Expert Treatment Team

Study participants receive excellent care from a well-qualified treatment team at two university medical centers. Contact us by phone or by email to enroll.

Principal Investigator Edna B. Foa, Ph.D., is a Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, where she serves as the Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. She is an internationally renowned authority on the psychopathology and treatment of anxiety. Her research, aimed at determining causes and treatments of anxiety disorders, has been highly influential. Foa has been an expert in the areas of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The program she has developed for rape victims is considered to be one of the most effective therapies for PTSD. She has published several books and over 200 articles and book chapters, has lectured extensively around the world. She has received numerous awards and distinctions, including The Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Psychological Association.
Project Coordinator & Study Therapist Mark Powers, Ph.D., received his Bachelors degree in psychology at the University of California at Santa Barbara and his Masters degree in psychology at Pepperdine, working with Dr. Joseph Wolpe on anxiety disorders. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. While pursuing his Ph.D. he also completed a pre-doctoral fellowship at Boston University and Harvard University and a clinical internship at the University of Washington in 2006. Dr. Powers now works at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania as an Assistant Professor of clinical psychology in psychiatry. Dr. Powers has over 50 publications including book chapters and journal articles. His current research focuses on mechanisms of change in anxiety disorders.
Study Therapist Monnica T. Williams, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, where she specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including OCD. Prior to joining the University of Pennsylvania faculty, Dr. Williams completed her undergraduate studies at MIT and UCLA. She received her Master's and Doctoral Degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia, where she conducted research in the areas of major mental illness, psychological measurement, and ethnic differences. Dr. Williams completed her clinical internship at McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital. Her current interests include OCD subtypes, PTSD, and barriers to treatment. She holds an NIH Supplement Grant for Diversity for the current study, under Dr. Edna Foa.
Study Therapist Sandy Capaldi, M.A., M.S. is a Psychotherapist at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, specializing in child as well as adult treatment of anxiety disorders, including OCD and PTSD. Ms. Capaldi earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Temple University in 2000, her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Health Psychology from MCP Hahnemann University in 2002, and her Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Psy.D. program at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, with an anticipated graduation of June, 2009.
Psychiatrist Dr. Chang-Gyu Hahn, M.D., Ph.D., received his bachelor's degree in General Medicine and his M.D. in Medicine from the Seoul National University in Seoul, Korea. He then went on to receive his Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the University of Connecticut. Since 2006 he has served as the Associate Director for the Bipolar Disorders Program in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania as well as the Director for the Program for Signal Transduction in Psychiatric Illnesses. Since 1999 he has been an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. He has received numerous awards, including the K-23 (Career Development Award) from the National Institute of Mental Health in 2002 and the Stanley Foundation Research Award in 2005 and 2007. His current research interests include work in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and signal transduction. At the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, Dr. Hahn acts as the psychiatrist for the adult OCD study.
Research Assistant Samantha Farris, B.A., received her bachelor's degree in Psychology with Honors and Sociology, from Rutgers University of New Jersey. Previously, she conducted research at the Center of Alcohol Studies, the Smoking Cessation Laboratory, and the Eating Disorders Clinic at Rutgers University. Now, Samantha is a Research Assistant at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, where she coordinates participation for the adult Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder study. She plans to attend graduate school in clinical psychology.

Principal Investigator Blair Simpson, M.D., Ph.D. is Director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic (ADC) and OCD Research Program at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. She is also an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the College of Physician and Surgeons at Columbia University and an Attending Psychiatrist at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. After graduating from Yale College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Dr. Simpson entered the MD-PhD program at The Rockefeller University/Cornell University Medical College. Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health and private foundations such as the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation and National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders (NARSAD). Her interdisciplinary work ranges from clinical trials comparing the effects of medication and therapy in OCD to brain imaging studies examining the brain basis of OCD.
Project Coordinator & Study Therapist James Bender Jr., Psy.D. is a Research Project Manager in the Anxiety Disorders Clinic of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He currently participates in several National Institute of Mental Health-funded studies of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) examining the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and alternative medication treatments to improve outcome, and studying brain regions associated with OCD and treatment outcome. Dr. Bender maintains a private practice in New York City where he specializes in cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety and mood disorders
Study Therapist Michael Maher, Ph.D. is a Research Scientist in the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at NYSPI, Columbia University Medical Center. He is currently working on studies of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which examine the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for those on medication, the use of motivational enhancement therapy to improve treatment outcome, and brain regions associated with OCD and treatment outcome. Dr. Maher has lectured on the neurobiology and treatment of anxiety disorders to undergraduates and doctoral students in psychology as well as to medical residents in psychiatry. He received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Rutgers University and has received training in cognitive behavioral therapies from a range of experts that include Dr. Edna Foa and Dr. Gail Steketee. Dr. Maher maintains a private practice in New York City where he specializes in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders, OCD, and health-related anxiety.
Study Therapist Rena Staub, B.A. is the Research Assistant for the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Team at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. She is responsible for the management of all of the studies run by the OCD research team. Before joining the team, Rena received a B.A. from Barnard College, at Columbia University, with a major in American Studies and a minor in Psychology. Rena is thrilled for this opportunity to contribute to clinical research and develop her understanding of anxiety disorders. She looks forward to continue her education in a Ph.D. program.