Scientific Advisory Committee

Elizabeth Vella, Ph.D

Elizabeth Vella, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern Maine. Dr. Vella received her Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences from Virginia Tech in 2005, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007. Her research interests include the link between psychosocial factors and cardiovascular risk, and the physiological mechanisms that may explain these associations, as well as the implications for stress management interventions in improving quality of life and reducing physiological responses to stressors among at risk populations. Dr. Vella has authored or co-authored numerous articles published in peer reviewed scientific journals and presented her research at a variety of conferences. She is a reviewer for 10 scientific journals and a member of 5 scientific societies, including the Association for Psychological Science.

Terry Clark, M.D., FACS

Dr. Clark is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Medical Corps (reserve) and a veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. A board certified General Surgeon, Dr. Clark is also President and C.E.O. of MD Informatics, LLC. Dr. Clark has over 20 years experience in healthcare and nine years experience in information sciences. Dr. Clark has completed a two-year fellowship in Medical Informatics and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to lecture internationally on information technology in healthcare. Most recently, Dr. Clark served as a commissioner on a Presidential Task Force to make recommendations to improve healthcare for America’s Veterans and as an advisor to Humana Veterans Healthcare Services.

Glenn Schiraldi, Ph.D

Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D., has served on the stress management faculties at the Pentagon, The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and the University of Maryland, where he received the Outstanding Teaching Award in the College of Health and Human Performance. He is the author of various articles and books on human mental and physical health. His books on stress-related topics include: The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery & Growth; World War II Survivors: Lessons in Resilience; The Self-Esteem Workbook; Conquer Anxiety, Worry & Nervous Fatigue: A Guide to Greater Peace; The Anger Management Sourcebook; Ten Simple Solutions to Building Self-Esteem; Hope and Help for Depression: A Practical Guide; and Facts to Relax By: A Guide to Relaxation and Stress Reduction. Another book on resilience training is nearing completion. Glenn's writing has been recognized by various scholarly and popular sources, including the Washington Post, American Journal of Health Promotion, the Mind/Body Health Review, and the International Stress and Tension Control Society Newsletter. While serving at the Pentagon, he helped to design and implement a series of prototype courses in stress management for the Department of the Army—including hostility/anger management and communication skills. For the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation he designed and presents resilience training to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in high-risk groups (such as military, police, and firefighters). Serving at the University of Maryland since l980, he has pioneered a number of mind/body courses, which have taught skills to a wide range of adults to prevent stress-related mental and physical illness. His recent research indicates that multiple mental health indicators can be favorably impacted by semester’s courses. He has trained clinicians in the U.S. and Canada on treating PTSD and teaching self-esteem and resilience skills. Because of his expertise in practical skill building to prevent mental illness, he was invited to join the Board of Directors, Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association, founded as a Johns Hopkins University, Department of Psychiatry, cooperative. He also serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and on the ABC News Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder working group. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, and holds a doctorate from the University of Maryland. His research interests center on personality and stress, including resilience, post-traumatic stress, self-esteem, depression, anger/hostility, and anxiety.

Robert D. Hill Ph.D., ABPP

Received his Ph.D. in counseling psychology in 1987 from Stanford University. His areas of interest include issues in adult lifespan development. He is the author of several books that describe Positive Aging as an affirmative approach for coping with advanced aging. His interests also include mental health care delivery to older veterans in rural settings. He is currently an active member of the Veterans Administration Rural Health Resource Center. Bob is Board Certified in Counseling Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Society of Counseling Psychology, Division 17). In 2003 he was a Fulbright Scholar at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Bob is a former department chair and a current professor in the psychology department at the University of Utah.