Clinical health psychology research is broadly defined as investigation into the interaction between psychological and physical health. It can focus on how diseases impact people psychologically or how psychological processes impact disease. Work can range from laboratory to medical/health to community settings. The training for the research focus in clinical health psychology involves engagement in research, in collaboration with a faculty mentor, on a topic related to health psychology, which may range from rather basic research to more applied investigations.

• Michael Alosco, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center
• Dayana Calvo, Ph.D. – Staff Neuropsychologist, Bay Pines VA
• Andrew Fedor, Ph.D. - Clinical Neuropsychologist, Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, Alina Health
• Rachel Galioto, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University; Staff Neuropsychologist, Department of Psycholo

Dr. William Lechner - Neurocognitive deficits in individuals with Substance Use Disorders, including the study of bi-directional effects of executive function deficits and addictive behaviors.

Dr. Yossef S. Ben-Porath - Objective personality assessment with emphasis on the MMPI instruments, including applications in a variety of settings (clinical, correctional, forensic, and pre-employment screening) and computerized adaptive testing.

Dr. John Gunstad - Clinical neuropsychology, including the effects of disease on neurocognitive function and strategies to promote healthy brain aging.

Assessment Psychology students are exposed to a wide variety of clinical problems and procedures during the second year clinical practicum. While the emphasis is on psychotherapy, assessment is an integral part of the training provided. Brief assessments are conducted with all adult clients, and more comprehensive assessments are conducted with selected clients. Students can select a third year specialty practicum that focuses on personality and neuropsychological assessment.

Students interested in the Assessment Psychology research focus are expected to complete departmental and clinical core course requirements. In addition, they should register for elective assessment courses related to their research interests and career goals. Advanced courses include Child Assessment, Behavioral Assessment, and Neuropsychological Assessment. Some other elective courses may be waived to give students more time for involvement in additional research projects.

Assessment research focuses on the development and validation of ways to gauge important individual differences. At Kent State, we concentrate on widely used psychological tests designed to assess personality and psychopathology in adults and adolescents (MMPI-3, and MMPI-A-RF) and neuropsychological tests to determine the impact of age and disease on brain function and behavior. Students are involved in grant-funded studies and have opportunities to present their own research at national scientific meetings.

• Dr. Yossef Ben-Porath studies the assessment of personality and psychopathology.
• Dr. John Gunstad studies neurocognitive functioning, particularly as it relates to medical conditions.
• Dr.

Dr. Jeffrey Ciesla - The processes and course of depressive disorders.

Dr. Karin Coifman - Emotion processing and emotion regulatory strategies in the development and persistence of psychopathology in stressed populations.

Dr. William Lechner - The effects of neurocognitive deficits and psychopathology in addiction.