coray T (2022). A human brain vascular atlas reveals diverse mediators or Alzheimer’s disease. Nature, 603, 885.
McNerney MW, Hobday T, Cole B, Ganong R, Winas N, Matthews D, Hood J, Lane S (2019). Objective classification of mTBI using machine learning on a combination of frontal electroencephalography measurements and self-reported symptoms. Sports Medicine Open, 4, 14.
McNerney MW, Sheng T, Nechvatal JM, Lee A, Lyons D, Adamson M (2018). Integration of neural and epigenetic contributions to posttraumatic stress symptoms: The role of hippocampal volume and glucocorticoid receptor gene methylation. PLOSONE, e0192222.
Bennion BJ, Be NA, McNerney MW, Lao V, Carlson E, Valdez CA (2017). Predicting a drug’s membrane permeability: A computational model validated with in vitro permeability assay data. Journal of Physical Chemistry, B, 121, 5228.
See more publications at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=McNerney%20MW%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=17107728 -
Alisa Marie Olmsted
Clinical Assistant Professor (Affiliated), Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
BioI am a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in interventional treatments for mood disorders, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), esketamine, and intravenous ketamine. I completed an Advanced MD Fellowship at the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), a Veterans Affairs (VA) Center of Excellence at VA Palo Alto, where my work focused on circuit-based approaches to precision psychiatry. I completed residency at Jefferson University Hospital, where I served as research chief and served on the ethics board, gaining broad clinical experience across inpatient, emergency, consultation-liaison, and addiction psychiatry. My research on Veterans has been published in Nature Mental Health and the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, while my earlier clinical work was cited in The New York Times. I have provided continuous care to Veterans since medical school, including at the Hunter Holmes VA, where I earned honors, and at the Wilmington VA community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC). My commitment to serving Veterans is informed by a family legacy that includes multiple generations of combat Veterans, a perspective that continues to shape my clinical and research priorities within the VA system.
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Heather Ryan Pankow
Life Science Rsch Prof 2, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
Current Role at StanfordLife Science Research Professional 2 in The Depression Research Clinic
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James H Reich
Adjunct Professor, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
BioI attended U.C. Berkeley for my B.S. degree, the University of Colorado for my MD and U.C. Davis for my psychiatric residency and did a fellowship in Psychiatric Epidemiology at Yale. I have been faculty at the University of Iowa, Harvard and Brown. I have published over a hundred papers in peer reviewed journals, mostly in the areas of anxiety and personality. I also founded a medical society, the Association for Research in Personality Disorders (ARPD).
Currently I am in private practice in San Francisco and teach at Stanford and UCSF. My treatment approaches for psychotherapy include CBT and mindfulness. I also do psychopharmacology which I have taught UCSF for many years.
I am also a board certified forensic psychiatrist in private practice focusing largely on civil cases. -
Nicole Stigler
Life Science Research Professional 1, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
BioI am driven to understand the neural mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders to improve mental health outcomes.
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Diane Elizabeth Wakeham
Clinical Research Coordinator Associate, Psych/General Psychiatry and Psychology (Adult)
Current Role at StanfordClinical Research Coordinator Associate, INSPIRE Clinic, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
