Jason G Craggs, PhD Prior to graduate school I spent several years working as a psychometrist in the Neuropsychology departments of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital (RB&C) working as a psychometrist. These experiences guided my research interests in brain behavior relationships, research methodology, statistics and neuroimaging. My knowledge and skill in these areas as well as psychometric theory improved while attaining a M.A. degree from the University of Memphis. My doctoral training was completed at the University of Georgia. While there, my research focused on using neuroimaging data to better understand the relationships between structural and functional abnormalities. This line of inquiry inherently encouraged the development and assessment of novel statistical approaches to assess brain-behavior relationships. Because the brain is a dynamic system in a constant state of flux, the final years of my graduate training focused on modeling systems. This interest ultimately resulted in the attainment of a Fulbright grant for the study of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in Oslo, Norway. The year spent in Norway allowed me to focus on the various applications of SEM, including the ability to combine behavioral and neuroimaging (structural and functional) data in order to assess the interaction between structure and function and its influence on behavior. Upon returning from Norway, I have worked to develop proficiency in fMRI paradigm development and implementation, various scanning techniques, and computer programming. These skills have allowed me to use a variety of software packages for the analysis of neuroimaging data. At present, I am developing an increasing understanding of the pain/brain/behavior relationships with the goal of creating a career long fundable line of research in the field of pain. Email me at: jcraggs@phhp.ufl.edu Dr. Cindy D. Scipio earned her B.A. in Psychology and Biology from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill in 2001. She then went on to Duke University and obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2009. Her dissertation investigated the pain experiences of breast cancer survivors at the time of mammography. Dr. Scipio is now a postdoctoral fellow in the Pain Lab, and her current research interests include examining racial and ethnic disparities in pain assessment and clinical decision making and utilizing virtual technology in pain assessment. Nkaku Kisaalita received his B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he conducted research examining tactile and auditory sensory system interactions. Upon graduating in 2007, he coordinated a 2-year study at UNC examining cognitive and perceptual factors that influence pain perception in individuals with sickle cell disease. Nkaku joined the Clinical and Heath Psychology doctoral program at the University of Florida in 2009 working in Dr. Michael Robinson’s lab. His first year project involves assessing acceptability and attitudes towards placebo treatments for pain. His research interests include chronic diseases and pain, placebo analgesia, placebo ethics, pain related wind-up, and the influence of cognitions of on pain perception. Ms. Daniela Roditi is a graduate student in the Department of Clinical & Health Psychology at the University of Florida. Ms. Roditi graduated from Stetson University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Health Care Issues. She is currently studying various aspects of pain in Dr. Robinson's Center for Pain Research Lab. Specific research interests include various aspects of coping with chronic pain, benefit finding in chronic illnesses, pain assessment, and studying the mechanisms of pain placebos. Ms. Roditi is currently working as a therapist in a randomized controlled clinical trial that examines the effects of non-drug Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for insomnia (CBT-I) and for pain (CBT-P) in fibromyalgia patients. Laura Wandner received a B.A. degree in Psychology and Government from Connecticut College in 2007. While at Connecticut College, she conducted research on sports pain and gender differences in the perception of pain. Before joining the University of Florida doctoral program, Laura worked at Child Trends, an organization of research psychologists in Washington, DC studying children’s health. Laura joined the doctoral program at the University of Florida in 2009. Her current research focus, using virtual human technology, is on the perception of pain by undergraduate students and healthcare trainees Anne Nisenzon graduated from Boston University in December 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. There, she was involved in the Center for Memory and Brain, where she conducted neuropsychological research and fMRI data collection on cognitive deficits in Parkinson’s disease. She commenced her doctoral training in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida in 2006. She joined the Center for Pain Research and Behavioral Health after obtaining her Masters degree in clinical neuropsychology. Anne will be examining the added utility of anger among other known negative prognostic indicators in predicting treatment response in chronic low back pain patients for her doctoral research. She is also involved in research examining patient-centered outcomes and expectations for back pain treatment. Ryan Anderson received his B.A. in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis in 1999. After graduating, Ryan spent 8 years doing research in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University on depressive and anxiety disorders in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetic obesity. In 2009, he began his doctoral study in clinical psychology at the University of Florida, and joined the Center for Pain Research to continue pursuing his interest in mind-body interactions. Ryan’s master’s thesis will examine the predictors of clinical pain in adults with fibromyalgia, and he is also interested in extending his previous work on negative affect into chronic pain populations. Steven Z. George PT, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and a member of the leadership committee for the Brooks Center for Rehabilitation Studies at the University of Florida. He received his BS in Physical Therapy from West Virginia University in 1994 and practiced at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for 7 years, primarily in outpatient settings. Dr. George completed his MS in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1997 and his PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in pain research and rehabilitation outcomes from the University of Florida in 2004. Dr. George’s primary research interest involves the utilization of biopsychosocial models for the prevention and treatment of disability from musculoskeletal pain. He has received competitive research grants supporting his work in this area from the National Institutes of Health, the Foundation for Physical Therapy, the Department of Defense, and the University of Florida. Lori Waxenberg, Ph.D. is currently a Clinical Associate Professor in the Pain Center of Excellence of the Dept. of Clinical and Health Psychology which is the clinical arm of the lab. She was formerly a post-doctoral fellow with Dr. Robinson. She is responsible for clinical service, clinical training of our students, and she facilitates our clinical research programs. Don Price, Ph.D. is internationally known as one of the leading experts in pain perception, pain psychophysics, and the physiology of pain. He is an active collaborator in our laboratory, with interests in pain-related affect, placebo and expectation, and brain imaging of pain to name a few. Joel Bialosky, PT, PhD is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. He has over 14 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist and is recognized as a board certified clinical specialist in Orthopedics and a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Joel received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Ithaca College in 1990 and a master’s degree in musculoskeletal physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. He graduated from the University of Florida with a PhD in Rehabilitation Science in 2008. Joel's research interest is focused on the mechanisms of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. He currently receives funding through the Rehabilitation Research Career Development Program (K12 HD055929). Mark Bishop, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida. He received entry-level training as a physical therapist in Australia and has worked for two decades in the area of musculoskeletal pain. Currently, he teaches in the professional physical therapy and post-professional residency programs at the University of Florida. His research area currently focuses on predicting the development of acute pain and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bishop was recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association with the 2006 Margaret L Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member.

Jason G Craggs, PhD

Prior to graduate school I spent several years working as a psychometrist in the Neuropsychology departments of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital (RB&C) working as a psychometrist. These experiences guided my research interests in brain behavior relationships, research methodology, statistics and neuroimaging. My knowledge and skill in these areas as well as psychometric theory improved while attaining a M.A. degree from the University of Memphis. My doctoral training was completed at the University of Georgia. While there, my research focused on using neuroimaging data to better understand the relationships between structural and functional abnormalities. This line of inquiry inherently encouraged the development and assessment of novel statistical approaches to assess brain-behavior relationships.

Because the brain is a dynamic system in a constant state of flux, the final years of my graduate training focused on modeling systems. This interest ultimately resulted in the attainment of a Fulbright grant for the study of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in Oslo, Norway. The year spent in Norway allowed me to focus on the various applications of SEM, including the ability to combine behavioral and neuroimaging (structural and functional) data in order to assess the interaction between structure and function and its influence on behavior.

Upon returning from Norway, I have worked to develop proficiency in fMRI paradigm development and implementation, various scanning techniques, and computer programming. These skills have allowed me to use a variety of software packages for the analysis of neuroimaging data. At present, I am developing an increasing understanding of the pain/brain/behavior relationships with the goal of creating a career long fundable line of research in the field of pain.

Email me at: jcraggs@phhp.ufl.edu

Dr. Cindy D. Scipio earned her B.A. in Psychology and Biology from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill in 2001. She then went on to Duke University and obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2009. Her dissertation investigated the pain experiences of breast cancer survivors at the time of mammography. Dr. Scipio is now a postdoctoral fellow in the Pain Lab, and her current research interests include examining racial and ethnic disparities in pain assessment and clinical decision making and utilizing virtual technology in pain assessment.

Nkaku Kisaalita received his B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he conducted research examining tactile and auditory sensory system interactions. Upon graduating in 2007, he coordinated a 2-year study at UNC examining cognitive and perceptual factors that influence pain perception in individuals with sickle cell disease. Nkaku joined the Clinical and Heath Psychology doctoral program at the University of Florida in 2009 working in Dr. Michael Robinson’s lab. His first year project involves assessing acceptability and attitudes towards placebo treatments for pain. His research interests include chronic diseases and pain, placebo analgesia, placebo ethics, pain related wind-up, and the influence of cognitions of on pain perception.

Ms. Daniela Roditi is a graduate student in the Department of Clinical & Health Psychology at the University of Florida. Ms. Roditi graduated from Stetson University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Health Care Issues. She is currently studying various aspects of pain in Dr. Robinson's Center for Pain Research Lab. Specific research interests include various aspects of coping with chronic pain, benefit finding in chronic illnesses, pain assessment, and studying the mechanisms of pain placebos. Ms. Roditi is currently working as a therapist in a randomized controlled clinical trial that examines the effects of non-drug Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for insomnia (CBT-I) and for pain (CBT-P) in fibromyalgia patients.

Laura Wandner received a B.A. degree in Psychology and Government from Connecticut College in 2007. While at Connecticut College, she conducted research on sports pain and gender differences in the perception of pain. Before joining the University of Florida doctoral program, Laura worked at Child Trends, an organization of research psychologists in Washington, DC studying children’s health. Laura joined the doctoral program at the University of Florida in 2009. Her current research focus, using virtual human technology, is on the perception of pain by undergraduate students and healthcare trainees

Anne Nisenzon graduated from Boston University in December 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. There, she was involved in the Center for Memory and Brain, where she conducted neuropsychological research and fMRI data collection on cognitive deficits in Parkinson’s disease. She commenced her doctoral training in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida in 2006. She joined the Center for Pain Research and Behavioral Health after obtaining her Masters degree in clinical neuropsychology. Anne will be examining the added utility of anger among other known negative prognostic indicators in predicting treatment response in chronic low back pain patients for her doctoral research. She is also involved in research examining patient-centered outcomes and expectations for back pain treatment.

Ryan Anderson received his B.A. in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis in 1999. After graduating, Ryan spent 8 years doing research in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University on depressive and anxiety disorders in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetic obesity. In 2009, he began his doctoral study in clinical psychology at the University of Florida, and joined the Center for Pain Research to continue pursuing his interest in mind-body interactions. Ryan’s master’s thesis will examine the predictors of clinical pain in adults with fibromyalgia, and he is also interested in extending his previous work on negative affect into chronic pain populations.

Steven Z. George PT, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and a member of the leadership committee for the Brooks Center for Rehabilitation Studies at the University of Florida. He received his BS in Physical Therapy from West Virginia University in 1994 and practiced at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for 7 years, primarily in outpatient settings. Dr. George completed his MS in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1997 and his PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in pain research and rehabilitation outcomes from the University of Florida in 2004.

Dr. George’s primary research interest involves the utilization of biopsychosocial models for the prevention and treatment of disability from musculoskeletal pain. He has received competitive research grants supporting his work in this area from the National Institutes of Health, the Foundation for Physical Therapy, the Department of Defense, and the University of Florida.

Lori Waxenberg, Ph.D. is currently a Clinical Associate Professor in the Pain Center of Excellence of the Dept. of Clinical and Health Psychology which is the clinical arm of the lab. She was formerly a post-doctoral fellow with Dr. Robinson. She is responsible for clinical service, clinical training of our students, and she facilitates our clinical research programs.

Don Price, Ph.D. is internationally known as one of the leading experts in pain perception, pain psychophysics, and the physiology of pain. He is an active collaborator in our laboratory, with interests in pain-related affect, placebo and expectation, and brain imaging of pain to name a few.

Joel Bialosky, PT, PhD is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. He has over 14 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist and is recognized as a board certified clinical specialist in Orthopedics and a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. Joel received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Ithaca College in 1990 and a master’s degree in musculoskeletal physical therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. He graduated from the University of Florida with a PhD in Rehabilitation Science in 2008. Joel's research interest is focused on the mechanisms of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. He currently receives funding through the Rehabilitation Research Career Development Program (K12 HD055929).

Mark Bishop, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida. He received entry-level training as a physical therapist in Australia and has worked for two decades in the area of musculoskeletal pain. Currently, he teaches in the professional physical therapy and post-professional residency programs at the University of Florida. His research area currently focuses on predicting the development of acute pain and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bishop was recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association with the 2006 Margaret L Moore Award for Outstanding New Academic Faculty Member.