PsyD Faculty

The Touro PsyD program is home to a distinguished and resourceful faculty that come from diverse backgrounds, with each faculty member having their own specialized interests and perspective on the intersection of psychology and medicine.

Our core faculty have professional expertise in areas like sports psychology and integrative community health care, and bring their practical knowledge and experience into their classroom teaching. Our faculty members also pursue unique research projects in their focus areas. A few of their research areas include the treatment of anger and violence through emotional regulation, technology’s impact on both health awareness and health disparities, and how to improve support services in the family care unit. Explore our individual faculty bios and learn more about their background, research areas and publications.

Core Faculty

Carrie DiMatteo, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor, Doctor of Clinical Psychology

RESEARCH AREA:

Examination of self-focused attention, its triggers and its consequences, by combining current technology and communication platforms as vehicles of investigate.

Frank Gardner, Ph.D., ABPP

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Health SciencesExecutive Director, Doctor of Clinical PsychologyProfessor of Psychology, Doctor of Clinical Psychology

RESEARCH AREA:

Dr. Frank Gardner's areas of clinical research include mindfulness-based interventions, anger and violence research and treatment, and the role of emotional acceptance and regulation on health.

Jeffrey Gardere, Ph.D., ABPP

Interim Director of Clinical Training, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, School of Health SciencesAssociate Professor of Behavioral Medicine, Touro College of Osteopathic MedicineAssociate Professor of Psychology, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, School of Health Sciences

RESEARCH AREA:

The development of cultural competence in clinical psychologists, psychology in integrative medical settings, and the impact of technology on health knowledge/awareness and health disparities.

Daniel J. Moran, PhD,

Director of Clinical Training, Doctor of Clinical PsychologyAssociate Professor, Doctor of Clinical Psychology

RESEARCH AREA:

Dr. DJ Moran's areas of clinical research has been designed to study the components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to explore the myriad of possible applications for improving health, behavior, and overall well-being.

Yosef Sokol, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor, Doctor of Clinical Psychology

RESEARCH AREA:

Dr. Yosef Sokol's areas of clinical research has been designed to develop and evaluate efficacy of a recovery-oriented treatment, Continuous Identity Cognitive Therapy (CI-CT), for post-suicidal patients, as well as to develop a theoretical model of post Covid-19 psychiatric conditions that integrates direct medical and psychiatric sequela with psychosocial downstream effects of loss of functioning.

Faye Walkenfeld, Ph.D.

Chair, Department of Behavioral ScienceAssociate Professor of Psychology, Doctor of Clinical Psychology

RESEARCH AREA:

Issues of spirituality in psychological services, issues relating to the provision of psychological services in religious communities, and the intersection between disabilities and medical illness in children.

Contributing Faculty

Suzzane Braniecke, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor, Doctor of Clinical PsychologyAssistant Professor, School of Medicine, PediatricsAssistant Professor, School of Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

RESEARCH AREA:

Cognitive functioning in sickle cell patients who have undergone stem cell transplant, studies related to data included in cancer survivorship registry, pediatric epilepsy, and pediatric neuropsychology in general.

Janet Grotticelli, DO, MBA

Director of Primary Care, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Harlem CampusClinical Associate Professor, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, School of Health SciencesAssociate Professor of Primary Care, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Harlem Campus

Meira L Orentlicher, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Director of Research & Faculty Scholarship, School of Health SciencesAssociate Chair of Research & Scholarship, Occupational Therapy MSDissertation Committee & Research Coordination, Doctor of Clinical PsychologyProfessor, Occupational Therapy MS

RESEARCH AREA:

Transition from school to adult life, person-centered planning, consumer-directed disability programs, collaboration in school-based practice

Lila Pereira, PhD

Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

RESEARCH AREA:

Adjustment and quality of life after a medical diagnosis, the role of digital storytelling in trauma processing for young adults, and the quality of life of sibling donors in stem cell transplant.

Sheindy Pretter, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Psychology, Doctor of Clinical Psychology

RESEARCH AREA:

Psychosocial, spiritual, and practical aspects of caretaking, both of the elderly and of the chronically ill.

Louis H. Primavera, PhD

Professor of Psychology, Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Yali Werzberger, PsyD

Clinical Assistant Professor, Doctor of Clinical Psychology