VISN 2 Center for Integrated Healthcare (CIH)

Center Personnel
Senior Leadership
Research
Ed/Implementation
Post-Doc Fellows
CIH Affiliates
Research Support
Emeritus Directors
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