Giselle Perez, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Staff Psychologist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Bio
Dr. Giselle K. Perez is a Clinical Psychologist and Behavioral Scientist at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Her research broadly focuses on cancer prevention and outcomes research, with a special emphasis on multicultural issues and health disparities research. She has received a number of awards and funding from the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, and the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Clinically, Dr. Perez specializes in working with cancer patients and survivors to improve coping with the post-treatment transition period, manage stress and anxiety symptoms, and promote health behavior change (e.g., tobacco treatment).
Dr. Perez is strongly committed to identifying innovative solutions to improve health care equity, quality, and outcomes among vulnerable, underserved and minority groups. To date, Dr. Perez has conducted psychosocial and behavioral research with a variety of cancer populations and providers (e.g., palliative care clinicians, medical interpreters). Specific interests include the development of integrative mind-body and behavioral interventions to promote health behavior change, treatment adherence, and treatment outcomes for patients throughout the cancer spectrum. As a recipient of a National Cancer Institute K07 Career Development award, she is currently focusing on developing a stress management program for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
Current Projects
National Institutes of Health
Building Resiliency Among Survivors of Cancers Diagnosed During Adolescence and Young Adulthood (AYAs): A Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for AYAs
Goals: Using self-report and objective measures, this study proposes to develop and test the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of an adapted, virtually delivered, evidence-based program, the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (3RP),9 in promoting stress management and coping among survivors of AYA cancers.
Role: Principal Investigator
American Cancer Society
Building Resilience in Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers
Goals: To develop a virtual, group based, mind-body program to promote stress management and coping among survivors of cancers diagnosed during adolescence and young adulthood.
Role: Principal Investigator
Publications
Dr. Perez on PubMed
Education
BS, Brown University
MA, Clinical Psychology, University of Connecticut
PhD, Clinical Health Psychology, University of Connecticut