Dr. Susanna Sutherland is a clinical and health psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Her research focuses on the intersection of women’s physical and mental health across the lifespan, with emphasis on perinatal health, chronic pain, and female pelvic medicine. Her work seeks to improve behavioral and psychological care for women experiencing distressing or difficult-to-treat medical conditions and procedures.
Dr. Sutherland’s research integrates clinical psychology, behavioral medicine, and implementation science to develop accessible, scalable interventions that improve both psychological and physical health outcomes. Much of her work has focused on perinatal mental health, including the effects of depression, anxiety, stress, and pain during pregnancy and postpartum. She also studies how pain, medical trauma, and healthcare experiences influence emotional wellbeing and treatment engagement.
Dr. Sutherland has expanded her work into female pelvic medicine urologic conditions, where she studies patient anxiety, pain, and behavioral responses surrounding invasive medical procedures and pelvic health conditions. Across her research and clinical collaborations, she is committed to improving healthcare experiences and access to evidence-based behavioral care.
Team Members
 | Grace (Gracie) Ann Kelly, BA Gracie is a Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate at George Mason University and a Pre-Doctoral Psychology Fellow at Yale School of Medicine. Gracie’s research focuses on the intersection of mental and physical health, particularly among individuals navigating both serious mental illness and chronic medical conditions. | |
 | Mya Schwartz Mya is a recent graduate from Indiana University with a degree in Clinical Psychology, and she will begin her PhD in Clinical Health Psychology at University of North Carolina at Charlotte this fall. She is interested in chronic pain and psychological interventions. In her free time, Mya enjoys cycling, crafting, and reading. | |
 | Suchita Kumar, MD Suchita is an OBGYN resident at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She completed medical school at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Through her clinical experiences in medical school, she became interested in research related to perinatal pain and mental health, and she looks forward to continuing this work during residency. In her free time, she loves to drink tea, make videos, and watch movies! | |
 | Isabella McGonagle Isabella is a senior nursing student at Endicott College with a strong passion for mental health care. She works in an ICU, where she has strengthened her clinical skills and commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care. She aspires to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, integrating individualized counseling approaches with medication management. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends. | |
 | Chloe LaPat Chloe is an undergraduate senior at Endicott College pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology, with interests in psychopathology and psychological interventions. In her free time, Chloe enjoys working out, going to the beach, and reading. |
Faculty Collaborators
 | Lindsey McKernan, PhD MPH Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Division of Psychology | |
 | Bridget Nestor, PhD HSP Assistant Professor, Psychology School of Social Sciences, Communication, and Humanities Endicott College |