Key Personnel

Biography  
Dr. Pao is Clinical Director and Deputy Scientific Director of the National Institutes of Mental Health Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health. She was Chief of the Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service in the Hatfield Clinical Research Center 2008-2019 and still serves as an Attending. A native of Bethesda, she attended Wellesley College before completing a BA/MD program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed Pediatric and Psychiatric Residency training as well as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is board certified in Pediatrics (1994, 2001), General Psychiatry (1994), Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1994) and Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (2008, 2018).

Research Interests  
Dr. Pao’s core research interests are in the complex interactions between medical and psychiatric symptoms in pediatric oncology, pediatric HIV and other primary immunodeficiencies. She studies distress and its correlates including suicidal thoughts and behaviors in medically ill children. She has published more than 150 research articles and chapters and co-edited the Quick Reference for Pediatric Oncology Clinicians: The Psychiatric and Psychological Dimensions of Pediatric Cancer Symptom Management, 2nd ed, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015.

Dr. Pao helped develop the ASQ (Ask Suicide-Screening Questions), a validated suicide risk screening tool for youth and adults in medical settings. This instrument has been translated into 16 languages. The ASQ toolkit is on the NIMH website http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ASQ for public use. Dr. Pao also developed Voicing My CHOiCES™, an advance care planning guide for adolescents and young adults. A leader in promoting the field of pediatric consultation liaison psychiatry and integrated care for children, she is a recipient of the 2012 AACAP Simon Wile Award. She is President-Elect of the Academy of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry. She is a professor on the clinical faculty at Georgetown University, George Washington University and at the Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine.

Selected Publications

Adaptations made to pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry service delivery during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: A North American multisite survey.  Brahmbhatt K, Mournet AM, Malas N, DeSouza C, Greenblatt J, Afzal KI, Giles LL, Charoensook J, Feuer V, Raza H, Mooneyham G, Pergjika A, Schlesinger A, Chapman A, Strain A, Gandhi B, Johnson K, Mroczkowski MM, Ibeziako P, Graham R, Yoon Y, Plioplys S, Fuchs C, Shaw RJ, Pao M. (2021), J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry, PMID: 34033972

Validation of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) for Adult Medical Inpatients: A Brief Tool for All Ages. Horowitz LM, Snyder DJ, Boudreaux ED, He JP, Harrington CJ, Cai J, Claassen CA, Salhany JE, Dao T, Chaves JF, Jobes DA, Merikangas KR, Bridge JA, Pao M. (2020) Psychosomatics. PMID: 32487323

Shaw RJ, Walker A, Rackley S, Fuchs C, Meadows A, Dalope K, Pao M, Special Interest Group for Pediatric Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Core Competencies, Physically Ill Child Committee, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Core Competencies for Pediatric Consultation Liaison Psychiatry in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Training. (2019). Psychosomatics. PMID: 31248613

The Importance of Screening Preteens for Suicide Risk in the Emergency Department. Lanzillo E, Horowitz L, Wharff E, Sheftall A, Pao M, Bridges JA. (2019) Hospital Pediatrics. PMID: 30858170

Stepping stones for psychiatry residents who pursue scientific research careers. Chung J, Pao M. (2013) International Rev Psychiatry. PMID: 23859091.

Allowing adolescents and young adults to plan their end-of life care . Wiener L, Zadeh S, Battles H, Baird K, Ballard E, Osherow J, Pao M. (2012) Pediatrics. PMID: 23045560.

Ask suicide-screening questions (ASQ).  A brief instrument for the pediatric emergency department. Horowitz LM, Bridge JA, Teach SJ, Ballard E, Klima J, Rosenstein DL, Wharff EA, Ginnis K, Cannon E, Joshi P, Pao M. (2012) Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. PMID: 23027429.

Biography

Ms. Radcliffe assists the OCD in administrative matters and coordinates program activities for the OCD. She is involved in program policy, compliance, and protocol navigation. She serves as the IRP Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) coordinator.

Biography

Lisa M. Cullins, MD is the Director of the NIMH Clinical Training Program, and an Attending Physician in the Emotion and Development Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, MD. Dr. Cullins is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. Dr. Cullins completed her Adult Psychiatry Residency at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute in Los Angeles, CA and her Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, NY. Dr. Cullins has devoted most of her career to training and education, community psychiatry and systems of care, in particular, working with children and adolescents in the child welfare system and other underserved populations. Dr. Cullins has had the privilege of being a physician leader and clinician educator in multiple treatment settings ranging from research, academic, tertiary care hospital facilities to one of the largest child community mental health providers in the State of California (Corporate Medical Director, EMQ Families First Children & Family Services). Throughout her career, Dr. Cullins has been a staunch advocate for quality and access to care for children and families and has been an active participant in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) as current Co-Chair of the Diversity and Culture Committee, past Councilor At Large, past Chair of Task Force on Crisis in Recruitment into Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, past Co-Chair of the Workforce Committee, past Adoption and Foster Care Committee Member, past Secretary of Regional Organization, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Society of Greater Washington (CAPSGW) and past Delegate of Regional Organization, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Society of Greater Washington (CAPSGW) to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Assembly. Most recently, prior to Dr. Cullins’ current position at the National Institute of Health, she was the Training Director for the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program and the Director of Outpatient Psychiatry at Children’s National Medical Center. During her role as Training Director, Dr. Cullins served as the Chair of the Child Caucus of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training (AADPRT).

Biography

Dr. Raza is a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist serving as medical officer in the Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service in the Office of the Clinical Director in the National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Raza serves as Associate Director of the Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service in the Hatfield Clinical Research Center. Dr. Raza previously was the Medical Director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children’s National Health System from 2010 to 2018 and focused her clinical work on treatment of comorbid psychiatric disorders in children, adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities and complex medical conditions. She was also involved in teaching medical students, residents and fellows.

Dr. Raza completed three years of general psychiatry residency training at Georgetown University. She subsequently did her 4th year of psychiatry residency, focusing on psychosomatic medicine, in the OCD at NIMH. She next pursued Psychosomatic Medicine fellowship training in a joint program with Georgetown University and NIMH. Dr. Raza did a second fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at Children’s National. She is board certified in General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine.

Research Interests

Her research interests are in topics related to psychiatric disorders presenting in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities and complex medical illness. She is the recipient of Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doctor Award in 2016 and 2017, as well as the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows Distinguished Teacher Award in 2015. Dr. Raza is on the executive council of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Society of Greater Washington, serving as Secretary since 2016.

Selected Publications

Adaptations Made To Pediatric Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service Delivery During The Early Months Of The COVID-19 Pandemic: A North American Multisite Survey. Brahmbhatt, Khyati Mournet, A. M., Malas, N., DeSouza, C., Greenblatt, J., Afzal, K. I., Giles, L. L., Charoensook, J., Feuer, V., Raza, H., Mooneyham, G. C., Pergjika, A., Schlesinger, A., Chapman, A., Strain, A., Gandhi, B., Johnson, K., Mroczkowski, M. M., Ibeziako, P., Graham, R., Yoon, Y., Plioplys, S., Fuchs, C., Shaw, R. J. and Pao, M. et al. (2021) Journal Of The Academy Of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. PMID: 34033972

Gene Expression Profiles Predict Emergence of Psychiatric Adverse Events in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients onIinterferon-Based HCV Therapy. Rasimas J, Katsounas A, Raza H, et al.  (2012). J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. PMID: 22728749

Mania: Psychiatric Manifestations of the Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Raza H, Epstein SA, Pao M, Rosenstein DL. (2008) Psychosomatics. PMID: 18794513

Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine: an Annotated Bibliography. Pao M, Ballard ED, Raza H, Rosenstein DL. (2007) Psychosomatics. PMID: 17478587

Facilitating Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Patients with Comorbid Medical Illness. Hicks DW, Raza H. (2005) Curr Psychiatry Rep. PMID: 15935138

Biography

Ms. Snyder received her Bachelor of Arts Degree cum laude, from Duke University and her Master’s Degree in Social Work, Phi Kappa Phi, from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Community Planning. She received additional post-graduate training at the Family Therapy Practice Center under the tutelage of Marianne Walters in Washington, DC. Ms. Snyder began her career at the George Washington University Medical Center’s newly opened Cancer Center in 1990 where she was charged with creating and implementing an outpatient psycho-oncology program. In 1992, she joined the NIH Clinical Center’s Social Work Department where she worked for over a decade as a clinician and educator. Ms. Snyder currently holds the position of Special Assistant to the NIMH Clinical Director where she participates as faculty on the Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service evaluating and treating patients with co-morbid medical and psychiatric diagnoses. She conducts educational outreach initiatives at the interface of mental health and medical illness; works on NIMH Clinical Fellowship, Residency, Medical school, and other training initiatives; acts as NIMH OCD liaison on patient safety and quality initiatives; and conduct research including in risk of suicide screening and implementation. She has received several awards including most recently the NIMH Directors Award (April 2017) for Significant Achievement for developing the Distressed Trainee Toolkit and the NIH 2017 CC Director’s Award for suicide risk screening implementation.

Biography

Dr. Horowitz received her B.A. from Tufts University. After obtaining her doctorate in clinical psychology from the George Washington University, Dr. Horowitz completed a Pediatric Clinical Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as a Health Service Research Fellowship in the Clinical Effectiveness Program at Harvard Medical School, and obtained a Master’s in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. The major focus of Dr. Horowitz’s research has been in the area of suicide prevention with an emphasis on detection of suicide risk in the medical setting. Dr. Horowitz has served as a Topic Expert on suicide screening for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. She was lead PI on the development of two suicide risk screening instruments for the pediatric emergency department (ED): the Risk of Suicide Questionnaire (RSQ) and the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ), a tool created to screen pediatric medical/surgical patients for suicide risk. She is currently lead PI on 6 NIMH studies focused on validating and implementing the ASQ in emergency departments, medical/surgical inpatient units and outpatient primary care and specialty clinics. Dr. Horowitz is collaborating with hospitals and outpatient pediatric clinics around the country, assisting with implementation of suicide risk screening for pediatric and adult patients. More information on the ASQ can be found at www.nimh.nih.gov/ASQ.

Biography

Dr. Snow is a licensed psychologist and an American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who provides and oversees neuropsychological evaluations at the NIH Clinical Center for clinical care as well as for protocol-driven research.

He is an investigator on a broad range of research protocols, including both studies of common disorders, such as HIV, various dementias, and cancers to rare genetic disorders, such as Neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), Moebius syndrome, and methylmalonic acidemia, as well as infectious diseases, such as Ebola virus disorder. He oversees the clinical and research responsibilities of psychologists, research assistants, psychometrists, and graduate students.

Dr. Snow earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), including a predoctoral internship at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in East Orange, NJ. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry. He was recruited in 2001 to the NIMH’s Mood and Anxiety Program and the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition. In 2008, he established NIMH’s Neuropsychology Consult Service.

Biography

Audrey Thurm, Ph.D., is Director of the Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service in the Office of the Clinical Director, part of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)’s Intramural Research Program (IRP). After receiving a B.S. in human development from Cornell University, she received training in child clinical psychology at DePaul University, trained as an intern at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and conducted a post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has been at NIMH since 2002, serving in the extramural program until 2006, at which time she moved to the IRP to engage in research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other related neurodevelopmental disorders.

Research Interests

Through the Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, Dr. Thurm’s research interests focus on evaluating and improving upon diagnostic and cognitive assessment instrumentation through longitudinal studies of risk and characterization of neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition to studying the prodromal and post-diagnostic characterization of idiopathic autism spectrum disorder (ASD), studies also focus on phenotypic explorations of genetic disorders associated with Intellectual Disability and ASD. A goal of this research is to improve instrumentation to allow for more finely-tuned developmental assessments that distinguish various phenotype-genotype relationships and serve as useful treatment outcome measures. Using team science, Dr. Thurm works on both extremely rare genetic conditions as well as more common conditions, as findings from each inform the other.

In addition to serving as associate investigator on a variety of natural history and treatment studies of rare and undiagnosed genetic conditions in the intramural research program (through institutes that include NIMH, NICHD, NHGRI & NHLBI) and roles on several extramurally funded grants, Dr. Thurm is Principal Investigator on NIMH protocol 06-M-0065 , The Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Screening Protocol and protocol 15-M-0139 , Mapping the Genotype, Phenotype and Natural History of Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, a study to learn more about the medical, behavioral and cognitive features of Phelan-McDermid Syndrome that is part of the RDCRN Developmental Synaptopathies Consortium .

Selected Publications

Outcome Measures for Core Symptoms of Intellectual Disability: State of the Field. Thurm A, Kelleher B, Wheeler A.. Am J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2020 Nov 1;125(6):418-433. doi: 10.1352/1944-7558-125.6.418 PMID: 33211819.

State of the Field: Differentiating Intellectual Disability From Autism Spectrum Disorder. Thurm A, Farmer C, Salzman E, Lord C, Bishop S.. Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:526. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00526. eCollection 2019. Review. PMID: 31417436.

Loss of skills and onset patterns in neurodevelopmental disorders: Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms. Thurm A, Powell EM, Neul JL, Wagner A, Zwaigenbaum L. Autism Res. 2018 Feb;11(2):212-222. doi: 10.1002/aur.1903. Epub 2017 Dec 11. PMID: 29226600.

Framework for assessing individuals with rare genetic disorders associated with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD): the example of Phelan McDermid Syndrome. Soorya L, Leon J, Trelles MP, Thurm A. Clin Neuropsychol. 2017 Dec 21:1-30. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2017.1413211. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 29265961.

Identification of Developmental and Behavioral Markers Associated With Genetic Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Bishop SL, Farmer C, Bal V, Robinson EB, Willsey AJ, Werling DM, Havdahl KA, Sanders SJ, Thurm A. Am J Psychiatry. Am J Psychiatry. 2017 Jun 1;174(6):576-585. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16101115. Epub 2017 Mar 3. PMID: 28253736.

Biography

Dr. Buckley received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University, her M.D. from SUNY, Stony Brook and completed her training in Child Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. She then completed a fellowship in Clinical Trials at the National Institute of Mental Health and a Clinical Fellowship in Sleep Medicine at New York Sleep Institute at NYU. She is board certified in Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child and also boarded in Sleep Medicine. In 2006, the Sleep Service at NIH was established under her directorship. The Service provides clinical assessment and diagnosis of sleep disorders for children and adults for the Clinical Center.

Research Interests

The ultimate goal of her research is to work collaboratively to elucidate underlying aberrant, sleep-mediated neurotransmission early in the course of neurodevelopmental disorders that might offer potential therapeutic targets. Disordered sleep is likely a crucial but overlooked mediator of epigenetic change important to the development of neuropsychiatric illness, especially understudied in children. Separately, sleep dysregulation may also be one of the first signs of developmental problems. Ashura’s research is focused on working collaboratively with scientists inside and outside of the NIH to help identify electrical activity patterns in the sleeping brain coupled with other physiological markers of sleep that might serve as useful markers in the earliest detection of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this way, NIH IRP has partnered with other centers of excellence through the Sleep & Neurodevelopmental Consortium, to establish a cross disciplinary, cross platform effort to incorporate new advances in recording techniques, big data mining and biomarker exploration into our current understanding of how sleep builds the brain.

Selected Publications

Functional Brain Connectivity in Electrical Status Epilepticus in Sleep (ESES). Mott et al (2018). Epileptic Disorders. in press

Spindle activity in young children with autism, developmental delay, or typical development. Farmer et al. (2018). Neurology. PMID: 29875224.

State-Dependent Differences in Functional Connectivity in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Buckley, A, Scott, R., Tyler A., Mahoney, JM., Burroughs S., Thurm, A., Farmer C., Swedo SE., Burroughs S., Holmes G. (2015) . PMID: 26844269.

An Open Label Trial of Donepezil for Enhancement of REM Sleep in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Buckley, A., Sassower K., Rodriguez AJ., Jennison K., Wingert K., Buckley, J.,Thurm, A., Sato, S. & Swedo, S. (2011). Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. 21 (4): 353-357 PMID: 21851192.

REM Sleep Percentage in Children with Autism Compared to Children with Developmental Delay and Typical Development. Buckley, A., Rodriguez, A., Jennison, K., Buckley, J., Thurm, A., Sato, S., & Swedo, S. (2010). Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 164 (11): 1032-1037 PMID: 21041596.

Biography

Dr. Mooneyham completed her bachelor’s degree at Liberty University and her master’s degree in Medical Sciences at Indiana University School of Medicine where she worked in the developmental epigenetics research lab under the supervision of Dr. David Skalnik. Dr. Mooneyham went on to receive her Medical Doctorate from St. George’s University School of Medicine with special emphasis on education in global health. She then completed a five-year triple board residency at Indiana University School of Medicine (General Pediatrics, Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) where she worked as a house staff physician at Riley Hospital for Children. Dr. Mooneyham was Chief Resident (elected) for the General Psychiatry program at Indiana University and Co-Chief Resident (appointed) for the Triple Board program. During her time at Indiana University, Dr. Mooneyham was mentored by Dr. Nerissa Bauer and participated in her RO1 clinical research portfolio in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

After training, Dr. Mooneyham was on faculty at Duke University School of Medicine where she served as the Director for the Pediatric Consultation & Liaison Psychiatry Service within Duke Children’s Hospital and Co-Director for the Pediatric Autoimmune Brain Diseases Clinic. She went on to become the Psychiatry Clerkship Director and a research mentor for third-year medical students at Duke University School of Medicine.

Dr. Mooneyham is board certified in General Pediatrics, Adult Psychiatry, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Research Interests

Dr. Mooneyham joined the National Institute of Mental Health in October of 2020. Dr. Mooneyham is actively working on the development of a trans-NIH initiative focused on facilitating translational research in Pediatric Autoimmune Brain Disorders and Neuroinflammatory conditions.

Dr. Mooneyham’s research focus is on Autoimmune Encephalitis and other immune mediated causes of psychosis. Her research includes deep clinical phenotyping along with the application of genomic technologies and immunophenotyping in patients with undiagnosed neuropsychiatric conditions. She aims to identify biomarkers and novel mechanisms of illness that may allow us to better understand the role of the immune system in neuropsychiatric conditions.

In this effort, she provides clinical care for children and adolescents with complex neuropsychiatric symptoms to include psychosis and catatonia. Dr. Mooneyham leads the NIMH inpatient pediatric psychiatry unit at the Clinical Center. She also collaborates closely with the Undiagnosed Disease Program and sees both adult and pediatric patients through the Psychiatry Consultation and Liaison Service. Dr. Mooneyham’s translational research efforts are centered on defining best practice in the collaborative care for pediatric patients with Autoimmune Encephalitis. Her work also addresses the need for patient advocacy and building consensus in disease models where multi-disciplinary care is required.

Selected Publications

Psychiatric Phenotypes of Pediatric Patients With Seropositive Autoimmune Encephalitis. Adams AV, Van Mater H, Gallentine W, Mooneyham GC. (2021) Hosp Pediatr. PMID: 34103402.

Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance Clinicians Network. Autoimmune encephalitis: proposed best practice recommendations for diagnosis and acute management. Abboud H, Probasco JC, Irani S, Ances B, Benavides DR, Bradshaw M, Christo PP, Dale RC, Fernandez-Fournier M, Flanagan EP, Gadoth A, George P, Grebenciucova E, Jammoul A, Lee ST, Li Y, Matiello M, Morse AM, Rae-Grant A, Rojas G, Rossman I, Schmitt S, Venkatesan A, Vernino S, Pittock SJ, Titulaer MJ. (2021) J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. PMID: 33649022.

Developing Consensus in the Assessment and Treatment Pathways for Autoimmune Encephalitis in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Mooneyham GC, Ferrafiat V, Stolte E, Fuchs DC, Cohen D. (2021) Front Psychiatry. PMID: 33854451

Non-N-methyl-D-aspartate Autoimmune Encephalopathy and Catatonia Treated with Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Pediatric Case Series and Treatment Guidelines. Mischel NA, Mooneyham GC, Lau C, Van Mater H, Weiner RD. (2020) Psychosomatics. PMID: 31980211.

Psychiatric Symptoms in Pediatric Patients with Myelin-Oligodendrocyte-Glycoprotein-Immunoglobulin G-Antibody Positive Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Case Series. Powers JH, Mooneyham GC. (2020) Psychosomatics. PMID: 31980213.

Evaluation of Diagnostic Criteria for Hashimoto Encephalopathy Among Children and Adolescents. Adams AV, Mooneyham GC, Van Mater H, Gallentine W. (2020) Pediatr Neurol. PMID: 32173161.

Autoimmune Brain Disorders: Beyond the Basics. Mooneyham GC, Namerow L, Cohen D, Stolte E, Young K,Wells E, Van Mater H. (2019) Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

A Clinical Overview for the Practicing Child Psychiatrist. Mooneyham GC, Gallentine W, Van Mater H. Evaluation and Management of Autoimmune Encephalitis: (2018) Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. PMID: 29157501.

Biography

After coming to the USA in 1990, Dr. Pavletic did a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at the Swedish Hospital, Seattle, WA, and was a research associate in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington where she conducted NIH-funded clinical research on pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Prior to coming to NIH, Dr. Pavletic spent 10 years in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, first as a family medicine resident and later as a faculty, where she has received several awards for academic excellence and clinical research.

Research Interests

Dr. Pavletic’s research is based on her extensive experience in medical screening of healthy volunteers who participate in mental health and neuroscience research. Her “lab” is mental health clinic, and she shares her clinical observations and lessons learned through publications and formal teaching. While the role of mental health screening has long been established, her publications document previously underrecognized importance of medical screening for safety of participants and validity of research. In addition to benefits, she also explores potential harms of screening and strategies to minimize them. Other interests include interplay of physical and mental illness and physical manifestations of stress and emotional trauma.

Selected Publications

Why Knowing Healthy Controls Matters. Pavletic AJ. (2020) Int J Clin Pract PMID 31573729

Safety, Science, or Both? Deceptive Healthy Volunteers: Psychiatric Conditions Uncovered by Objective Methods of Screening. Pavletic AJ, Pao M. (2017) Psychosomatics. PMID 28651795

Early Disseminated Lyme Disease Causing False-Positive Serology for Primary Epstein-Barr Virus Infection: Report of 2 cases. Pavletic AJ, Marques AR (2017) Clin Infect Dis PMID 28379435

An Integrated View of Potassium Homeostasis. Pavletic AJ. (2015) N Engl J Med PMID 26510041

Exercise-Induced Elevation of Liver Enzymes in a Healthy Female Research Volunteer. Pavletic AJ, Pao M, Wright ME. (2015) Psychosomatics. PMID 26362917

Popular Dietary Supplement causes False-Positive Drug Screen for Amphetamines. Pavletic AJ, Pao M. (2014) Psychosomatic. PMID 23932535

Screening Electrocardiograms in Psychiatric Research: Implications for Physicians and Healthy Volunteers. Pavletic AJ, Pao M, Luckenbaugh DA, Pine DS, Rosing DR. (2014) Int J Clin Pract. PMID 24341305

Hyperkalemia Induced by Excessive Consumption of Dried Fruits-Manifestation of an Undiagnosed Eating Disorder? Pavletic AJ.(2011)  Psychosomatics. PMID 21907077

Biography

Dr. Sinclair supports NIMH and NINDS studies by providing psychological screening of adult and child participants using structured diagnostic interviews and related assessment procedures. He is credentialed by the NIH Clinical Center. Dr. Sinclair received his PhD from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. He has been with the NIH Intramural Research Program since 2007.

Biography

Karen has been a long time government employee with over 20 years of experience in the administrative area. Her main duties include supporting Dr. Pao, personnel, travel, property, budget and various administrative responsibilities. She has a BA in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in English and Psychology.