Welcome Candance Sorensen!
Candance Sorensen joined the Felder Lab in July 2024 as a full-time clinical research coordinator on the PRISM Study. Candance is a recent graduate of UC Berkeley, where she was involved in research on how hormonal factors influence neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism in women. Candance aims to pursue a doctoral program in clinical psychology, focusing on advancing understanding and treatment in these critical areas. We are so grateful to have Candance on our team!
RISE Study publication
Results of the RISE Study were published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine in June 2024. Our findings suggest that mindfulness-based stress reduction combined with prenatal sleep classes are both feasible and acceptable for treating prenatal insomnia. Access to this paper is available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15402002.2024.2359415#abstract
Berni and Richelle present PRISM Study findings at ABCT Student Research Symposium
Berni and Richelle presented posters at the ABCT Virtual Student Research Symposium in May 2024. Check out Berni's poster on predictors of treatment expectancy here: https://x.com/ABCTStudentSIG/status/1796527171961315650 and Richelle's poster on help-seeking behaviors during pregnancy here: https://x.com/ABCTStudentSIG/status/1796534405608919208.
Congrats Berni on her first-author publication in Contemporary Clinical Trials!
"Viewpoint: Challenges and strategies for engaging participants in videoconferencing appointments” was published in Contemporary Clinical Trials in January of 2024. It highlights strategies the PRISM team has utilized during remote study visits to recruit and retain participants. Access to this paper is available here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1551714423003488
Dr. Carolyn Ponting awarded NIMH Diversity Supplement
Congratulations to Dr. Carolyn Ponting, who was awarded the NIMH diversity supplement in February 2024. With this award, Dr. Ponting will be researching ways to enhance recruitment, retention and mental health outcomes for perinatal ethnic/racial minorities in the Felder Lab's randomized clinical trials.
Team Building at Tartine Manufactory and Dandelion Chocolate Factory
In May 2023, the team got together and enjoyed an afternoon at Tartine Manufactory and a tour of the Dandelion Chocolate Factory.
New Lab Members
The Felder Lab welcomed 3 new lab members in Spring 2023!
Patricia Moran, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is also a research specialist at the Osher Center for Integrative Health, where she has been directing projects for over 20 years.
Carolyn Ponting, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral fellow in the UCSF department of psychiatry. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from UCLA and completed her APA-accredited clinical internship at UCSF's Clinical Psychology Training Program- Public Service & Minority Cluster. Her research examines the sociocultural factors that contribute to the risk and alleviation of mental health problems in Latinx families, with an emphasis on pregnant women and children.
Richelle Mah, B.A. is a clinical research coordinator on the PRISM Study. She received her degree in psychology at the University of San Francisco. She is curious about how mental health conditions manifest differently among minoritized communities and is interested in the development and implementation of accessible, culturally competent interventions. She hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology to further explore her research interests.
Riya is off to Grad School
This spring, Riya Mirchandaney was accepted to the University of Pittsburgh doctoral program in clinical psychology. Under the supervision of Dr. Brant Hasler, she will be studying sleep and circadian rhythms as they relate to mood and substance use disorders during adolesence. Riya has been a valuable asset to the Felder Lab for the past 3 years, and we will miss her dearly! Good luck Riya!
Team Building at Pickney Clay
In Fall 2022, the PRISM Study team enjoyed a pottery class at Pickney Clay Studio.
