MIRECC / CoE

Senior Leadership

Katherine M. Dollar, PhD
Executive Director, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Phone: (203) 836-7052
katherine.dollar@va.gov

Gregory P. Beehler, PhD, MA
Associate Director for Research (Buffalo), Center for Integrated Healthcare
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Phone: (716) 862-7934
gregory.beehler@va.gov

Kyle Possemato, PhD
Associate Director for Research (Syracuse), Center for Integrated Healthcare
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Syracuse University
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York
Phone: (315) 425-4400 X53551
kyle.possemato@va.gov

Jessica Martin, PsyD
Associate Director for Education and Implementation, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Phone: (757) 506-6975
jessica.martin24@va.gov

Brenda Chewning-Kulick, MBA
Administrative Officer, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Phone: (315) 425-4400 ext. 54005
brenda.chewning-kulick@va.gov

Research

Gregory P. Beehler, PhD, MA
Associate Director for Research (Buffalo), Center for Integrated Healthcare
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Phone: (716) 862-7934
gregory.beehler@va.gov

Jennifer S. Funderburk, PhD
Clinical Research Psychologist, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Syracuse University
Adjunct Senior Instructor, University of Rochester Family Medicine Residency Program, Rochester, NY
Phone: (315) 425-4400 ext. 54703
jennifer.funderburk@va.gov

Julie Gass, PhD
Clinical Research Psychologist
Center for Integrated Healthcare (Buffalo)
Phone:(716) 862-5317
julie.gass@va.gov

Emily M. Johnson, PhD
Research Psychologist, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Phone: (315) 425-4400 ext. 53487
emily.johnson1@va.gov

Paul R. King, Jr., PhD
Research Psychologist, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Phone: (716) 862-6038
paul.king2@va.gov

Kyle Possemato, PhD
Associate Director for Research (Syracuse), Center for Integrated Healthcare
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Syracuse University
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York
Phone: (315) 425-3551
kyle.possemato@va.gov

Robyn L. Shepardson, PhD
Clinical Research Psychologist, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Phone: (315) 425-4400 ext. 53956
robyn.shepardson@va.gov

Ed/Implementation

Jessica Martin, PsyD
Associate Director for the Education & Implementation Core, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Phone:  (757) 506-6975
jessica.martin24@va.gov

Margaret "Peggy" Arnott, PhD
Clinical Education Program Manager
margaret.arnott@va.gov

Joseph Barron, PhD
Implementation & Education Specialist
joseph.barron2@va.gov

Laurie Brockmann, MPH, MSW
Project Manager, PCMHI Competency Training
laurie.brockmann@va.gov

Rachel Colbert, PsyD
Education & Implementation Specialist
rachel.colbert@va.gov

Michele Crisafulli, PhD
Education & Implementation Specialist
michele.crisafulli@va.gov

Leigha De Stefano, BA
Health Science Specialist
leigha.destefano@va.gov

Tad J. Kalahar, BS
Health Science Specialist
tad.kalahar@va.gov

Luke D. Mitzel, PhD
Psychologist
luke.mitzel@va.gov

Christina B. Shook, PsyD, ABPP
Education & Implementation Specialist
christina.shook@va.gov

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Katie Buckheit, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Center for Integrated Healthcare (Syracuse)
Phone:(315) 425-4400 extension 56742
katherine.buckheit@va.gov

Dezarie Moskal, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Center for Integrated Healthcare (Buffalo)
Phone: 716-834-9200 extension 25317
Dezarie.Moskal@va.gov

CIH Affiliates (in alphabetical order)
October 2022

Danielle Arigo, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Associate Professor of Psychology, Rowan University
arigo@rowan.edu

Dessa Bergen-Cico, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Associate Professor of Public Health, Syracuse University
dkbergen@syr.edu

Todd Bishop, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Chief Post-Doctoral Fellow, VA Advanced Fellowship in Mental Illness Research and Treatment,
VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention
todd.bishop@va.gov

Laura J. Buchholz, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Clinical Psychologist, Women’s Wellness Clinic, VA WNY Healthcare System
laura.buchholz@va.gov

Cory Crane, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Psychologist, Canandaigua VAMC
Cory.Crane@va.gov

Kim Curyto, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
CLC Psychologist and Implementation Scientist
VISN 2 Dementia Steering Committee Co-Chair
VA Western NY Healthcare System
Kimberly.Curyto@va.gov

Nicola De Paul, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Clinical Psychologist, VA Sierra Nevada Healthcare System

Margaret (Peg) Dundon, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
National Program Manager for Health Behavior, National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Office of Patient Care Services, VACO
margaret.dundon@va.gov

Sarah Heavey, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Director of Graduate Studies, MPH Programs
Clinical Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
scheavey@buffalo.edu

Gregory Homish, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Chair and Professor of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
ghomish@buffalo.edu

Lucinda Leung, MD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Staff Physician, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, VA West Los Angeles Campus
lucinda.leung@va.gov

Nadine Mastroleo, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Associate Professor of Psychology, Binghamton University, The State University of New York
nmastrol@binghamton.edu

Wilfred R. Pigeon, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center
Director, Sleep & Neurophysiology Research Laboratory, University of Rochester Medical Center
Health Science Specialist, VA Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, NY
Phone: (585) 393-7918 (Canandaigua); (315) 425-6546 (Syracuse)
wilfred.pigeon2@va.gov
wilfred_pigeon@urmc.rochester.edu

Ellen Poleshuck, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center
Ellen.Poleshuck@va.gov
Ellen_Poleshuck@URMC.Rochester.edu

Jennifer Read, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Professor and Chair of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
jpread@buffalo.edu

Jillian Scheer, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Assistant Professor, Cobb-Jones Professor of Clinical Psychology, Syracuse University
jrscheer@syr.edu

Nicole Trabold, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Research Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology
nxtihst@rit.edu

Bonnie Vest, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Research Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
bvest@buffalo.edu

Jennifer Wray, PhD
Affiliated Investigator, Center for Integrated Healthcare
Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Charleston VAMC
jennifer.wray@va.gov

Research Support (in alphabetical order)

John Acker, MS
Research Coordinator
Phone: (315) 425-4400 extension 53519
john.acker4@va.gov

Kimberly Barrie, MPH, LCSW
Research Social Worker and Research Coordinator
Phone: (315) 425-4400 extension 53972
kimberly.barrie@va.gov

Elsa Baumgartner, BS
Research Assistant
elsa.baumgartner@va.gov

Lee Bernstein, MA
Research Assistant
Phone: (716) 834-9200 extension 5306
lee.bernstein@va.gov

Abigail Cheesman, MS
Graduate Research Assistant
Phone: (716) 862-7930
abigail.cheesman@va.gov

Mandy Conrad, Ph.D.
Clinical Research Studies Coordinator
mandy.conrad@va.gov

Charlotte Crinnin, BA
Research Assistant
charlotte.crinnin2@va.gov

Ariella Davis, MSW
Research Coordinator
Phone: (315) 425-4400 extension 53912
ariella.davis@va.gov

April Eaker, BA
Research Assistant
Phone: (716) 862-6026
april.eaker@va.gov

Alyssa Giannone, BS
Research Assistant
alyssa.giannone@va.gov

Shannon Glasgow, MA
Psychology Intern
Phone: (716) 862-8858
shannon.glasgow@va.gov

Wade Goldstein, MA
Research Coordinator
Phone: (716) 862-8901
wade.goldstein@va.gov

Brenda G. Jeffries-Silmon, MHSA, BBA, CBP
Research Assistant
Phone: (716) 862.7944
brenda.jeffries-silmon@va.gov

Taylor Larobardiere, BS
Research Assistant
taylor.larobardiere@va.gov

Brielle E. Mather, MS MHC
Research Coordinator
Phone: (315) 425-4702
brielle.mather@va.gov

Shannon M. McKenzie, BA
Research Coordinator
Phone: (315) 425-4400 extension 53954
shannon.mckenzie@va.gov

Luke Mitzel, PhD
Psychologist
luke.mitzel@va.gov

Kelsey Natale, BA
Research Assistant
Phone: (315) 425-4400 extension 54004
kelsey.natale@va.gov

Benjamin Nitzke, BS
Research Assistant
Phone: (315) 425-4400 extension 54005
benjamin.nitzke@va.gov

Carrie Pengelly, MS
Research Assistant
Phone: (716) 862-7470
carrie.pengelly@va.gov

Leanna Poole, BA
Research Assistant
Phone: (315) 425-4400 extension 51219
leanna.poole@va.gov

Jocelyn Remmert, PhD
Clinical Research Program Director
jocelyn.remmert@va.gov

Thomas Reynolds
Peer Support Specialist
Phone: (315) 425-4400 extension 54500
thomas.reynolds3@va.gov

Brandi Roelk, PhD
Clinical Research Program Coordinator
brandi.roelk@va.gov

Jacob Scharer, PhD
Clinical Research Program Coordinator
Phone: (314) 269-6547
jacob.scharer@va.gov

Mara Sindoni, BA
Research Coordinator
mara.sindoni@va.gov

Allyson Smith, BS
Research Coordinator and Administrative Support
Phone: (315) 552-0659
allyson.smith@va.gov

Sara Tauriello, MA
Graduate Research Assistant
Phone: (716) 834-9200
sara.tauriello@va.gov

Katharine VanTreese, LCSW
Senior Social Worker
Phone: (716) 480-3865
katharine.vantreese@va.gov

Michael Wade, MS
Biostatistician
Phone: (315) 425-6546
michael.wade@va.gov

Kyle White, MS
Graduate Research Assistant
Phone: (315) 425-4400 extension 53538
kyle.white2@va.gov

Sammy Yuknat, BS
Research Assistant
sammy.yuknat@va.gov

Emeritus Directors

Laura O. Wray, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics/Gerontology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Phone: (716) 862-8598
laura.wray@va.gov

Stephen A. Maisto, PhD ABPP
Professor, Department of Psychology, Syracuse University
Research Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York
Phone: (315) 443-2334
samaisto@syr.edu