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Tamar Mendelson, PhD

Tamar Mendelson
  • Bloomberg Professor of American Health
  • Director for the Center for Adolescent Health
  • Professor

Departmental Affiliations

Center & Institute Affiliations

Contact Information

624 N. Broadway
Hampton House 853
Baltimore, Maryland 21205

410-502-6219
(410) 955-9088

Center for Adolescent Health
Bloomberg American Health Initiative - Risks to Adolescent Health

View Current Courses

Education

PhD, Duke University, 2003
MA, Duke University, 2000

Overview

My research addresses the development, evaluation, and dissemination of prevention strategies to improve mental health among underserved populations, with a focus on urban youth.

Youth and adolescents. I am currently evaluating mindfulness-based and cognitive behavioral approaches for improving emotional and behavioral outcomes among urban middle and high school students. In addition, through the Center for Adolescent Health and the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, I collaborate with multiple partners to help reduce the number of young people who become disconnected from school, the workforce, and other key supports.

Perinatal mental health. I am assessing mindfulness-based strategies to promote maternal mental health and prevent postpartum depression in neonatal intensive care units.

Honors and Awards

JHU Leadership Development Program: Influencer Program (2017-2018)

JHSPH Recognition for Excellence in Teaching (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016)

The Maryland Psychological Association of Graduate Students Mentoring Award (2012)

Finalist, Aspen Brain Forum Prize in Neuroeducation, Aspen Brain Forum Foundation and New York Academy of Sciences (2011)

Senior Investigator, Mind and Life Summer Institute (2010)

Faculty Innovations Fund Awardee, JHSPH (2008-2009)

Career Development Institute (CDI) for Psychiatry, Stanford University, CA (2007)

Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar, Harvard University (2004-2006)

Robert E. Harris Memorial Award: Outstanding Clinical Psychology Fellow, University of California, San Francisco (2004)

NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowship from NIMH (2001-2002)

American Psychological Foundation Graduate Research Scholarship in Psychology (2001-2002)

Aleane Webb Dissertation Research Fellowship, Duke University (2001-2002)

James B. Duke Fellowship, Duke University (1997-2001)

Phi Beta Kappa, Yale University (1993)

Magna cum laude, Yale University (1993)

Distinction in the Humanities Major, Yale University (1993)

Marshall Dodge Prize for Philosophy, Yale University (1990)

  • "Mental Health"
  • adolescent health
  • opportunity youth
  • urban youth
  • depression
  • perinatal depression
  • prevention
  • early intervention
  • mindfulness
  • yoga

Selected publications:

  • Mendelson, T., Clary, L., Sibinga, E., Tandon, S.D., Musci, R., Mmari, K., Salkever, D., Stuart, E., & Ialongo, N. (2020). A randomized controlled trial of a trauma-informed school prevention program for urban youth: Rationale, design, and methods. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 90, 105895.
  • Damian, A.J., Gallo, J., Bowie, J., & Mendelson, T. (2019). A mixed methods exploratory assessment of the usefulness of Baltimore City Health Department’s trauma-informed care training intervention. Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 89, 229-236.
  • Mendelson, T.,* Mmari, K.,* Blum, R.W., Catalano, R.F., & Brindis, C.D. (2018). Opportunity youth: Insights and opportunities for a public health approach. Public Health Reports, 133, 54S-64S. [*Joint first authorship]
  • Mendelson, T., & Eaton, W.W. (2018). Recent advances in the prevention of mental disorders. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 53, 325-339.
  • Mendelson, T., McAfee, C., Damian, A.J., Brar, A., Donohue, P., & Sibinga, E.M.S. (2018). A mindfulness intervention to reduce maternal distress in neonatal intensive care: A mixed methods pilot study. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 21, 791-799.

See all publications by Tamar Mendelson

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