James W. Griffith Lab

James W Griffith, PhD, Lab Director

Dr. James Griffith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Social Sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is trained as a clinical psychologist and researcher focused on optimizing clinical assessment and treatment. He has published research in many domains including the relationships among trauma, autobiographical memory, and depression, the connection between personality and mood and anxiety disorders, and topics in health psychology. With funding from the NIDDK, Dr. Griffith has also explored topics in health psychology including depression in patients with urologic symptoms, including chronic pelvic pain. A theme of his research is the application of novel methods and analytic approaches to best understand clinical problems. His current research examines how health literacy influences the precision of self-report assessment for concepts including depression, anxiety, sleep, rumination, and more. As a clinician, Dr. Griffith specializes in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for adults with anxiety and depression.

Photo Credit for Dr. Griffith’s bio photo: Dirk Hermans, Full Professor and Director of CLEP, KU Leuven

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Francesca Farina, PhD

Francesca Farina (she/her) is a Research Assistant Professor at MSS. She received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Following graduate training, she completed Postdoctoral fellowships at Trinity College Dublin and the Global Brain Health Institute. Her research broadly focuses on early detection and management of risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia. At MMS, Francesca research investigates cognitive and psychosocial factors associated with health outcomes in older adulthood; in particular, she is interested in how fear and anxiety specific to dementia may influence health and cognitive decline. Outside of work, Francesca enjoys exploring new parts of the city, cooking and catching up with family and friends.

Melissa Marquez, Lab Manager

Melissa is the Lab Manager in Griffith Lab. She received a BA in Romance Language and Literature & Latin American and Caribbean Studies from the University of Chicago and a BS in Medical Sciences along with an MBA in Health Administration from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. As the Lab Manager, Melissa oversees many of the research studies in Griffith Lab for which she works with both English and Spanish speaking participants. She hopes to make a difference for low literacy patients throughout healthcare. When she is not at work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and working on Pinterest inspired crafts and decorations.

Rowida Mohamed, Clinical Research Associate

Rowida Mohamed is a clinical research associate in the Griffith Lab. She is finishing her Ph.D. in health services and outcome research from West Virginia University and has a master’s degree in biostatistics and a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences from Alexandria University. Her research broadly focuses on patient-reported outcomes and clinical decision aids. When not at work, Rowida enjoys spending time with her family and friends, outdoor activities, and cooking.

Hosanna An, Research Coordinator

Hosanna An (she/her) completed her BA in Psychology at The Ohio State University. She is primarily involved in the Fear of Dementia and Health Literacy studies, and is interested in learning more about the intersection between behavioral, psychological, and physiological mechanisms, and how they can be used to optimize treatments and access to healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys photographing on film, solving crosswords, and birdwatching.

Jessica Thomas, Research Coordinator

Jessica Thomas holds a BA in French from Georgetown University and an MA in Social Service Administration (clinical social work) from the University of Chicago. Now in her 8th year at Northwestern, Jessica has coordinated a variety of projects in both Medical Social Sciences and Preventive Medicine. Currently, her primary studies focus on sleep disturbance among spousally bereaved individuals, adapted CBT treatment for depression, and decision-making for pediatric atopic dermatitis. When not at work, Jessica enjoys walking her Shih Tzu, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Jessica enjoys the great team in the Griffith Lab and is pleased to contribute to their important work.

Mystie Saturday, Research Assistant

Mystie is a Research Assistant who splits her time between the Griffith Lab and Dr. Stewart Shankman’s NEAR Lab. She is primarily involved with the DRIVEN study, a collaborative project between the two labs, but also assists with other projects in the Griffith Lab. She received a BA in Psychology from Emory University, where she minored in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Her personal research has broadly focused on identity, personality, mindfulness, and trauma. In her career, Mystie is committed to expanding the diversity of populations represented and served by psychological science, as well as helping individuals better understand themselves and the world around them. Outside of research, she enjoys cooking, thrifting, exploring the city, and spending time with her cat.

Eloisa Serrano

Eloisa Serrano is a PhD student in Griffith Lab. She received a BA and MA in Sociology from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. She started working at Northwestern in 2014 when she started in General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics before coming to Medical Social Sciences. Her previous research in GIM focused primarily on medication adherence, chronic illness, and health literacy. She mainly serves on the Health Literacy study, for which she is actively recruiting and enrolling participants in English and Spanish. Her personal research interests lie in health disparities, trauma, and mental health support services. When she’s not in the lab, she enjoys volunteering at two non-profits that support urban youth, reading a good suspense novel, and cooking.

Claire Weaver

Claire Weaver is a student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Northwestern University’s Feinberg’s School of Medicine. She is involved in several projects in the lab including a project aimed at Reducing Assessment Barriers for Patients with Low Literacy and a study that seeks to determine anxiety as a causal mechanism of increased urinary urgency and frequency in women. Claire’s overarching career goal is the translation and identification of tailored treatments and interventions based on individual patient factors, including their neurological and cognitive profile, and their individual symptomology. Her current research is focused on new approaches to treatment of depression.

Teal Coil-Otto

Teal Coil-Otto (sher/her) is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University in the McCormick School of Engineering. She is pursuing Bachelor of Science degrees in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, with a minor in Cultural Anthropology. She hopes to attend graduate school for biostatistics or the social sciences. In her free time, she enjoys running, roller-blading, gardening, listening to music, and spending time with friends. She also has two cats named Lemon and Orange.

Evan Kim

Evan Kim (he/him) is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University in the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. He will pursue Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Economics as an undergraduate student. He intends to pursue his passions in the realms of clinical, social, and cognitive psychology. Specifically, he is passionate about the intersection between adolescent mental health, depression, anxiety, and physical activity. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, playing basketball, listening to music, playing chess, and exploring the city.

Latunde Sapara Jr., MA

Latunde Sapara Jr. is a former MA student in Griffith Lab who worked on the Health Literacy project and the adapted-CBT project. He received a BA in Psychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, IL. He hopes to publish research that can eventually lead to policy changes regarding mental health in underrepresented populations. When he is not in the lab, he enjoys managing his fantasy sports teams, trying new places to eat at, and playing basketball with his friends.

Michelle Taddeo, MPH

Michelle is a former lab manager for Dr. Griffith’s lab. She received a BS and Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has a background working in public health and research, specifically recruitment and retention of research participants. Michelle acted as the project manager for many of the research studies in Griffith Lab. When she’s not at work she enjoys yoga, reading a good book, and volunteering with youth after-school programs.

Patricia I Moreno, PhD

Patricia Moreno, PhD received a BA in Psychology & Spanish-Hispanic Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and an MA/PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She also completed an APA-accredited clinical internship at the Duke University School of Medicine and a fellowship in cancer control and survivorship at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

For more information about Dr. Moreno, please visit her website: https://www.patriciamorenophd.com/

Bayley Taple, PhD

Dr. Taple is a former doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, with a research and clinical emphasis in Behavioral Medicine.

Noël Slesinger, PhD

Dr. Slesinger is a former doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine with research emphasis in Psychopathology and Treatment and a clinical emphasis in Pediatric Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology.

Alexis Nauden

Alexis Nauden is a former Research Assistant in the Griffith Lab. She graduated in 2021 and majored in Communication Studies and Global Health Studies at Northwestern University.

Mariela Perez

Mariela graduated in 2020 with a BA in Communications and is now a Digital Marketing Strategist at the NU School of Professional Studies.