Family Recovery Research Program Team

Investigators

Julianne Flanagan, Ph.D.

Dr. Flanagan's program of research focuses on the relationships between post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and interpersonal violence. She is currently conducting laboratory and treatment development studies aimed at better understanding behavioral and neurobiological underpinnings of violence among individuals and couples. She is also conducting studies examining behavioral and pharmacological interventions to mitigate these commonly co-occurring problems.

Margaret Baer, PhD – Assistant Professor

Dr. Baer researches Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). She is particularly focused on alcohol and opioids, and the overlap of SUDs and suicide risk. She is passionate about smartphone and technology-based applications for addiction science, with the long-term goal of personalizing addiction treatment.

Early Career Investigators

Julie Hurd, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Hurd's research focuses on the intersection of trauma, psychosocial functioning, and women's health, particularly in the context of romantic relationships. Her work examines individual factors and relationship dynamics associated with trauma recovery and psychosocial outcomes, as well as dyadic interventions aimed at improving psychological and relationship health.

Carolina Body-Rogers, MA – Intern

Caroline is a graduate student at the University of Iowa and a predoctoral intern at the Charleston Consortium. Her research interests include factors that influence sexual and relational decision making such as substance use, peer perceptions, emotional states, and trauma history. She is currently investigating the role of peer misperceptions on factors associated with alcohol-related sexual assault perpetration.

Shannon Forkus, Ph.D.

Dr. Forkus' program of research focuses on examining mechanisms involved in the development, co-occurrence, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders. Her goal is to identify and translate clinically-relevant mechanisms into new and adapted interventions to enhance treatment outcomes. She is currently conducting a study to examine the role of self-compassion on posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder symptoms among veterans engaged in an integrated treatment.

Sarah Giff, Ph.D.

Dr. Giff is a staff psychologist with the PTSD Clinical Team at the Ralph H. Johnson VAHCS and part of the FRRP lab. Her research focuses on how trauma and substance use impacts Veterans and their loved ones, and ways to improve interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from George Mason University and completed her doctoral internship with the Charleston Consortium Internship Program and a MIRECC postdoctoral research fellowship with the Ralph H. Johnson VAHCS.

Study Personnel

Shamaine Gentile, Study Coordinator

Megan Pfizenmayer, Research Assistant

Tyler Ulch, Study Coordinator

Brittany Mainord, MA, LPC-A, Study Therapist

Brittany Mainord is a study therapist on the Family Recovery Research Program at MUSC, currently supporting clients on the BFIT study. Brittany is a licensed professional counselor associate. She received her bachelor's in psychology from the College of Charleston and her master's in clinical counseling from The Citadel Graduate College.

FRRP Lab Manager

Stacey Sellers, MS

Stacey is the Program Manager for the group. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Neuroscience from the College of Charleston and her Masters of Clinical and Translational Science from Creighton University. She has worked in research at MUSC and Creighton University for over 15 years, focusing her work on the treatment of substance use disorders.