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.

Amanda Oliva, PsyD, Faculty

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.

Caitlyn Strauss, LCSW, Faculty

Caitlyn Strauss (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker who earned her Master’s in Social Work from Stony Brook University in 2019. She specializes in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for adolescents and adults and has completed the foundational DBT training through Behavioral Tech, as well as advanced training as a social work resident with the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center. Caitlyn provides evidence-based treatment for individuals with severe emotion dysregulation, chronic suicidality, borderline personality disorder, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. Her clinical approach is strengths-based and collaborative, emphasizing skill development, problem-solving, and supporting individuals in shaping their environments to promote meaningful and sustainable change. In addition to her clinical work, Caitlyn supervises social work interns, supporting their growth and development in evidence-based clinical practice. Outside of her professional role, she enjoys reading, traveling, and engaging in physically challenging outdoor activities.

Luke Waters, PsyD, Faculty

Joanne Kim, PhD, Faculty

Ola Mohamed Ali, PhD, Faculty

Kelly Kennedy, Clinical Support Assistant

Liv McLeron, Research Lab Coordinator

Germeen Kilada, PsyD

Dr. Kilada earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Dr. Kilada's clinical interests include youth internalizing disorders, health psychology, and parent management. Dr. Kilada has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings. She prioritizes patient-centered and holistic care and provides interventions informed by various evidence-based treatments including CBT, DBT, and ACT. Dr. Kilada currently works with patients across the lifespan in outpatient and inpatient settings within Stony Brook University Hospital, providing therapy as well as psychoeducational assessments for children and adolescents. She is passionate about helping patients build skills for effective coping and psychological growth. 

Liam Alvarez-Gonzalez, PsyD

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.

Mashrika Khan, Undergraduate Student Researcher

Mashrika (she/her/hers) is a senior double majoring in Psychology and Sociology, with minors in Health, Medicine, and Society and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is passionate about expanding mental health access for underprivileged communities through culturally responsive care and plans to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology.

Abdul Khan, Graduate Student Researcher

Abdul Khan (he/him/his) is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Mind-Body Clinical Research Center and the Health and Wellness Project. He graduated from Stony Brook University with a BS in Biology. Passionate about integrating research and clinical care, he aspires to pursue a career in medicine and attain his MD. His interests center on advancing patient-centered care and supporting the health and well-being of first responders. Outside of his academic and clinical work, he enjoys running, lifting weights, and playing pickleball.