Steven M. Brunwasser, PhD

Steve is a research instructor in the Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine working under the mentorship of Tina Hartert, M.D., M.P.H. He was trained as a clinical psychologist at the University of Michigan and completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Judy Garber, Ph.D., in the Department of Psychology & Human Development at Vanderbilt. The majority of his research has focused on the development and evaluation of interventions to prevent depression in youth. After working as a clinician with the Women’s Perinatal Mood/Anxiety Disorder team at the University of Michigan, Steve became interested in the potential role of perinatal stress and psychopathology in conferring risk for poor developmental outcomes in exposed offspring. His current research is focused on (1) elucidating biological and psychosocial mechanisms of intergenerational risk transmission, and (2) developing mental health prevention programs for pregnant women at risk for depression within the framework of Patient Centered Outcomes. He is supported by the Vanderbilt V-POCKET K12 award through the Agency for Health Quality Research under the direction of David Penson, M.D., M.P.H., and Melissa McPheeters, Ph.D., M.P.H.