Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

Mood Disorders Treatment & Research Program

412-246-6111

Our Staff

Michael Thase, M.D.

     Professor of Psychiatry and director of WPIC's Division of Mood, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, Dr. Thase has been actively involved in mood disorders research for the past 16 years.  Dr. Thase's research addresses the classification of depressive disorders, neuroendocrine and EEG sleep correlates, and differential treatment efficacy.  He is the principal investigator of both NIMH and NIDA funded projects, the co-principal investigator of five other NIMH funded grants, and the principal investigator of a series of industry-sponsored protocols.

Edward Friedman, M.D.

      Dr. Friedman is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and is the Associate Director of the Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Program. Dr. Friedman specializes in the assessment and treatment of mood disorders. He is an attending psychiatrist, co-investigator, and principal investigator in numerous research protocols. Dr. Friedman plays an important role in residency education at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic as Director of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Adult Ambulatory Pharmacotherapy training programs.

Robert Howland, M.D.

     Dr. Howland is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry with clinical and research experience in psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and novel and alternative therapies for mood and anxiety disorders.

Sander Kornblith, Ph.D.

     Dr. Kornblith received his Bachelor's degree in Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and went on to receive his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.

     In the early 1990's, Dr. Kornblith was invited to train with Aaron Beck, MD and his colleagues to become a protocol therapist at WPIC in a multi site research study on the use of cognitive therapy in treating cocaine addiction.  Since that time, he has continued to participate as a protocol therapist in research studies for the treatment of depression and as a trainer of other therapists providing cognitive therapy.

     Dr. Kornblith is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and the Director of Training at the Center for Cognitive Therapy at WPIC, where he trains and supervises therapists providing cognitive therapy.

Duane Spiker, M.D.

     Dr. Spiker is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry with experience in psychopharmacology, who specializes in the assessment and pharmacologic treatment of depressive and bipolar disorders.

Timothey Denko, M.D.

     Dr. Denko is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Kenyon College and a MD from the University of Cincinnati.

Greg Siegle, Ph. D.

     Dr. Siegle is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and directs the Program in Cognitive Affective Neuroscience (PICAN).  Dr. Siegle's research examines brain mechanisms of depression and how they change in validated and novel treatments which target these mechanisms. He is the principal investigator on multiple NIMH funded research protocols.

Susan Berman, MEd

     Ms. Berman is the Senior Program Coordinator at the Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Center.

Crystal Spotts, M. ED.

     Ms. Spotts is a Program Coordinator at the Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Center.

Luann Shutt, RN, MSN, CS

     Ms. Shutt is a Program Coordinator at the Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Center.

© 2005 Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Program (MDTRP), Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC), UPMC Health System