The Women’s Health Psychology lab includes graduate students in the PhD and MS programs. The lab also includes research assistants, who are usually undergraduate students in Psychology and students in Drexel's Master of Medical Science program. We will be accepting a new PhD student for Fall 2025. We will be accepting a new MS student for Fall 2025. We are also open to accepting undergraduate student volunteers as research assistants.
Pamela A. Geller, PhD, is a professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University, and research associate professor of obstetrics/gynecology in Drexel’s College of Medicine. Dr. Geller is currently the Director of Clinical Training and serves as the program director for Drexel's PhD program in clinical psychology. Geller has studied women’s health issues for nearly 30 years.
She received her MS and PhD in clinical psychology from Kent State University and completed a NIH postdoctoral fellowship in psychiatric epidemiology at the Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University. Her work focuses on the psychological aspects of events surrounding pregnancy and childbirth, such as infertility, pregnancy loss, and postpartum depression. Geller is co-founder and co-director of Mother Baby Connections, an intensive outpatient mental health program at Drexel for pregnant and postpartum women experiencing anxiety and depression and their infants. With a visiting professorship in neonatology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, she and her colleagues are addressing the experiences of parents with an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with ongoing projects relevant to parental distress and adjustment, and nurse education.
Geller serves on the Board of Directors of the National Perinatal Association and helped develop guidelines for psychosocial support services for NICU parents. She serves on the Executive Committee of the National Network of NICU Psychologists (NNNP) and chairs the NNNP Research Committee. She and Drexel colleagues created the education curricula, Psychological and Medical Aspects of Pregnancy Loss (recipient of an e-ERA award from the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics; Available at: mededportal.org/publication/10240; https://webcampus.med.drexel.edu/interactive/PregLoss/module/content/index.htm). Geller is an editor of the Health Psychology volume of the Handbook of Psychology, as well as Women’s Health Psychology, both published by Wiley. She has presented her work nationally and internationally and has been featured on BBC Radio programs.
Email: pg27@drexel.edu
Doctoral Students
Sharon Ettinger
Sharon is a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. She received her BA in Psychology and Studio Art from Colgate University in 2018 and then worked as an Applied Behavior Analysis instructor for children with autism spectrum and other developmental disorders in New York City. From 2020-2022, she completed her MA in Developmental Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University while working as a research assistant for the COVID-19 Mother-Baby Outcomes Study at Columbia University Medical Center’s Perinatal Pathways Lab. Sharon’s research takes a family systems approach to promoting maternal perinatal mental health and early child development, with a focus on early relational health. Sharon is currently completing clinical practicum rotations at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Mother Baby Connections. Outside of the lab, Sharon enjoys drawing, singing, and spending time with family and friends (and cat).
Email: sre49@drexel.edu
Leah Sodowick, MS
Leah is a fifth-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program, currently completing her internship at Duke University Medical Center. She received her BA in Psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University in 2016 and was the Staff Research Associate at the University of California, San Francisco’s Child Trauma Research Program from 2016-2018. From 2018-2020, Leah served as a supervisor on the TALK Line, a 24/7 parental stress and support line that serves San Francisco Bay Area families. She is also a Certified Postpartum Doula. Leah’s research examines secondary traumatic stress and coping strategies in NICU nurses. Leah is currently completing practicum rotations at Cooper University Hospital and the Mother Baby Connections Program. Outside of the lab, Leah enjoys walking her dog, playing tennis, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Email: lbs66@drexel.edu
Master's Students
Caroline Hayes
Caroline Hayes is a second-year student in the MS in Psychology program with intentions to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Caroline’s interests lie within the health psychology domain, and her research tends to explore the biopsychosocial dimensions of premenstrual disorders. Her master’s thesis investigates the psychological dimensions of premenstrual dysphoric disorder identified and/or clarified since its mood disorder designation in the DSM-5. Before pursuing a career in psychology, Caroline earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature cum laude with honors from NYU. She loves reading, writing, and baking.
Email: ch3475@drexel.edu
Kayla Layne
Kayla Layne is a first-year student in the MS in Psychology with plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of New Haven with a concentration in Forensics cum laude in 2024. Kayla's research interests focus on reproductive health, specifically addressing infertility, pregnancy loss, and related complications, as well as their effects on maternal mental health outcomes. In her free time, Kayla enjoys reading, sewing, and traveling.
Email: kl3543@drexel.edu
Research Assistants
- Katelyn Phan
- Nick Powers, MA
- Tara Ramamurthy
- Divine Thomas
- Chelsea Breimann, MA
Collaborators
PHD GRADUATES
Alison Hartman, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2023
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Dissertation Title: What Keeps Me Up at Night: An Exploration of Sleep, Anxiety, and Mood Among Women with Infertility
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Internship: Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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Postdoctoral Fellowship: New York Anxiety Treatment
Ariana Albanese, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2022
- Dissertation Title: “The Postpartum Toolkit: An Online Clinical Tool to Enhance Functioning and Emotional Wellbeing among Gestational Parents in the Postpartum Period”
- Internship: Behavioral Medicine/Health Psychology Track, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
- Postdoctoral Fellowship: Implementation Science Fellowship; Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI
Victoria Grunberg, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with concentrations in neuropsychology and health psychology, 2021
- Dissertation Title: “NICU Babies’ Next Steps: A Systems-Level Examination of Family Functioning and Infant Development”
- Internship: Integrated Brain Health Clinical and Research Program (track), Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
- Postdoctoral Fellowship: NIH T32 Fellow, Translational Neuroscience Training for Clinicians, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Mona Elgohail, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2019
- Dissertation Title: An Internet-based Intervention to Reduce Depressive Symptoms in Muslim Women Experiencing Infertility
- Internship: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
- Postdoctoral Fellowship: Drexel University Women’s Health Psychology Lab/Mother Baby Connections
Emily Stasko, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2018
- Dissertation Title: Sexting and Fertility: An Intervention on Sexual Communication and Empowerment
- Internship: Southwest Consortium Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology, Albuquerque, NM
- Recent position: PCMHI Postdoctoral Fellowship position in Clinical Psychology at the Portland VA medical Center, Portland, OR. , Portland VA
Alexa Bonacquisti, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2016
- Dissertation Title: Psychological Responses and Treatment among Mothers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: The Impact of Attachment, Attitudes, Social Support, and Health Behaviors
- Internship: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
- Post-doctorate Fellowship: Drexel University Women’s Health Psychology Lab/Mother Baby Connections
- Recent Position: Assistant Professor at Holy Family University
Efrat Eichenbaum, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2014
- Dissertation Title: Post Traumatic Growth and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury
- Internship: Minneapolis VA Medical Center
- Post-doctorate Fellowship: Postdoctoral resident, Minneapolis VA Medical Center
- Recent Position: Clinical Psychologist, Consultation/Liaison Service, North Memorial Medical Center in Minneapolis
Alexandra Nelson, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2012
- Dissertation Title: Empowerment, social support, and fertility-related quality of life among women using internet-mediated support for infertility
- Internship: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
- Recent Position: Clinical psychologist, Child & Family Psychological Services, Inc. / Integrated Behavioral Associates
Sara Levine Kornfield, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2010
- Dissertation Title: Maternal-Fetal Attachment, Temporal Orientation and Locus of Control: Implications for Prenatal Care Behaviors and HIV Risk Reduction during Pregnancy
- Internship: Northport VA Medical Center
- Post-doctoral Fellowship: Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Pennsylvania Center for Women's Behavioral Wellness
- Recent Position: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Center for Women's Behavioral Wellness, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Danielle K. Clauss, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2009
- Dissertation Title: Psychological distress following miscarriage and stillbirth: an examination of grief, depression and anxiety in relation to gestational length, women's attributions, perception of care and provision of information
- Internship: Walter Reed Army Medical Center Recent Position: Clinical Psychologist, Philadelphia VA Medical Center
Christina Psaros, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2008
- Dissertation Title: Psychological processes involved in adherence to ART and prenatal care utilization among HIV infected, pregnant women
- Internship: Behavioral Medicine Track at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
- Recent Position: Staff Psychologist in the Behavioral Medicine service at Massachusetts General Hospital and Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School
A. Kyle Possemato, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2007
- Dissertation Title: An internet-based expressive writing intervention for kidney transplant recipients
- Internship: SUNY Upstate Medical University (Adult Track), Syracuse, NY
- Recent Position: Clinical Research Psychologist at the Center for Integrated Healthcare Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Syracuse, NY
Faith Dyson-Washington, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2006
- Dissertation Title: The relationship between optimism and work-family enrichment and their influence on psychological well-being.
- Internship: University of Delaware, Center for Counseling and Student Development
- Recent Position: Clinical Psychologist, private practice, Philadelphia, PA.
Ellen Moore Boohar, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2005
- Dissertation Title: Impact of timing of alcohol use initiation and depressed mood on risky substance use among urban minority adolescents
- Internship: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (Behavioral Medicine Track)
- Recent Position: Clinical Psychologist, Springfield, PA
Jennifer Nesbitt Fernandez, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2005
- Dissertation Title: An evaluation of brief adaptive inferential feedback training: assessing the gains of training individuals to provide a specific type of social support.
- Recent Position: Director of Clinical Training/Supervising Psychologist at Hugh S. Smith, Ph.D. & Associates, P.C.
Maria Graf, PhD
- Program and year: Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in health psychology, 2004
- Dissertation Title: Written emotional disclosure: what are the benefits of expressive writing in psychotherapy?
- Internship: Health Psychology Intern at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, WI
- Recent Position: Clinical Psychologist at the Dean Clinic in Madison, WI M.S. Graduates
MS GRADUATES
Peggy Burke, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2023
Navy Spiecker, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2021
- Thesis Title: Mental Health, Stress, and Provider Care in Female Fertility Treatment: Differences across Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
- Recent Position: Behavioral Research Coordinator at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Gender Development Program
Gaby Russo, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2019
- Thesis Title: Examination of the Relationships Among Perceived Social Support, Parent-Infant Bonding, and Parent Mental Health in the 3 to 12 Months Following the Birth of a Child
- Recent Position: PhD Clinical Health Psychology Student at University of Colorado, Denver
Christina DiSanza, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2019
- Thesis Title: Creation of a Mindfulness Program for NICU Parents
Victoria Grunberg, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2016
- Thesis Title: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Infants, Parental Stress, Couple and Family Impact: How Family Resources May Attenuate the Stress
- Recent Position: PhD student at Drexel University
Kimberly Konka, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2016
- Thesis Title: Perceptions of social feedback when exercising at fitness facilities during pregnancy
Carrie Grady, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2014
- Thesis Title: Attitudes and Perceptions Concerning Pregnancy among Adult Women with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes
- Recent Position: MSW student at the University of Pennsylvania
Mitra Khaksari, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2013
- Thesis Title: Barriers to Treatment for Fertility Problems
- Recent Position: Senior Research Program Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University and Adjunct Faculty Member at Anne Arundel Community College
Kate McSpadden, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2011
- Thesis Title: Parentless mothering: Factors contributing to finding positive aspects in parenting after the death of both parents
- Recent Position: Cancer Research Training Award Fellow at the National Cancer Institute
Kathleen O'Malley Sharafeddin, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2009.
- Thesis title: An examination of the association of breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding duration, and postpartum depressive symptoms in new mothers
- Recent Position: Psychology Associate at Kennedy Krieger Institute
Corrie O'Brien Mariello, M.S.
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2008.
- Thesis title: Exploration of the association between perfectionism and depression, anxiety and eating disorder symptoms in female college students
Anne Vorndran Hedrick, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2007
- Thesis title: Adolescent depression: gender differences and risk factors
- Recent Position: Senior Academic Counselor, OU Scholars Program
Rebecca Desrocher, MS
- Program and year: Masters of Science in Psychology, 2004
- Thesis Title: Relationship between depression and memory following traumatic brain injury
- Recent Position: Branch Chief, Bureau of Health Workforce (HRSA)