RACHAEL L. MEIR, PSY.D. EDUCATION Doctor of Psychology 2006 2009 (APA Full Accreditation) Dissertation: Overweight and obesity: a review of the independent health benefits of physical activity and the correlates of personality that might mediate adherence to physical activity Specialty Area: Motivational Interviewing Psychology Internship: Denver Health Medical Center Master of Science in Clinical Psychology 2003 2006 (APA Full Accreditation) Bachelor of Arts in Psychology 1999 2002 University of Colorado, Boulder, CO Graduated with distinction The Disparities Leadership Program 2010 2011 Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital Year long executive education program designed for leaders from hospitals, health plans and other health care organizations who want to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care, particularly through quality improvement. FACULTY APPOINTMENT Senior Clinical Instructor University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine 2011 Present CLINICAL AND WORK EXPERIENCE Clinical Director, Health and Wellness Services 03/11 Present Responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of new and existing chronic care and disease management programs, mental health and behavioral health programs, and also general health and wellness promotion programs. Responsible for overseeing and monitoring the day-to-day operations and service delivery of the department as well as managing the budget, improving operational efficiencies, and assuring compliance with contractual, regulatory, and accreditation laws/requirements. Serves as the attending psychologist providing direct clinical service in the integrated care clinic and provides training, oversight, and individual and group supervision for psychology trainees and behavioral health staff. Serves as the designated Behavioral Healthcare Practitioner for the managed care organization. Care Management Program Administrator 08/09 03/11 Developed, implemented, and evaluated new programs directed at improving the health care and health of the Managed Care populations, reducing the costs of caring for these populations, and improving operational efficiencies. Established new guidelines, protocols, scripts, and processes in the areas of care management as well as telephonic assessment and counseling for patients with mental health disorders. Designed and implemented evaluations of specific aspects of these programs as well as the programs as a whole. Developed and oversaw wellness and prevention programs as well as mental health coordination and support programs.
Psychology Internship, 8/25/2008 8/21/2009 Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO (APA Full Accreditation) Health Psychology Resident; Primary Care Consultant/Health Coach 02/09 08/09 Worked with primary care providers in a collaborative care model, providing mental health assessments and focused psychotherapeutic services. Provided behavioral, evidence-based interventions to assist with medical conditions and compliance with treatment. Provided support and intervention (either telephonic or in-person) for patients with chronic medical conditions and for those patients with a combination of medical and mental health issues. Facilitated the development of a new weight management program as well as a new Bariatric support group; assisted in the evaluation of both programs. Co-led weight management, diabetes, and bariatric support groups as well as an antepartum/postpartum depression group. Conducted psychosocial evaluations of bariatric surgery candidates. Health Psychology Resident; Adult Inpatient Psychiatry 11/08 02/09 Participated in treatment planning with a multidisciplinary team on a secure, 40-bed psychiatric inpatient unit. Facilitated daily group therapy sessions for patients with severe mental illness. Provided brief, individual, evidence-based therapy. Conducted clinical interviews and psychological assessments. Evaluated mental status and homicidal/suicidal risk. Provided in-service presentations and trainings to medical trainees and to professional staff. Health Psychology Resident; Psychiatry Consultation Liaison Service 08/08 11/08 Performed consultation services for a variety of inpatient services including medicine, surgery, intensive care, rehabilitation, pediatrics, and the correctional care medical facility. Typical consults pertained to questions of decision-making capacity, traumatic brain injury, suicide risk assessment, pain management, medication and treatment recommendations, differential diagnosis, and certification status. Implemented crisis evaluations and treatments. Conducted neuropsychological, cognitive and personality testing. Provided brief, evidence-based therapy and facilitated family meetings. Health Psychology Resident; Psychiatric Emergency Services 08/08 11/08 Provided crisis assessment and treatment within a 10-bed psychiatric emergency department, serving the larger level-1 trauma center. Evaluated homicidal/suicidal risk. Assisted mobile crisis unit in conducting in-public assessments. Triaged and consulted with hospital staff and external agencies. Care Management Health Coach 07/07 08/08 Promoted active and effective participation by members in their care through an interactive process of assessment, member education, counseling and collaborative problem solving for high risk members, including high dollar members and those with multiple chronic diseases (i.e., Diabetes, CHF, COPD, and Asthma) or inappropriate utilization of acute care services. Efficiently documented results of the member assessments, work plans, interventions and outcomes into an access database. Utilized evidence-based approaches, such as Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavior Therapy, to proactively care for populations with chronic health care, cultural and psychosocial needs. Collected quality information as needed through computer-based tracking and medical record audits. Provided in-service presentations and trainings to medical and professional staff. Collaborated with the inpatient utilization management nurses and primary care providers to offer care management across the continuum of care. Practicum Student 07/06 06/07 Stanford/VA Aging Clinical Research Center (ACRC) Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA Administered and interpreted complete neuropsychological batteries and diagnostic psychological assessments, conducted psychiatric screens, and assisted with polysomnography (PSG) set up for the PTSD Apnea Clinical Study, which examined the effects of PTSD, sleep disordered breathing and genetics on cognition. Attended weekly interdisciplinary team meetings at the National Center for CV Meir 2
PTSD. Administered diagnostic interviews, including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS). Practicum Student 10/05 06/06 Monterey Mental Health Clinic Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Seaside, CA Provided individual therapy to veterans presenting with multi-diagnoses, including mood and anxiety disorders, chronic pain, substance abuse, and personality disorders. Co-facilitated several groups including a support/self-help group utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques for veterans who graduated from the National Center for PTSD inpatient program, a CBT group for couples wanting to enhance their relationship and work on more effective communication, a psychoeducational group on stress management for persons with diabetes, and a support group for family members of veterans with PTSD. Therapist 11/03 08/05 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA Received extensive training in Motivational Interviewing (MI) and its adaptation for promoting physical activity among obese and sedentary adults. Served as an individual therapist applying MI in a randomized clinical trial. Served as a group co-therapist for a trial MI group. Practicum Student 03/04 06/05 Pine Hill School, San Jose, CA Provided individual weekly therapy to children with emotional and behavioral dysfunction. Cofacilitated multiple weekly group therapy sessions focusing on social skills training and anger management for 9-12 year old children, socialization for children with Asperger s syndrome, and a life skills and parenting discussion group for adolescents. Provided family support, developed behavioral support plans, administered psychological assessment, and attended Individual Education Program meetings. Collaborated with community resources such as group homes, outside therapists, and social workers and participated in clinical meetings with the staff to discuss the psychopathology and treatment of the children and adolescents. In-Home Behavioral Therapist 01/01 06/03 Boulder, CO Utilized various behavioral interventions including Applied Behavioral Analysis, Lovaas techniques and curriculum, and Verbal Behavior for 3-5 year old children with Autistic Disorder. Participated in multidisciplinary clinical team meetings to discuss the effectiveness of the current treatment approach and any necessary changes to the treatment plan. CLINICAL PROFICIENCIES Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) August 2005 Training New Trainers, Amsterdam, Netherlands Completed a three-day workshop designed to teach the training methods, techniques, and spirit of the Motivational Interviewing (MI) approach. Subsequent membership was then granted into the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), an international collective of trainers in motivational interviewing and related methods (e.g. behavior change counseling, brief advice) who encourage good practice in the use of MI, and in the training of practitioners. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Project Coordinator 08/09 Present Manage administrative activities for the Telephonic Counseling for Depression evaluation project ($257,000, 2-year Robert Wood Johnson); train and supervise research assistants; conduct data management and perform statistical analyses. Assist in the development and submission of additional grant proposals; serve as project liaison to other departments and outside organizations. CV Meir 3
Dissertation in Clinical Psychology 06/06 06/07 Comprehensive, systematic and critical review of the literature pertaining to overweight and obesity. Addressed the struggles many people face when trying to lose weight and highlighted the recent findings that modest physical activity can lower risks for health complications independent of weight loss. Attention was given to the difficulty that many people encounter with meeting the recommendations for physical activity. Examined the personality literature related to motivation and adherence to physical activity and why some individuals may be more successful at maintaining an exercise regimen. A future study was suggested and the details on how the study might be conducted were outlined. Research Assistant 11/03 09/06 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA Served as a research assistant for the Stanford Health Assessment and Activity Promotion Program, which promoted physical activity among obese and sedentary individuals. Collaborated with the study design and administration team to develop the study protocol. Participated in drafting and editing several sections of the patient manual for the protocol. Trained recruiters for the study and developed a basic exercise physiology training manual and course for the health counselors in the study. PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS Brody, D., Sheldon, C., Meir, R., Corrigan, C., Keeley, R., Waxmonsky, J., Dimijian, S., Kilbourne, K. (2011). Telephonic Counseling for Depression in an Urban Health System. From Disparities Research to Disparities Interventions: Lessons Learned and Opportunities for the Future of Behavioral Health Services. Conference presentation. Sheldon, C., Waxmonsky, J., Meir, R., Brody, D. (2011). Telephonic Assessment and Counseling for Depression in an Urban Underserved Population. Submitted for publication. Brody, D., Sheldon, C., Meir, R., Corrigan, C., Keeley, R., Waxmonsky, J., Dimijian, S., and Kilbourne, K. (2010). Telephonic Counseling for Depression in an Urban Health System. Poster Presentation for the Robert Wood Johnson Grantee Conference, Chicago, IL. Sheldon, C., Brody, D., Corrigan, C., Knudtson, L.F., Dix, R., Richter, L.C., and Meir, R. (2009). Expansion of Behavioral Health Services in a Safety Net Health Care System Using a Behavioral Health Training Program. Presentation for the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association Conference, San Diego, CA. Mascola, A.J., Yiaslas, T.A., Meir, R.L., McGee, S.M., Downing, N.L., Beaver, K.M., Crane, L.B., Agras, W.S. (2009). Framing physical activity as a distinct and uniquely valuable behavior independent of weight management: a pilot RCT for overweight and obese sedentary persons. Eating and Weight Disorders Journal. 2009 Jun-Sep; 14 (2-3): e148-52. Kinoshita, L.M., Bien, G., Kwan, K., Meir, R.L., & Yesavage, J. (2007). Prevalence of sleep disordered breathing in PTSD veterans: preliminary findings. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association. Mascola, A.M., Crane, L.B., Simms, R.L, McGee, S.M., Downing, N.L. and Beaver, K.M. (2006). Encouraging physical activity among overweight patients as the main outcome of treatment: a pilot randomized controlled trial of an adaptation of motivational interviewing. Poster Presentation for the Society of Behavioral Medicine Conference, San Francisco, CA. CV Meir 4
TEACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE Trainer/Consultant June 2011 AspenPointe, TeleCare Facilitated an introductory workshop on Motivational Interviewing (MI) for care managers that focused on the on the theory, principles, and skills of motivational interviewing as it applies to telephonic care management. Participants were guided through various learning activities to shape their counseling style and practice behavior. Speaker May 2011 Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Residency Learning Collaborative Presented a 1-hour lecture to medical residents and other medical staff on basic principles of Motivational Interviewing and its application for self-management goal-setting and health behavior change. Trainer/Consultant January 2011 Southern Colorado Family Medicine Facilitated an introductory workshop on Motivational Interviewing for medical residents, medical providers, and mental health providers which focused on the theory, principles, and skills of motivational interviewing. Participants were guided through various learning activities to shape their counseling style and practice behavior. Trainer/Consultant February 2010 The Colorado Health Foundation Provided a 2-day intensive intermediate workshop on Motivational Interviewing for psychologists working in medical settings who have a responsibility of teaching medical students/residents communication techniques. Focused on the theory, principles, and skills of motivational interviewing. Participants were guided through various activities to both shape their own counseling style and practice behavior as well as to facilitate the learning of others. Speaker November 2009 Mountain View Medical Group, Colorado Springs, Co Presented a 1-hour lecture at the Practical Solutions to Manage Pediatric and Adult Obesity conference to physicians, nurses, and other medical staff on basic principles of Motivational Interviewing and its application for managing pediatric and adult obesity. Trainer/Consultant February 2009 incentahealth, Denver, CO Consulted with the CEO and other staff members of this internet-based company which incentivizes participants to lose weight. Provided training which focused on the theory, principles, and skills of motivational interviewing to health coaches and personal trainers who communicate with participants through interactive email and web-based coaching. Trainer January 2009 Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO Facilitated an introductory workshop on Motivational Interviewing for addictions counselors, mental health providers, and medical students/residents/providers, which focused on the theory, principles, and skills of motivational interviewing. Participants were guided through various learning activities to shape their counseling style and practice behavior. Assistant Trainer December 2008 Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA Assistant to Steve Malcolm Berg-Smith during his 3-day intensive introductory workshop on Motivational Interviewing for a variety of health providers, which focused on the theory, principles, and skills of motivational interviewing. Participants were guided through various learning activities to shape their counseling style and practice behavior. CV Meir 5
Trainer October 2008 Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Co Facilitated an introductory workshop on Motivational Interviewing for mental health providers and health educators that focused on the theory, principles, and skills of motivational interviewing. Participants were guided through various learning activities to shape their counseling style and practice behavior. Trainer August 2007 Facilitated an introductory workshop on Motivational Interviewing (MI) for nursing staff and health educators that focused on the on the theory, principles, and skills of motivational interviewing. Participants were guided through various learning activities to shape their counseling style and practice behavior. Teaching Assistant 01/07 03/07 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mood Disorders I Collaborated with professor to develop didactic topics and useful in-class exercises for practicing the skills that were being taught. Led small group discussions and role-plays. Graded homework and exams. Teaching Assistant 03/06 06/06 Psychological Assessment IV: Integrated Test Batteries Collected relevant research and review articles pertaining to the neuropsychological assessment of patients with various mental disorders. Collaborated with the professor to develop case presentations to help facilitate the student s learning. Guest Speaker February 2006 Psychological Treatment for Substance Abuse Presented a 2-hour lecture on the implementation of basic principles of Motivational Interviewing to assist clients with substance abuse disorders in developing a commitment to change. Co-Trainer January 2006 Co-facilitated a two-day introductory workshop on Motivational Interviewing (MI) for students, medical residents, and various mental health professionals that focused on the principles of MI, the MI counseling style, and techniques for motivating change while reducing resistance. Co-Trainer October 2005 Oakland VA Mental Health and Substance Abuse Clinic Oakland, CA Co-facilitated a two-day introductory workshop on Motivational Interviewing for mental health professionals working with patients who have substance abuse and/or severe mental health disorders. Teaching Assistant 09/04 12/04 Adult Psychopathology Collaborated on development of didactic topics and the use of clinical case videos to supplement the lectures. Provided individual guidance to the students as necessary and lead an open discussion on a controversial issue. CV Meir 6
Teaching Assistant 08/02 12/02 University of Colorado, Boulder, CO General Psychology Conducted a 1-hour lab section as part of a large seminar course in general psychology for undergraduate students. Collaborated on development of didactic topics and the use of videos and small group exercises to supplement the larger class lectures. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITES Co-President 06/05 05/06 Student Council PSGP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium, Palo Alto, CA Facilitated communication and collaboration about student issues working with the school administration, faculty leadership, and the student body. Assisted in the implementation of policy changes as well as in identifying student needs. Organized professional development events for the student body. Class Representative 12/03 06/05 Student Council PSGP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium, Palo Alto, CA Attended monthly meetings and subsequently disseminated minutes to the student body. Highlighted student needs as well as assisted in the development and implementation of professional development events. Assisted in familiarizing new students with the program. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS Disparities Solutions Center participant in 2010-2011 Disparities Leadership Program Colorado Family Healthcare Association (CFHA) Colorado Psychological Association (CPA) Early Career Psychologist Committee Member Division 38 (Health Psychology) of the American Psychological Association Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) American Psychological Association (APA, Student Affiliate) Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology) of the American Psychological Association American Council on Exercise (ACE, Group Fitness Instructor, Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant) HONORS AND AWARDS National Psychologist Trainee Register Credentialing Scholarship Research Fellowship at the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology Mary Louise Ebner Memorial Scholarship Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society Colorado Undergraduate Merit Award CV Meir 7