Barbara Cornblatt, Ph.D., M.B.A., Director of RAP Program
Dr. Cornblatt is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Director of the Recognition and Prevention (RAP) Program. For more than 20 years, she has focused on research concerned with the causes and treatment of serious mental illness. She is currently concentrating on the identification and early treatment of adolescents who appear to be at risk for the development of emotional disorders, including psychosis.

The RAP program, which was opened in 1998, is one of the first programs in the United States specifically dedicated to the prevention of severe mental illness in adolescents and young adults. Over 200 youngsters have participated in both the research and treatment components of this program. Early treatment in the RAP Clinic has been consistently associated with a high rate of clinical improvement.

Dr. Cornblatt has authored or co-authored over 180 scientific articles and book chapters, is the co-director of the International Prodromal Research Network which sponsors international collaborations and prevention studies and is a member of the North American Prodromal Longitudinal Studies (NAPLS) consortium, one of the largest and most successful prevention collaborations worldwide. She recently received an award from the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill (NAMI Queens/Nassau) for the achievements of the RAP research program. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8133.

Dr. Correll is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and research scientist. He graduated from the Medical School at the Free University of Berlin in Germany before completing his training in adult as well as child and adolescent psychiatry at the Zucker Hillside Hospital and Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York. Dr. Correll's primary interest is in the timely identification and treatment of young people who are in the earliest stages of severe mental illnesses, including psychotic disorders.

Dr Correll is the recipient of over 20 national and international awards and fellowships, including the National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit (NCDEU) New Investigator Award; 11th Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia Young Scientist Award; American Psychiatric Association Junior Investigators Award; American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Presidential Scholar Award; American Federation for Medical Research Henry Christian Award; and the John and Maxine Bendheim Fellowship Award for Research. He has been working with the RAP Program since 1998 as a clinical and a research psychiatrist. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-4812.

 

Dr. Smith is Assistant Director of the RAP Program. He works with new families as they enter the program and helps develop new clinical and research programs. Contact him with questions about the clinical services or the research opportunities offered by the RAP Program. Dr. Smith has completed a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the New School in New York City. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8286.

 

Dr. Auther received her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from St. John's University . She has been working with the RAP Program since 2000, conducting clinical diagnostic interviews and providing individual and group psychotherapy. Dr. Auther is a recipient of a Young Investigator Award from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD). Her specific research interests include the role of substance use in the development of major mental illness.
E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8147.

 

Jennifer Atencio-Bacayon is completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at St. John's University. She completed her clinical internship at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. She has recently joined the RAP program as a full-time clinician, conducting individual, family and group psychotherapy. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-4238.

 

Dr. Barsky received her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Westbrook University, Weirton, West Virginia. She has recently joined the RAP program as a part-time interviewer, conducting psychiatric evaluations. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8046.

 

Dr. Baskir is involved in several research projects at RAP. Her main interests include investigation into mechanisms and processes of normal and abnormal brain development. She completed an SRCD/AAAS Executive Branch Fellowship, placed in the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health, in September 2007. She received her doctorate in Applied Developmental Psychology from Fordham University in 2006. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8878.

 

Dr. Gillett received her Doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed her Clinical Internship in Child Clinical/Pediatric Psychology at the University of Louisville, School of Medicine . Current responsibilities primarily involve diagnostic clinical interviewing for a variety of research projects in the RAP program. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8616.

 

Meg Hanratty received her Master’s degree in social work from Adelphi University and her Master’s degree in clinical psychology from Fordham University. She started working at the RAP program in 2007. She provides individual, group, and family therapy. Meg is one of the clinicians working with individuals and families enrolled in the Early Detection and Intervention for the Prevention of Psychosis program. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8554.

 

Danielle McLaughlin is completing her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology at Fordham University. She is involved in various research activities at RAP and works primarily as a neurocognitive tester. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8375.

 

Dr. Nagachandran received his medical degree from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel. He continued in the field of medical research and applies his knowledge in computer science to design and organize studies and databases unique to medical applications. He is currently establishing an expert system to streamline the current and future datasets. He joined the Northshore-LIJ health system in 2001 and began at the RAP program in May, 2005. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8086.

 

Ruth Olsen received her degree in Behavioral Science from the New York Institute of Technology and then attended graduate school at New York University. She is responsible for coordinating various activities within the clinical and research arms of the RAP program. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8154.

 

Mr. Reinharth received his undergraduate degree at MIT. He assists with a variety of research tasks at the RAP program. He hopes to continue his education and become a clinical psychologist. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-8549.

 

Scott Snorteland B.A., received his degree in Psychology from S.U.N.Y Old Westbury in New York.  He joined the North Shore-LIJ Health System in 2000, working on both inpatient and outpatient units at The Zucker Hillside Hospital as a Rehabilitation Specialist.  During this time he worked with children, adolescents and their families, targeting social, school and community functioning.  He began working at the RAP Program in 2007. E-mail / Tel: (718) 470-4231

 

 

The RAP Program
Zucker Hillside Hospital
Psychiatry Research
75-59 263rd Street
Glen Oaks, New York 11004

 

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Scott Snorteland, B.A., Research Coordinator, Education Specialist

 

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Jonathan Reinharth, B.S.

 

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Ruth Olsen, B.S., Research Coordinator

 

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Pradeep Nagachandran, M.D., Research Coordinator

 

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Danielle McLaughlin, M.A., Psychometrician

 

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Meg Hanratty, LMSW, MA, Clinician

 

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Dodie Gillett, Ph.D., Psychologist

 

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Lauren R. Baskir, Ph.D., Research Fellow

 

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Rita Carol Barsky, Ph.D., Senior Research Coordinator

 

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Jennifer Atencio-Bacayon, MA, ABD, Therapist

 

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Andrea Auther, Ph.D., Assistant Director of RAP Program

 

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Chris Smith, Ph.D., Associate Director of RAP Program

 

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Christoph Correll, M.D., Medical Director of RAP Program