VISN 1 MIRECC Staff: Jay Gorman, Ph.D.
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Jay Gorman, Ph.D.
Dr. Jay Gorman completed his doctoral internship at the Butner Federal Correctional Complex and is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, Education Director, and Research Investigator for the VISN 1 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the VA Bedford Health Care System. He also holds an appointment as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. He leads the Veteran Outreach Into the Community to Expand Social Support (VOICES) team, focusing on enhancing Veteran social connection, community engagement and access to care. Dr. Gorman is a member of the National Peer Support Services Think Tank, coordinated by the VHA Office of Peer Support Services, where he contributes to advancing peer support initiatives. Additionally, he serves on the U.S. Government Social Connection Coordination Interagency Team, collaborating across agencies to address national issues related to isolation and loneliness. Dr. Gorman’s research centers on social integration, community-building strategies, and the development of social support systems for Veterans, including those managing isolation, loneliness, addiction, and mental health concerns.
Education
- B.A., Psychology, Boston University, 2008
- M.A., General Psychology, American University, 2012
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, American University, 2015
Areas of Research Interest
- Social Connection
- Community Engagement
- Addiction
- Social Reintegration
Projects & Grants
- Expanding VA Access in Rural Areas Via Community-Based Social Support (PI)
An Office of Rural Health funded study that examines a peer specialist-led social group intervention in rural areas that is community-based and aims to reduce barriers to help-seeking and improve social support among Veterans. 2023 – 2026. - Using Gaming to Increase Social Connection and VA access among Younger Veterans (PI)
An Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP) funded demonstration project using military gaming communities to reach Veteran gamers and enhance their knowledge and access to VA information and resources. 2023 – 2025. - Veterans Socials for Older Veterans with Depression (PI)
An Office of Research and Development, VA Rehabilitation Research & Development funded open trial with the goal of adapting a community-based peer-led social intervention for an older population living depression. 2023 - 2025 - Veterans Socials: Expanding Social Support in the Community (PI)
Dr. Gorman was selected as a 2024 VHA Innovation Ecosystem Fellow by VHA Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL), which funded activities to expand Veterans Social groups across the country. These peer-led community-based social groups leveraged public-private partnerships to expand across the country. 2023 – 2024. - Building Capacity and Sustaining Veteran-led Community-Based Social Groups (PI)
An Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention project to disseminate and spread a community-based and Veteran-led social intervention across multiple U.S. regions. 2021 – 2022. - Veteran Outreach Into the Community to Expand Social Support (VOICES): A Community Engagement Intervention (PI)
An Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention demonstration project to create and develop a manual to build social support for and with Veterans in the community through Peer Specialist and Veteran-led social groups. 2019 – 2021. - Boosted Community Reintegration (PI)
Funded by the VA Innovation Center, this was a pilot project designed to use contingency management principles to facilitate community reintegration for Veterans living in a transitional residence. 2017-2018.
