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Clinician Scientist
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
OMB No. 0925-0001 and 0925-0002 (Rev. 10/2021 Approved Through 09/30/2024)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Provide the following information for the Senior/key personnel and other significant contributors.[Text Wrapping Break]Follow this format for each person. DO NOT EXCEED FIVE PAGES.
NAME: Williams, Rhonda M.
eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login): RHONDAWILL
POSITION TITLE: Clinician Scientist (GS 14-7), VA Puget Sound Health Care System & Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and residency training if applicable. Add/delete rows as necessary.)
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE
(if applicable)
Completion Date
MM/YYYY
FIELD OF STUDY
University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada B.S. 05/1992 Health Studies
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Ph.D. 05/1999 Clinical Psychology
University of Washington, Seattle, WA Postdoc 06/2000 Rehabilitation Psychology
A. Personal Statement
The proposed Diversity Supplement will provide funding for one year to allow a promising young scientist an opportunity to get significant exposure to a successful ongoing R01 study, including having access to a dataset that would allow the candidate to conduct an independent research project resulting in an article that will be submitted for publication with him as first author. I am an ABPP-Certified Rehabilitation Psychologist based at VA Puget Sound Health Care System (VAPSHCS) in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Care Service Line, and a Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. I have been the principal or co-investigator on 24 grants supported by federal funding (VHA, DOD, or NIH), 13 of which have been clinical trials of behavioral interventions designed to improve function, mental health/mood, cognition and/or pain. I am well-positioned to provide mentorship for Mr. Mendoza with respect to all aspects of the project. I have published over 90 papers, of which more than half have involved mentees. I have mentored more than 90 trainees across all levels of training (including undergraduates and Bachelor-level individuals who are seeking research experience prior to going to medical or graduate school, pre- and postdoctoral level scientists and interns, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty both in and outside of our department. In every case, I work closely with the trainees I mentor to identify their research career goals, and provide the support and resources needed to help them achieve those goals. I have won or been nominated for several mentorship awards both nationally and locally. I am enthusiastic about supporting Mr. Mendoza in achieving the goals outlined in this application.
My particular expertise includes: (1) designing and administering clinical interventions for rehabilitation populations; (2) measuring psychosocial and cognitive functional outcomes in rehabilitation; (3) training and supervising advanced psychology trainees in Rehabilitation settings and clinicians in clinical trials; (4) overseeing the conduct of clinical trials with high methodological and ethical rigor within VHA and building successful partnerships with investigators and institutions outside VHA; (5) facilitating dissemination and implementation of effective programs within VHA settings.
Positions and Honors
Positions and Employment
2019–present Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
2003–2009 Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA
2001–2003 Acting Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
2000–present Attending Psychologist, Rehabilitation Care Services, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA. Specific Assignment: VISN 20 Polytrauma Network Site
2000–2019 Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
2000–2001 Acting Instructor, Dept. of Rehab Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
2019– Editorial Board Member, American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2012– Editorial Board Member, Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
2005– Editorial Board Member, Rehabilitation Psychology
2001– Member, APA Div. 22: Division of Rehabilitation Psychology
2000– Guest Reviewer Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Journal of Pain,
Journal of Clinical Psychology, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Disability
and Rehabilitation, Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development
1992– Member, American Psychological Association
Honors
2021 APA Division 22 Rehabilitation Psychology Mitch Rosenthal Memorial Lectureship
2018 Nominee, Women in Science & Medicine Mentorship Award, University of Washington School of Medicine
2019 Outstanding Mentorship Award, APA Division 22, Rehabilitation Psychology
2018 VAPSHCS Research Award
2008–2021 Superior Performance Awards, Veterans Administration of Puget Sound Health Care System
2001 Service Award, Veterans Administration of Puget Sound Health Care System
1997 Graduate Students Association Research Award, Arizona State University
1995 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Program Development, Arizona State University
1992 Regents Entrance Scholarship, Arizona State University
1992 National Science and Engineering Research Scholarship, University of Waterloo
1992 Mike Moser Award for Excellence in Academics and Varsity Athletics, University of
Waterloo
1992 Award of Distinction, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo
C. Contributions to Science
1. The overarching aim of my research to date has been to optimize functional and psychosocial outcomes among persons with acquired disability. My research career has focused on identifying factors that can be modified or targeted in interventions to reduce symptoms and suffering. Most of my early work focused on characterizing outcomes longitudinally, including secondary conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and pain, in persons with limb loss, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury. Cognition is not commonly included among secondary disabilities or comorbidities, but I have developed a specialty niche in measuring cognitive outcomes and their impact on function.
a. Williams, R.M, Turner, A.P., Hatzakis, M., Bowen, JD, Rodriquez, A.A., & Haselkorn, J.K. (2005). Prevalence and correlates of depression among veterans with multiple sclerosis. Neurology, 64 (1), 75-80. PMID: 15642907
b. Sullivan-Singh, S., Sawyer, K., Ehde, D.M., Bell, K., Temkin, N., Dikmen, S., Williams, R.M., & Hoffman, J.M. (2014). Comorbidity of pain and depression among persons with traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 95 (6), 1100-1105. PMID:24561058
c. Williams R.M., Turner A.P. Green, M., Norvell, D.C., Henderson, A.W., Hakimi, K.N., Blake, D.J., Czerniecki, J.M. (2014). Relationship between cognition and functional outcomes after dysvascular lower extremity amputation: a prospective study. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 94 (9), 707-17. PMID: 25357146
d. Suri, P., Stolzmann, K., Iverson, K.M., Williams, R.M., Meterko, M., Yan, K., Gormley, K., & Pogoda, T.K. (2017). Associations between traumatic brain injury history and future headache severity in Veterans: A longitudinal study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 98 (11), 2118-2125. PMID: 28483652
2. In addition to observational and longitudinal research, I have co-developed interventions and conducted numerous clinical trials that evaluated psychosocial and behavioral interventions to improve function, mood, and quality of life. Conducting clinical trials and developing interventions for persons with chronic pain has been the focus of most of my research in the past 5 years. I was site PI on a recently completed DOD-CDMRP funded trial (PI: Hoffman, Grant # 11041954) and am currently a Co-PI on an NCCIH-funded trial (with Mark Jensen, 1R01AT008336-01) comparing three behavioral interventions for Veterans with chronic pain. Protocol papers for these two projects are shown below (c and d).
a. Williams, R.M., Day, M.A., Ehde, D.M., Turner, A.P., Ciol, M.A., Gertz, K.J., Patterson, D., Hakimian, S., Suri, P., & Jensen, M.P. (2022). Effects of Hypnosis vs Mindfulness Meditation vs Education on Chronic Pain Intensity and Secondary Outcomes in Veterans: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Pain. 2022 Jan 25. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002586. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35082248.
b. Turner, A.P., Wegener, S.T., Williams, R.M., Ehde, D.M., Norvell, D.C., Yanez, D., Czerniecki, J.M., VETPALS Study Group. 2021, In press. Self-management to improve function following amputation: VETPALS. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.Wegener, S., Ephraim, P., Ehde, D.M., Williams, R.M. & McKenzie, E. (2009). Self-Management improves outcomes in persons with limb loss. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 90, 373-380. PMID: 19254599
c. Hoffman, J.M., Ehde, D.M., Dikmen, S., Dilworth, T., Gertz, K., Kincaid, C., Lucas, S., Temkin, N., Sawyer, K., & Williams, R.M. (2019). Telephone-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Veterans with chronic pain following traumatic brain injury: rationale and study protocol for a randomized controlled trial study. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 76 (1), 112-119. PMID:30553077
d. Williams, R.M., Ehde, D.M., Day, M., Turner, A.P., Hakimian, S., Gertz, K., Ciol, M., McCall, A., Kincaid, C., Pettet, M., Patterson, D., Suri, P., & Jensen, M.P. (2020). The Chronic Pain Skills Study; Protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing hypnosis, mindfulness, and pain education in Veterans. Contemporary Clinical Trials, Mar; 90 105935. PMID: 31926321
3. Psychosocial treatment of chronic pain has been a longstanding research and clinical interest, and I have strong collaborations with Drs. Jensen, Turner, Ehde, Day, and Suri who bring decades of expertise in chronic pain to this project. I am particularly interested in the impact of chronic pain on function and on the systematic implementation of chronic pain treatments in practice settings.
a. Jensen, M.P., Barber, J., Williams-Avery, R.M., Flores, L., & Brown, M.Z. (2001). The effect of hypnotic suggestion on spinal cord injury pain. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 14 (1), 3-10.
b. Osborne, T., Turner, A., Williams, R., Bowen, J., Hatzakis, M., Rodriquez, A., Haselkorn, J. (2006). Pain interference among veterans with multiple sclerosis. Rehabilitation Psychology, 51 (2), 166-174. DOI: 10.1037/0090-5550.51.2.166
c. Suri, P., Stolzmann, K., Williams, R.M., & Pogoda, T. (2019). Deployment-related traumatic brain injury and risk of new episodes of care for back pain in Veterans. Journal of Pain. 20 (1), 97-107. PMID:30172707
d. McKernan, L.C., Finn, M.T.M., Patterson, D.R., Williams, R.M., & Jensen, M.P. (2020). Clinical hypnosis for chronic pain in outpatient integrative medicine: an implementation and training model. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Feb;26(2); 107-112. PMID: 31904997.
4. Persons with acquired disabilities frequently experience disruptions in their social participation and social relationships. Participation in important social roles is often of primary importance to patients. Strong social integration and support is associated with lower mortality, better health, and better mood, whereas disruption in social support and social participation is associated with worse engagement in rehabilitation therapies, depression, and lower levels of function. Understanding both the protective and risk factors associated with social context is also important in managing chronic pain. Hence, I am broadly interested in social outcomes following acquired disability and have expertise in the measurement and conceptualization of numerous social and contextual phenomena.
a. Williams, R.M., Ehde, D.M., Smith, D.G., Czerniecki, J.M., Hoffman, A.J., Robinson, L.R. (2004). A two-year longitudinal study of social support following amputation. Disability and Rehabilitation, Special Issue, 26 (14-15), 862-874. PMID: 15497915
b. Roepke, A.M., Williams, R.M., Turner, A.P., Henderson, A.W., Norvell, D.C., Henson, H., Hakimi, K.N., & Czerniecki, J.M. (2017). A longitudinal study of social participation after dysvascular lower extremity amputation. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 96(10), 741-747. PMID: 28368897
c. Anderson, D.R., Roubinov, D.S., Turner, A.P., Williams, R.M., Norvell, D.C., & Czerniecki, J.M. (2017). Perceived social support moderates the relationship between activities of daily living and depression after lower limb loss. Rehabilitation Psychology, 62 (2), 214-220.PMID: 28406651
d. Brier, M.J., Williams, R.M., Turner, A.P., Henderson, A.W., Roepke, A.M., Norvell, D.C., Henson, H.,& Czerniecki, J.M. (2018). Quality of relationships with caregivers, depression, and life satisfaction after dysvascular lower extremity amputation. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 99 (3), 452-458. PMID: 28987901
Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/rhonda.williams.1/bibliography/public/
