Our Team

Adam Gonzalez, PhD, Faculty

Dr. Gonzalez (he/him/his) CV is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Founding Director of the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Vermont, and he completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He is an expert in cognitive behavioral treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, dialectical behavior therapy, relaxation/mindfulness-based treatments and behavioral medicine. His program of research focuses on understanding the interplay of cognitive, emotional and behavioral health factors that may affect physical and mental health, as well as disease management among chronically ill populations. In addition to his responsibilities with the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center, Dr. Gonzalez is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Dr. Gonzalez' research is funded currently by grants from NASA and NIOSH. He is also a recipient of an award from the NIH Loan Repayment Program (2014-2019).

Brittain Mahaffey, PhD, Faculty

Dr. Mahaffey (she/her/hers) CV is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and completed a clinical internship at the Northport VA Medical Center. She serves as the Center’s Operations Manager and directs several of the clinical research studies. She has extensive training in cognitive behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety disorders, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness and behavioral medicine. Dr. Mahaffey’s research interests are focused on understanding and treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and co-morbid physical health problems. She also specializes in women’s health and the treatment of mood and anxiety problems during and after pregnancy. She was recently awarded a K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (2018-2023) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. She is also a recipient of an award from the NIH Loan Repayment Program (2017-2019).

Genna Hymowitz, PhD, Faculty

Dr. Hymowitz (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. She has extensive training and experience in behavioral medicine, cognitive behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety disorders, acceptance and commitment therapy, and relaxation/mindfulness-based treatments. Her research focuses on investigating biopsychosocial factors related to chronic medical conditions including obesity and gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders.  In addition to her work at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center, she is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Surgery at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, and in the Department of Psychology of Stony Brook University. Dr. Hymowitz completed her doctoral training and a post-doctoral fellowship at Stony Brook University and completed a clinical internship at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, IL.

Cynthia Cervoni, PhD, Faculty

Dr. Cervoni (she/her/hers) is a Psychologist at the Stony Brook University KPC-MBCRC Consortium Program. She graduated from the Clinical Psychology, Health Emphasis program at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. Her clinical training focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety disorders and behavioral medicine. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the MBCRC in consultation liaison psychology. Her research interests include health behavior decision making, the impact of overweight and obesity on quality of life, and biopsychosocial factors related to obesity and other chronic illnesses.

William Calabrese, PhD, Faculty

Dr. Calabrese (he/him/his) CV received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University at Buffalo, SUNY and completed his pre-doctoral clinical internship at Pacific University in Oregon. He completed post-doctoral training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai in the Mood and Personality Disorder Research Program and practiced as a Licensed Psychologist for Therapists of NY. His research interests primarily focus on improving models and measures of personality disorder and psychosocial functioning. Clinically, Dr. Calabrese works with adults and couples with a variety of internalizing and externalizing problems, including maladaptive personality patterns, anger, substance use, anxiety, and depression. He is also passionate about extending care to underserved populations, and LGBTQ+ individuals and those with non-conforming identities. He integrates across various evidence-based practices, including cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies like CBT, DBT, ACT, Schema Therapy, and Behavioral Activation. He also has experience with integrating spiritual practices, as well as, transpersonal and internal family systems approaches into psychotherapy. Personally, he is passionate about music, playing his djembe and cajon drums, and fostering dogs and neo-natal kittens.

Amanda Levinson, PhD, Faculty

Dr. Levinson (she/her/hers) CV is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center and a clinical assistant professor in the Stony Brook Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. In her clinical work, Dr. Levinson employs cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness/relaxation strategies, and attachment-based parenting therapy. Her research focuses on investigating biopsychosocial factors related to mood and anxiety disorder and parenting behavior, particularly in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Dr. Levinson completed her doctoral training and a post-doctoral fellowship at Stony Brook University.

Benjamin Warach, PhD, Faculty

Dr. Warach (he/him/his) is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center and a clinical assistant professor in the Stony Brook Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.  He has extensive training and clinical experience in cognitive behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety disorders, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based treatments.  His research focuses on romantic relationship functioning. Dr. Warach majored in psychology at Cornell University and earned his doctorate at Adelphi University.  He completed his pre-doctoral internship at Columbia University Medical Center and his post-doctoral fellowship at Stony Brook University.

Dr. Oliva (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical psychologist who graduated with her Psy.D. from Long Island University – Post. She received dual orientation training in both CBT and psychodynamic therapy, with clinical concentrations in DBT and serious mental illness. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship through Stony Brook's Consortium program, splitting her time between the DBT program and the adult psychiatric inpatient unit (10N). She also completed pre-doctoral training at Stony Brook and at Zucker Hillside's OCD and Bipolar Disorder specialty clinics. Clinically, Dr. Oliva works with adults presenting with chronic suicidality, emotion dysregulation, anxiety, complex trauma, perfectionism and neurodiversity. Dr. Oliva provides evidence-based therapy, integrating elements of behavioral treatments (DBT, CBT) and relational styles of therapy (narrative and attachment-focused). Her research focuses on existential themes of grief and mortality. Additionally, she seeks to increase access to quality outpatient care for low-income individuals, minority groups and patients in acute care settings to reduce hospital readmission rates. Personally, she enjoys writing, tie dying, and the ocean.

Luke Waters, PsyD, Faculty

Anastasia Philippopoulos, B.A., Research Lab Coordinator

Anastasia (she/they) is the Research Lab Coordinator for the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Stony Brook University in May 2022, and her research interests include reproductive & perinatal health, health disparities, and human sexuality. She is also pursuing her M.A. in Marriage in Family Therapy through Falk College at Syracuse University. In her free time, Anastasia practices aerial silks and lyra, and likes to dance, draw, knit, and paint.

Alexis Ivans, B.S., Administrative Assistant

Alexis (she/her/hers) is the Administrative Assistant for the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. She graduated from Stony Brook University in May 2021 earning a BS in Health Science with a concentration in Health Care Management and minor in Health and Wellness. She is looking to pursue higher education by getting an MBA or MPH to help improve efficiency and quality care within healthcare facilities. Alexis's personal interests include traveling, blogging, exploring nature, and spending time with friends and family.

Carla Cardenas, Clinical Support Assistant

Kelly Kennedy, Clinical Support Assistant

Danielle Citera, PhD, St. John's University.

Dr. Citera (she/her/hers) earned her doctoral degree in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology from St. John's University in Queens, New York. She completed her predoctoral internship through the Stony Brook University Consortium Internship Program. Dr. Citera's research interests include social reactions to disclosures of sexual assault and the impact of rape myth acceptance on social reactions to disclosures as well as on outcomes among sexual assault survivors. Dr. Citera has experience working with children, adolescents, emerging adults, and their parents in a variety of settings. She provides evidence-based treatments including CBT, TF-CBT, DBT, and ERP. Dr. Citera presently works primarily on the Child/Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry Unit at Stony Brook University Hospital and treats a small number of children and adolescents on an outpatient basis. In her free time, Dr. Citera enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and cooking.

Ola Mohammed Ali, M.Sc., PhD, University of Western Ontario.

Sasa Vann Rubino, PhD, CRC, Texas Woman's University.

Dr. Vann Rubino (she/her/hers) earned her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Texas Woman's University and holds a Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Psychology and a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling from Ball State University. She completed her internship at the University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center. Dr. Vann Rubino has experience working with people of all ages in various settings, including inpatient hospital clinics, university counseling centers, schools, private practice, and community mental health clinics. She provides evidence-based therapy, integrating elements of Multicultural and Black Feminist Therapy to ground her case conceptualization and behavioral treatments (ACT and DBT) to aid clients in their healing journey. 

Caitlyn Strauss, LCSW

Caitlyn (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker and social work resident at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. She works with adolescents and adults, with a special interest in borderline personality disorder, emotion dysregulation, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. Personally, she enjoys reading science fiction novels and exercising.

Ayra Shafique, Undergraduate Student Researcher

Ayra (she/her/hers) is a Research Assistant at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. She will graduate with a BS in Psychology, with concentrations in Chemistry and Physics and a minor in Biology, from Stony Brook University in December 2024. Aspiring to pursue a master's in biomedical sciences and ultimately become a doctor, Ayra enjoys singing, dancing, writing poetry, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Chloe Maloy, Undergraduate Student Researcher

Chloe (she/her/hers) is a junior double majoring in Psychology and History with interests in critical thinking, health and wellness, and public health. Aside from being a research assistant at the MBCRC, she holds numerous positions around campus including being the Wellness Walk Coordinator for CPO, a member of Project Sunshine, and on the e-board for the Psychology Student Alliance. In her free time, Chloe enjoys hiking, being outside, and reading. Chloe aspires to attend grad school and attain her PhD in social psychology.

Mashrika Khan, Undergraduate Student Researcher

Mashrika (she/her/hers) is a junior double majoring in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Health, Medicine, and Society. She is passionate about expanding mental health accessibility to underprivileged communities and promoting culturally responsive care. Mashrika intends to pursue a career that bridges clinical psychology and research, focusing on mental health interventions for underserved populations.