CURRICULUM VITAE Maysa Duarte Akbar makbar@integratedwellnessgroup.org 203 887 7649 EDUCATION 8/2013 American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) Board Certification in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (ABCCAP) 8/99 6/03 Doctorate of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 8/96 7/98 Masters of Science (Research) Community Psychology Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 6/92 5/96 Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) Psychology State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY LICENSE SPECIAL SKILLS Psychologist: State of Connecticut 02659 Language: native fluency in Spanish PROFESSIONAL AFFILATIONS AND HONORS American Psychological Association Connecticut Psychological Association Golden Key National Honor Society Who s Who among Students in American Colleges and Universities Marquis Who s Who in America National Health Service Corp Positive Impact Award, Hispanicize Jamaican American Connection Trailblazer Award Bank of America Minority Business Fund Scholarship Leading Women Entrepreneur Finalist Greater New England Minority Development Council Certified (GNEMSDC) Women Business Enterprise National Council Certified (WBENC) CLINICAL EXPERIENCE 12/07 present Chief Executive Officer Integrated Wellness Group New Haven, Connecticut Founder and CEO of a private psychotherapy group practice in New Haven. Satellite clinics Branford, Clinton, Oxford, North Haven. The practice is multidisciplinary in nature and focuses on therapeutic intervention, psychological assessments of children, adolescents, and their families, mental health consultation, educational advocacy, and parenting resources.
Akbar, M. 2 7/04 present Associate Research Scientist Yale School of Medicine, Child Study Center New Haven, Connecticut Cultural Diversity/Family Therapy Course: co facilitate didactic seminar focused on gaining cultural awareness, sensitivity and competence with in the context of diverse families. Past Clinical and Supervisory responsibilities: Early Childhood Unit: Testing Supervisor/Clinical Supervisor Autism Clinic/Child Development Unit: Lead Psychologist Research: PI: Parent s First in Medical Setting study funded by the Yale Nursing School. 01/09 present Medical Consultant Professional Disability Associates/University Disability Consortium Portland, Maine Responsible for providing consultative services that entails reviewing and analyzing psychological, psychiatric, or medical claims associated with a concurrent mental health disorder as part of disability claims. Gather medical/psychiatric/work history/social data and determine if additional supplemental information is needed. Contact physicians, clinicians, or other sources by telephone to collect necessary information. Prepare written determination summarizing all contacts to ensure legibility of documentation, as well as findings and providing rationale for eligibility decisions. 9/05 6/08 Mental Health Consultant Early Head Start New Haven, Connecticut Observation and assessment of cognitive, communication, motor, and social emotional development of children using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. Observation of the classroom environment using the ITERS. Observation of teacher child interaction using the Arnett Interactional Scale. Devise behavioral plans, offer strategies and interventions for classroom, and provide ongoing trainings and support to teachers/staff. Consultation with staff of Early Head Start, CAPS, and home based programs. 7/04 9/08 Psychologist Hill Health Center New Haven, Connecticut Direct the Developmental Clinic within Child Guidance which included supervising and conducting developmental assessments as part of a multidisciplinary team for children with an autism developmental spectrum disorders. Directed the behavioral health portion of DCF funded grant geared towards completing a Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Evaluation for every child who entering the foster care system. Provide outpatient psychotherapy to 2
Akbar, M. 3 underserved children/adolescents (ages 2 to 18) with a range of developmental, social, emotional and psychiatric difficulties. Co facilitated parenting groups using a manualized curriculum which addresses various parenting issues related to understanding child development, attachment, and parent efficacy. Responsible for applying to various grant funded resources focused on addressing the behavioral/health needs of underserved populations. Supervise psychology fellow and interns. 7/02 6/04 Clinical Child Psychology Pre/Postdoctoral Fellow Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, Connecticut Child Study Center Chief Psychologist: Ami Klin, Ph.D.; Training Director: Robert Casey, Ph.D. Comprehensive postdoctoral fellowship in clinical child psychology that encompasses assessment, treatment, consultation and supervision training experiences, with an emphasis on Pediatric Psychology, Developmental Disabilities and Inpatient Treatment. Included are intensive didactic seminars and supervision in areas of emphasis. Child Development Unit Responsible for consultations to daycare settings and Head Start Centers, psychotherapeutic intervention with children and parents including play therapy and parent child interventions, in addition to teaching and supervision. Participated in interdisciplinary team evaluations of young children (ages 2 to 5) with developmental and/or behavioral difficulties using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Newborn Follow up Assessment Conducted evaluations of premature, traumatic birth, low birth weight babies considered for developmental delays in the Newborn Follow up Clinic. Assessment of these babies occurs within the context of a multi site, national research protocol. Tools utilized for these evaluations include the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Following each assessment, feedback was provided to parents and a complete written report is sent to community agencies and professionals treating the child. Pediatric Consultation Liaison Service Provided psychological consultation to medical staff, regarding a variety of pediatric illnesses, including cancer (Department of Hematology/Oncology), asthma, cranial facial abnormalities, sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis at Yale New Haven Children s Hospital. Responsibilities included providing psychological assessment, therapy, and follow up treatment to children/adolescents with pediatric medical illness and psychological difficulties. Child Development Community Policing Program / National Center for Children Exposed to Violence 3
Akbar, M. 4 In collaboration with the New Haven Police Department, provided 24 hour crisis response and follow up assessment and therapeutic services to children and families exposed to violence under the direction of Dr. Steven Marans. Inpatient Treatment Participated as primary therapist within a multi disciplinary team treating children ages 5 to 14 with severe psychiatric and behavioral difficulties. Responsible for working with unit staff in designing interventions that will generalize to home, school, and community settings. Provide individualized supervision to medical students. Implement a manualized anger management research protocol in group therapy format to children hospitalized for externalizing disorders. Pediatric Emergency Department Consultation Service Provide rotating clinical coverage, consultation, and emergent psychiatric evaluations to a number of children with behavioral and psychiatric problems. Close collaboration with ED staff, psychiatry fellows, and faculty to provide valuable crisis intervention, while learning to function effectively as a consulting professional in a challenging medical environment. Outpatient Treatment Provided outpatient psychotherapy for children/adolescents, ages 3 to 18, with a range of social, emotional and psychiatric difficulties. Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic Conduct psychological assessments as part of a transdisciplinary team providing comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for children with pervasive developmental spectrum disorders under the direction of Drs. Ami Klin and Fred Volkmar. Evaluations include a comprehensive diagnostic formulation, educational and treatment recommendations, and school consultations. Trained in administering the Autism Diagnostic Inventory (ADI) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scales (ADOS). Custody Clinic Participate in a committee with other professionals from psychology, law, developmental pediatrics, child psychiatry, and social work. Complete 1 2 child placement or custody evaluations with children and families under the supervision of a senior faculty member. Attend weekly meetings to learn from experts of various professions who are invited to lecture or to discuss evaluations and recommendations that will be used in court. Outpatient Comprehensive Psychological Assessment Service Conduct comprehensive psycho educational evaluations with children ages 5 to 17. Consulted with educational staff and helped 4
Akbar, M. 5 develop Individualized Education Plans. Neuropsychological Assessment Completed comprehensive neuropsychological assessments with children, ages 5 to 17, with developmental or cognitive difficulties. Inpatient Assessment Provided psychological assessment services to the Child Psychiatric Inpatient Service at Yale New Haven Hospital. PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION Didactics Pediatric Psychology, Family Therapy, Emergency Psychiatric Evaluations, Custody Evaluations, Autism Study Group, Psychology current research and professional issues, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychoanalytic Theory & Practice, Neuropsychological Assessment, Child Development, Child Psychopathology, Clinical Methods, Interdisciplinary Grand Rounds. Akbar, M. (2004, August). Intergenerational Evidence of Racial Socialization Among African American Mothers and their Children. In V.L. Thompson (chair) Implications of Racial/Ethnic Identity for African American Parenting, Health, and Adjustment. Paper presented at the 112 th annual convention of The American Psychological Association, Honolulu, HI. Sanders Thompson, V.L. and Akbar, M. (2002, February). The Construction of African American Identity. Paper presented at the 2002 National Conference of the National Association of African American Studies, Houston, Texas. Weaver, T.L., Kokoska, M.S., Etzel, J.S., Akbar, M., Sand, S. Sitzer T., O Brien Uhlmansiek, M. & McVay E. (2001, December). The Multidimensional Impact of Battering Related Injury: Preliminary Assessment Findings. In M.B. Mechanic (chair) Multiple Dimensions of Partner Abuse: Physical, Mental Health Outcomes. Paper presented at the 17 th annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, Louisiana. Akbar, M., Wherry, J.N., Thayer C. A., & Wise, D.C. (2001, December). The Influence of Cultural Variables and Child Sexual Abuse on the Internalizing Behaviors of African American Females. Poster session presented at the 17 th annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, Louisiana. Weaver, T.L., & Akbar, M., O Brien Uhmansiek, M. (2001, December). The Prevalence of Childhood Sexual Abuse in a Sample of Battered Women: An Assessment of Revictimization. Poster session presented at the 17 th annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, Louisiana. 5
Akbar, M. 6 Akbar, M. (2001, February). The Impact of Role Models on the Racial Identity of Jamaican Children. Paper presented at the 20 th annual conference of the Research Association of Minority Professors, New Orleans, Louisiana. Akbar, M., Shelton L.N., & Sanders Thompson, V.L. (2001, August). Racial Identity, Africentric Values and Self esteem in Jamaican Children. Poster session at the 109 th annual convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA. PUBLICATIONS Akbar, M., Loomis, B., & Paul R. (2012). The interplay of language on executive functions in children with ASD. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Thompson Sanders, V. L., Bazile, A. & Akbar, M (2004). "African Americans' perceptions of psychotherapy and psychotherapists." Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Thompson Sanders, V. L. & Akbar, M (2004). "The understanding of race and the construction of African American identity." The Western Journal of Black Studies. Akbar, M., Chambers, J., & Sanders Thompson, V.L. (2001). Racial Identity, Africentric Values and Self esteem in Jamaican Children. Journal of Black Psychology, 37, 341 358. Akbar, M. (2002). The Integration of Writing Styles. In V.L. Farmer (Ed), The Black Students Guide to Graduate and Professional School Success. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press TEACHING EXPERIENCE 10/08 present Adjunct Instructor, Growth and Development Yale School of Pediatric Dentistry Responsibilities included the preparation of 2 hour lectures, class activities, course organization, test preparation and grading. Lecture series is integrated into 1 st and 2 nd year pediatric dentistry curriculum. 8/01 5/02 Adjunct Instructor, Introduction to Psychology Saint Louis College of Pharmacy St. Louis, Missouri Responsibilities included the preparation of 3 hour lectures, class activities, course organization, test preparation and grading. Lecture series scheduled by semester with Introduction to Psychology taught in the Fall semester and Abnormal taught in the Spring semester. 6
Akbar, M. 7 8/96 4/98 Graduate Teaching Assistant Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida Undergraduate courses: Introduction to Psychology (Fall 1996, Spring 1997) Abnormal Psychology (Fall 1997, Spring 1998) Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri Undergraduate courses: 8/99 5/00 Introduction to Psychology (Fall 1999) Theories of Personality (Spring 2000) INTERNATIONAL TRAINING 5/97 8/97 Minority International Research Training University of the West Indies Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI), Kingston, Jamaica Developed scales for the testing of self esteem and stress in school children. Collated and performed statistical analysis of CFNI s Basic Nutrition course. 5/97 8/97 Psychological Extern University of the West Indies Hospital Children s Psychiatric Ward Kingston, Jamaica. PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES Performed intake evaluations for children referred to the inpatient unit; worked with a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, and pediatricians in making diagnostic decisions; conducted psychopathology evaluations on child inpatients; provided individual counseling for children who were diagnosed with psychological disorders; provided referrals for outpatient treatment. Laurie Cardona, Psy.D. Chief Psychologist Yale University School of Medicine Child Study Center 230 South Frontage New Haven, CT 06520 (203) 785 3372 E mail: laurie.cardona@yale.edu Andrés Martin, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychiatry Yale Child Study Center Medical Director Children s Psychiatric Inpatient Service Yale New Haven Children s Hospital 7
Akbar, M. 8 230 South Frontage Road P.O. Box 207900 New Haven, CT 06520 7900 Tel (203) 688 6016 Email: Andres.Martin@Yale.Edu Vetta L. Sanders Thompson, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Psychology University of Missouri St. Louis 8001 Natural Bridge Road St. Louis, Missouri 63121 (314) 516 5409 E mail: vthompson@umsl.edu 8