Dr. Shari R. Waldstein
Professor · Tenured
About
Shari R. Waldstein completed her A.B. in Psychology at Duke University, and received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh with specialty training in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine. She completed her clinical internship in Neuropsychology and Behavioral Medicine at Brown University. Dr. Waldstein is presently Professor of Psychology, Director of the Behavioral Medicine Track of the Human Services Psychology graduate program, and Affiliate Professor of Gerontology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC); Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.Research interests
The foci of Dr. Waldstein's interdisciplinary research include: (a) relations of cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases to neurocognitive function and subclinical brain pathology, and associated implications for accelerated brain and cognitive aging, and dementia risk; (b) biopsychosocial correlates of cardiometabolic risk profiles, subclinical vascular disease, and stress-induced cardiovascular responses; and (c) variation and disparities/inequities in the above associations as a function of sociodemographic characteristics. (See https://cbmlab.weebly.com)We are strongly interested in multi-level (e.g., micro-macro) level determinants of brain and cardiometabolic health and disease processes, and how these differ across individuals as a function of their intersectional identities including self-identified race, socioeconomic status, sex/gender, and age. Understanding the common and differential mechanisms underlying inequities in these relations is critical to the promotion of health, successful aging, and disease prevention, particularly the disproportionate disease burden experienced by marginalized groups. In our research, we frequently integrate sociodemographic, biomedical, behavioral, psychosocial, psychophysiological, environmental, neurocognitive, and/or neuroimaging data.
Our primary collaborations are with the National Institute on Aging's Intramural Research Program, Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, George Mason University, University of Delaware School of Nursing, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Rochester School of Medicine.
Teaching interests
Dr. Waldstein's teaching interests include: foundations of behavioral medicine; clinical interventions in behavioral medicine; cardiovascular behavioral medicine, medical neuropsychology; clinical neuropsychology; and biological, cognitive, and developmental bases of behavior.Education
- Other — Brown University (1993)
- Ph D, Clinical Psychology — University of Pittsburgh (1993)
- MS, Clinical Psychology — University of Pittsburgh (1989)
- AB, Psychology — Duke University (1984)