Enhancing Cognition and Improving Lives: What Actually Helps Cognition and What Doesn't?

Faculty

Course Director: Michelle Friedman-Yakoobian, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Project Director of the Massachusetts Psychosis Prevention Partnership (M3P), a statewide initiative to improve early identification and intervention for youth and young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis. She is also Principal Investigator of the Response to Risk for Psychosis Research Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Friedman-Yakoobian has over 20 years of clinical, research, and training experience in early psychosis, cognitive functioning, family intervention, and psychosocial rehabilitation. She has developed and evaluated interventions designed to improve executive functioning, role functioning, and recovery while partnering with families to support independence and functional success. She provides statewide and national training to mental health professionals on evidence-based interventions for psychosis and cognitive rehabilitation.  Course Director: Matcheri S. Keshavan, MD is the Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Senior Psychiatrist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. An internationally recognized leader in schizophrenia and early psychosis research, Dr. Keshavan has devoted his career to understanding the neurobiology of psychotic disorders and translating research into improved clinical care. His work has advanced understanding of cognition, brain development, and functional recovery across serious mental illnesses. He has authored more than 700 scientific publications and numerous books and has received multiple national and international awards for his contributions to psychiatric research and education.   Susan R. McGurk, PhD is Professor of Occupational Therapy at Sargent College, Boston University, and a clinical researcher internationally recognized for her work in cognitive remediation and psychiatric rehabilitation for individuals with serious mental illness. She is a co-developer of the evidence-based Thinking Skills for Work program, one of the most widely disseminated cognitive remediation interventions for supported employment. Dr. McGurk's research focuses on improving cognition, employment outcomes, and community functioning through practical cognitive self-management strategies integrated into rehabilitation services. She has published extensively on cognitive remediation and recovery-oriented interventions and has received numerous federal research grants supporting this work. Course Director: Luis Sandoval, PhD is a clinical neuropsychologist and Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. His clinical and research work focuses on neuropsychological assessment, cognitive functioning across psychiatric and neurological conditions, and the thoughtful integration of digital technologies into behavioral health care. Dr. Sandoval has expertise in evaluating cognitive interventions, digital cognitive assessment tools, and technology-assisted approaches to improving cognitive and functional outcomes. He regularly teaches clinicians about evidence-based cognitive assessment and the strengths and limitations of emerging digital cognitive health tools. Hadine Joffe, MD, MSc is Chair and Psychiatrist-in-Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. An internationally recognized clinical reproductive neuroscientist, her NIH-funded research focuses on depression, sleep, cognition, and other neurobehavioral symptoms affecting women during the menopause transition and breast cancer treatment. She is Founder and Director of the Women’s Hormones and Aging Research Program within BIDMC’s RHYME Research Center and has authored more than 200 scientific publications. Shaun M. Eack, PhD is Professor of Social Work and Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) Program. An internationally recognized expert in psychiatric rehabilitation, autism, schizophrenia, and cognitive enhancement, Dr. Eack has led pioneering research demonstrating that cognitive interventions can improve neurocognitive functioning, social cognition, and everyday functioning in individuals with serious mental illness and autism spectrum conditions. His work has been continuously supported by the National Institutes of Health and has substantially advanced understanding of cognitive rehabilitation and recovery. Dr. Eack has authored more than 200 scientific publications and is widely recognized for his contributions to evidence-based psychosocial interventions.