Biography

Biography: 

Dr. Shepardson is a research investigator with the Center for Integrated Healthcare (CIH) based at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. She is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI). Dr. Shepardson earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Syracuse University. After completing an accredited pre-doctoral psychology internship in health psychology/behavioral medicine at the Brown Clinical Psychology Training Consortium in Providence, RI, in 2013, she joined CIH for clinical research training under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Funderburk.

Dr. Shepardson currently co-leads the Supporting, Evaluating, and Researching Veterans’ Integrated Care Experiences (SERVICE) Lab, a large lab with approximately 15 staff spanning 3 VA facilities, with Drs. Funderburk and Gass. In this role she provides training, supervision, and mentorship to research assistants, interns, fellows, and early career psychologists. Dr. Shepardson enjoys training and aims to help facilitate the professional development of her supervisees/mentees.

 

Research Interests: Dr. Shepardson’s program of research aims to increase access to, engagement in, and effectiveness of patient-centered behavioral health treatment. Her work integrates patient treatment preferences and addresses provider feasibility and acceptability to facilitate implementation into clinical practice. Dr. Shepardson’s primary focus is developing, testing, and implementing brief, evidence-based interventions for common mental health concerns seen in primary care. This includes PCMHI provider-delivered CBT interventions in individual or group format and self-help interventions through which PCMHI can support patients in self-management of mental health as the first step within a stepped care model.

In 2022, Dr. Shepardson completed a 5-year HSR-funded Career Development Award (CDA-2) in which she received formal training and mentorship in health services research methods as well as developed, refined, and evaluated a brief, transdiagnostic, modular, cognitive-behavioral anxiety intervention for PCMHI in a pilot RCT. In 2025 she completed an HSR merit grant (PI) for a hybrid I multisite RCT of this modular anxiety intervention compared to PCMHI usual care. Currently she is PI on a multisite RCT of a self-help intervention for post-9/11 Veterans with symptoms of depression or PTSD who are not engaged in treatment. Dr. Shepardson also conducts research/evaluation and implementation work on a brief group adaptation of the transdiagnostic Unified Protocol that is tailored for use in PCMHI settings and a self-help crisis intervention for at-risk individuals who have experienced a local disaster or crisis.

 

 

Mentorship

Why do I mentor?

I have been fortunate to have outstanding mentors in graduate school and for my career development award while at CIH who have helped me immensely in my own professional development. Due to these valuable experiences, it is important to me to mentor trainees to help pay it forward. It’s very personally fulfilling to help others learn the ropes of the VA system and find their way in the immense field of psychology. I enjoy helping trainees develop new skills, learn about and challenge themselves, grow their confidence, and gain clarity on their educational and career goals.

How do I go about mentoring?

I use a developmental approach to mentoring that is tailored to the level and needs of each trainee. Initially, we identify strengths and growth edges so the trainee can develop short- and long-term training goals. As trainees gain experience and demonstrate competency in target domains, they take on gradually increasing levels of responsibility. My goal is to be able to adopt a junior colleague approach in which the trainee is becoming more of a collaborator and less of a “student” over time. As a mentor, I work hard to be highly available and responsive, provide timely feedback, and help trainees identify, develop, and/or pursue opportunities that will address their training goals. I attend to the supervisory relationship and try to foster clear lines of communication and mutual feedback.

My mentoring and training experience includes a variety of roles and levels, such as serving as: research mentor for a postdoctoral fellow; research supervisor for interns completing the CIH research rotation; clinical supervisor for fellows, interns, and practicum students working in PCMHI; and clinical research supervisor for a large team of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD research staff. Thus, I have mentored and supervise trainees as they apply for pilot grant funding, conduct CIH pilot studies, write manuscripts, analyze data, present at national conferences, learn and deliver brief interventions, experience a major shift/evolution in career goals, pursue teaching and supervision opportunities, apply for graduate school, and more.

Areas I tend to Emphasize within Mentorship:

• Exploring your research, clinical, and other professional interests
• Considering professional ethics in clinical and research endeavors
• Learning the nuts and bolts of conducting clinical research in VA
• Scientific writing (publications, grant proposals, peer reviews) and presenting skills
• Strategically developing a research program that will be of long-term interest to you, key stakeholders, and funders
• Time management, productivity, and other practical matters
• Navigating personal/family and career goals in pursuit of work-life balance
• Leadership skills and managing research staff
• Expanding your professional network

Accomplishments of Previous Trainees Mentored by Me

• Published peer-reviewed publications
• Presented at national conferences
• Awarded pilot grants
• Developed new research collaborations

Accepting New Mentees

As part of the Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program, I am currently accepting new mentees.

Publications

Selected Recent Publications (*indicates mentee)

Shepardson, R. L., *De Paul, N. F., Caver, K., Giard, D., & Funderburk, J. S. (in press). Brief group adaptation of the Unified Protocol for integrated primary care: Open trial of a transdiagnostic intervention delivered via telehealth. Psychological Services. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000983

Funderburk, J. S., Shepardson, R. L., Beehler, G. P., Possemato, K., Perry, K., Shook, C., Martin, J., & Dollar, K. (2025). Improving the quality of Veteran health care by optimizing VA integrated primary care: 20 years and beyond of the Center for Integrated Healthcare. Journal of Integrated Primary Care, 2(1):1. https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/jipc/vol2/iss1/1

*Mitzel, L. D., Shepardson, R. L., Johnson, E. M., & Funderburk, J. S. (2025). Improving patient engagement through Whole Health: Veteran perspectives on a values assessment tool. Journal of Integrated Primary Care, 1(4):1. https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/jipc/vol1/iss4/1/

Shepardson, R. L., Funderburk, J. S., Weisberg, R. B., Wade, M., & Maisto, S. A. (2024). Brief modular anxiety intervention for primary care: Hybrid I pilot randomized controlled trial of feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness, and implementation potential. Journal of Affective Disorders, 361, 497-507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.107

Funderburk, J. S., Shepardson, R. L., Possemato, K., Johnson, E. M., Roelk, B., Louer-Thompson, E., Martin, J., & Wray, L. O. (2024). A self-help crisis outreach effort for at-risk primary care patients: A pilot study among veterans during COVID. Psychiatric Services, 75(5), 504-507. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20230157

Shepardson, R. L., Fletcher, T. L., Funderburk, J. S., Weisberg, R. B., Beehler, G. P., & Maisto, S. A. (2023). Barriers to and facilitators of using evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral anxiety interventions in integrated primary care practice. Psychological Services, 20(4), 709-722. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000696

*Buckheit, K. A., *Mitzel, L. D., Shepardson, R. L., Funderburk, J. S., Weisberg, R. B., & Maisto, S. A. (2023). Case report of a brief modular anxiety intervention for integrated primary care: Addressing clinician feasibility concerns and barriers to using manualized treatments. Journal of Integrated Primary Care, 1(3):1. https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/jipc/vol1/iss3/1

Shepardson, R. L., Funderburk, J. S., Weisberg, R. B., & Maisto, S. A. (2023). Brief, modular, transdiagnostic, cognitive-behavioral intervention for anxiety in Veteran primary care: Development, provider feedback, and open trial. Psychological Services, 20(3), 622-635. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000622

For a full list of Dr. Shepardson’s peer-reviewed publications, visit https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1bK41h5n6v5k-/bibliography/public/

Presentations

Selected Recent Presentations (*indicates mentee)

 Shepardson, R. L., *Koscinski, B. J., Johnson, E. M., Gass, J. C., & Funderburk, J. S. (2025, November). Patient selection of different CBT skill modules within a modular cognitive-behavioral anxiety intervention for integrated primary care. Paper presented at the 59^th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New Orleans, LA.

 Shepardson, R. L., *De Paul, N. F., & Funderburk, J. S. (2025, November). Brief group adaptation of the Unified Protocol for integrated primary care: Mixed methods evaluation of whether targeted constructs change during treatment. Paper presented at the 59^th annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New Orleans, LA.

Gray, C. P., Brayton, C. E., Shepardson, R. L., & Leung, L. (2025, November). Leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic to improve depression care for VA primary care populations: A national mixed-methods study. Panel presentation at the 2^nd annual VHA Integrated Care Conference (virtual).

Shepardson, R. L., Johnson, E. M., Gass, J. C., Wade, M., & Funderburk, J. S. (2025, October). Hot off the presses 2025: RCT of a brief, modular, cognitive-behavioral anxiety intervention in integrated primary care. Paper presented at the 27^th annual conference of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, Raleigh, NC.

Shepardson, R. L., Johnson, E. M., Gass, J. C., & Funderburk, J. S. (2025, October). Increasing access to evidence-based anxiety treatment through integrated primary care: How to integrate elements of exposure therapy in brief treatment for adults with anxiety. Paper presented at the 27^th annual conference of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, Raleigh, NC.

Shepardson, R. L., Johnson, E. M., Gass, J. C., & Funderburk, J. S. (2024, December). Process evaluation of low-intensity training and implementation support for a modular anxiety intervention in integrated primary care. Poster presented at the 17th Annual Dissemination & Implementation in Health Conference, Arlington, VA.  

Shepardson, R. L., *De Paul, N., & Funderburk, J. S. (2024, October). Pilot open trial of a telehealth-delivered, transdiagnostic group intervention for Primary Care Behavioral Health settings. Poster presented at the 26^th annual conference of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, San Antonio, TX.

*Regan, E., *Gates, M., Shepardson, R. L., & Funderburk, J. S. (2024, March). Treatment goals of adult primary care patients with anxiety: A qualitative analysis. Poster presented at the 95^th meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Grants

Current Grants/Funded Projects:

 Principal Investigator (2026-2030). A self-help intervention to improve functioning, symptoms, and treatment utilization among non-treatment engaged post 9/11 Veterans with depression or PTSD symptoms. VA Brain, Behavioral and Mental Health Broad Portfolio, ISRM Parent Merit Review Award (Clinical Trials/I01), $1,312,353.

Co-Investigator (2025-2028). Improving fidelity of patient-centered suicide prevention care in primary care (PI: Funderburk). National Institute of Mental Health Lethal Means Safety Suicide Prevention Research in Healthcare and Community Settings, $375,000.

Co-Investigator (2024-2026). Improving patient-centered suicide prevention care in primary care (PI: Funderburk). American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Standard Research Grant, $124,681.

Multi-Principal Investigator (2022-2026). Optimizing a low-cost self-help disaster distress intervention for at-risk rural Veterans (MPI: Funderburk). VA Office of Rural Health VRHRC Project, $663,369.

Selected Completed Grants:

Co-Investigator & Site PI (2023-2025). Leveraging COVID-19 to modernize depression care for VA primary care populations (PI: Leung). Health Services Research & Development Targeted Solicitation for Service-Directed Research on Pandemic-Related Disrupted and Deferred Care, $124,681.

Principal Investigator (2021-2025) Improving anxiety treatment engagement and effectiveness in primary care-mental health integration: Multi-site hybrid I RCT of a brief Veteran-centered anxiety intervention. VA Health Services Research & Development Merit Grant, $1,239,937.

Principal investigator. (2017-2022). Improving primary care anxiety treatment engagement and effectiveness. VA Health Services Research & Development Career Development Award-2 (CDA-2), $750,881.