Overview
My primary areas of interest include the etiology, assessment, and treatment of PTSD, depression, suicide, and non-suicidal self-injury. I primarily work with veterans, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel due to their high levels of occupational exposure to traumatic stress. I also have long-standing interests in genetics, epigenetics, GxE research, personality, smoking, comorbidity, and statistical modeling procedures, such as CFA, SEM, and mixture modeling.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
·
2018 - Present
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences,
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Recent Publications
Whole exome sequencing analysis of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in a veteran cohort implicates inflammatory pathways and genes previously associated with psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.
Journal Article J Affect Disord · January 15, 2026 BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death among younger veterans; however, the genetic basis of suicide remains largely unknown. While prior genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common variants associated with suicidal ideation and ... Full text Link to item CitePTSD and suPAR: A multicohort investigation of chronic inflammation.
Journal Article Brain Behav Immun · January 2026 Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with poor health. Prior research has shown stressful events are associated with inflammatory biomarkers, such as soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), suggesting systemic chronic inflam ... Full text Open Access Link to item CitePrecision Medicine for Suicide Prevention: It's Time to Take the Next Step.
Journal Article J Clin Psychiatry · December 22, 2025 Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Computerized Anger Management Protocol (CAMP) for Service Members With and Without a History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2025 - 2029Cognitive Rehabilitation for Treatment of Anger in Veterans with TBI and PTSD
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2025 - 2029Duke University Psychiatry Physician-Scientist Residency Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health · 2024 - 2029View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of North Carolina, Greensboro ·
2009
Ph.D.