Contact and Staff![]() Mailing Address: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Actual Location: Email: Staff Biographies
Jordan F. Karp, MD Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Anesthesiology, and Clinical
and Translational Science After receiving a BA in psychology from Emory University (summa cum laude), Dr. Karp graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He then completed a residency in psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City. He returned to Pittsburgh for clinical and NIH-funded research fellowships in geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Karp is board certified in psychiatry with added qualifications in geriatric psychiatry. He is medical director of geriatric psychiatry at UPMC Pain Medicine at Centre Commons, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s multidisciplinary pain clinic. Dr. Karp’s NIH-funded research focuses on: 1) primary care-based treatments for older adults living with comorbid pain and depression, and 2) stepped care treatments for older adults with difficult to treat depression. Dr. Karp has published extensively in these areas and speaks often about the treatment of depression in medically ill populations both locally and nationally. Click here to view Dr. Karp’s curriculum vitae.
Dana Barvinchak, MS Dana graduated from Duquesne University with a B.A. in Psychology and the University of Pittsburgh with a Master’s degree in Applied Developmental Psychology. Dana began working in the field of research in 2004 and has been a Research Coordinator since 2008. She has worked on several multi-center autism studies in the past. Dana is currently a Program Coordinator with the ADAPT study.
Chloe Bolon, BS Chloe graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Psychology. She is a Research Specialist working with patients in the ADAPT study. Chloe works on two of Dr. Karp’s other current studies: Buprenorphine for Treatment-Resistant Depression, and Reducing Pain to Prevent Depression in older adults with knee arthritis.
Sunita Chickering, MA Sunita graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling. In the past, Sunita has worked with individuals with a wide range of disabilities including mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, as well substance abuse problems. Sunita believes passionately in helping others to remove obstacles in their lives and obtain the quality of life they desire. Sunita is very excited to be working for the ADAPT research study and assisting older adults in gaining more control over low back pain and depression.
Rachel San Pedro, MSW Rachel graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Master’s degree in Social Work in 1999. She began working as an inpatient social worker at St. Francis Medical Center in the acute adult psychiatric unit. Her research experience began that same year at WPIC in eating disorders. She has since worked on research studies involving borderline personality disorder, substance use, and childhood trauma. Rachel is presently a Senior Clinician with the ADAPT study. |