Communications Team

Members

Charissa Hossein, Ph.D., (Chair, Listserv Moderator) is a graduate of Palo Alto University’s Clinical Psychology program with an emphasis in Trauma. She completed her pre-doctoral training at the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center also known as the Loma Linda VA and her post-doctoral residency at the San Francisco VA Medical Center as the Geropsychology Fellow.  She currently works as a General Mental Health Psychologist at the Northern California VA, Martinez Outpatient.

Diana DiGasbarro, B.A., (Newsletter Editor) is a third year graduate student at the University of Louisville pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology. Her clinical interests include assessment and therapy with older adults, especially people with dementia and their families. With regards to research, Diana is interested in bridging positive psychology with assessment and treatment for people with dementia, with an emphasis on identifying and encouraging strengths of people with dementia.

Danielle McDuffie, M.A., (Newsletter Editor) is a third year graduate student who completed her MA and is in the process of completing her PhD at the University of Alabama (UA). Danielle is currently working as a graduate student researcher and is involved in providing therapeutic services and neuropsychological assessments to older adults. Her research interests revolve heavily around minority aging, particularly amongst African American older adults. She is also interested in the intersections of bereavement, grief, religion, spirituality, and Positive Psychology among African Americans.

Jennifer Ho, Psy.D., (Website Coordinator) is a Clinical Psychologist with the Home Based Primary Care at VA Palo Alto. She also sees diverse working professionals and aging adults in her private practice. A graduate of Ferkauf/Yeshiva University, she completed internship and fellowship in geropsychology and palliative care. Interests include aging, palliative and end-of-life care, caregiver stress, and intersectionality of identities, values, and intergenerational influences. 

Taylor Loskot, B.A., (Social Media Coordinator) will be pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Pacific University in Oregon in the Fall, where she will study geriatric mental health under the mentorship of Dr. Emily Bower. She works as a research assistant at the VA National Center for PTSD and hopes to ultimately pursue a career in clinical geropsychology within the VA healthcare system. Her research experience has primarily involved the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD, and her interests are in ageism, suicidal ideation and risk assessment, and social connectedness in late life.

For further information regarding the Communications Committee, please contact Charissa Hosseini, Committee Chair: [email protected]