Research is vital and at DMU students are vital to research. 

Contributions from students are vital in helping move campus research forward. The Mentored Student Research Program is an excellent opportunity for students to highlight their research findings. We’re excited to offer both oral and poster presentations and all summer research students are invited to participate. Students may present on any topic or experience related to research.

Agenda

Keynote Speaker

Robert J. Gatchel, PhD, ABPP

Robert J. Gatchel received his BA in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, in 1969 from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1973 from the University of Wisconsin. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Dr. Gatchel is currently the Chair and Distinguished Professor of the Department of Psychology, College of Science, at The University of Texas at Arlington, as well as the Nancy P. & John G. Penson Endowed Professor of Clinical Health Psychology. In addition, he is a Clinical Professor at The Eugene McDermott Center for Pain Management, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Management, at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, as well as the Director of Biopsychosocial Research at the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Ft. Worth.

Dr. Gatchel has always been involved in new “cutting edge” areas of science and medicine. He has conducted extensive evidence-based clinical research, much of it continuously funded for the past 30 years by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He was also the recipient of consecutive Research Scientist Development Awards from NIH, and a prestigious Senior Scientist Award from NIH. His major areas of clinical and research expertise involve the following: the biopsychosocial approach to the etiology, assessment, treatment and prevention of chronic stress and pain behavior; the comorbidity of physical and mental health disorders; and clinical health psychology. He has published over 240 journal articles, 100 book chapters and has authored or edited 23 books

Dr. Gatchel’s research has strengthened the biopsychosocial approach to physical and mental health disorders and made possible the early identification and successful treatment of patients at risk for the development of chronic pain. He has led many in the medical profession to carefully consider salient psychological and social factors. His tireless leadership in the area of health psychology has inspired his colleagues in the field of psychology and numerous medical specialties.

Dr. Gatchel has been a major participant in science and pain management education. To date, he has trained and mentored 65 Ph.D. graduate students, 6 postdoctoral Fellows, 32 Masters level students, and numerous junior faculty members. Many of these have gone onto prestigious careers in academia and pain management.