by Laura Turner
SDN Staff Writer

Dr. Talya Miron-Shatz

Talya Miron-Shatz, PhD, is a decision scientist, studying the way people interpret medical information. She teaches consumer behavior at Wharton and is a keen public speaker, advocating the importance of understanding the psychological aspects of medical decision making.

She recently sat down to speak with SDN about how consumers and health care providers make medical decisions.

What is decision science, and how does it apply to health care decisions that consumers make?

Imagine you are designing a sticker promoting flossing. Should you say, “Flossing helps you prevent gum disease,” or should you emphasize the loss of protection that results from neglecting to floss? It turns out that people are more motivated to act when something they have is about to be taken away from them. So, when you’re in the bathroom at night, being aware of the potential risks to your gums might prompt you to dedicate a few extra minutes to the fine art of flossing. This, in a nutshell, is what decision science is about.

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by Sarah Markham Lawrence
SDN Staff Writer

Dr. Kirsh, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Kentucky, is a licensed clinical psychologist. His particular areas of interest include chronic pain management, pain and its interface with abuse and addiction, and palliative care issues in cancer populations. He was recently kind enough to sit down with SDN and give some perspective into clinical psychology as a career choice.

1.Tell us about your educational background.
I attended a rather unique doctoral program at Indiana University – Purdue University in Indianapolis. The program was entitled ‘Clinical Rehabilitation Psychology’ and I was drawn to it as it was basically one of the few dedicated, medical psychology programs in the country. Read the full story

by Sean Parrish
SDN Staff Writer

SDN contributor Tim Shea (Therapist4Chnge) is currently in his fourth year of a PsyD in Clinical Psychology and his second year of a MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Tim received a BA in Psychology from Goucher College in Baltimore, MD and an MS in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. When not dividing his time between his studies, providing mentoring to the SDN community or indulging in his love of piano and photography, Tim also hosts a website – Struggling With Food (www.strugglingwithfood.com) – that provides information about eating disorders.

In a recent interview, Tim spoke about his life, the challenges of clinical psychology, and the need for education about eating disorders. Read the full story

Eva R. Markham, Ed.D. is a psychologist with the Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center of the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. Dr. Markham is also assistant professor of pediatrics in the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville and her Masters degree from the University of Evansville. In 2000, she completed her doctorate from the University of Louisville. Dr. Markham is also an ordained minister and assistant rector of Resurrection Episcopal Church in Louisville.

1. What is your primary area of practice?

I now primarily work with children and adolescents and their families. The focus of our center is on individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism and tourette’s disorder, but much of our practice also deals with complex emotional and behavioral disorders. Read the full story