
I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Georgia and joined the GH faculty in 2014. My clinical research interests include prevention, early identification, and early intervention for severe mental illness in vulnerable and marginalized communities, cross-cultural research methods, and mental health advocacy and education. I am also interested in factors that impact treatment seeking and treatment engagement behaviors, and identifying and implementing community-based approaches that increase access to care.
In addition to my clinical research work, I am also a clinical practitioner. I specialize in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and oversee psychotherapy and program development for the Clinical and Research Program for Psychosis at Grady. I am also a consulting psychologist for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA)'s Early Psychosis Program.
Joining the faculty at RSPH has also introduced other rewarding opportunities such as providing volunteer psychological evaluations for the Atlanta Asylum Network and facilitating a broader mental health community within the GH department.
Additional resources below:
TEDx Decatur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5amruBXrqOE
The Psychosis Response Guide: How to help young people in psychiatric crises: http://www.springerpub.com/the-psychosis-response-guide.html
Contact Information
1518 Clifton Road Ne
Atlanta , GA 30322
1518-002-7BB
Phone: 270-303-6973
Email: rwaford@emory.edu
Areas of Interest
- Behavior and Health
- Community Based Research
- Community Health & Development
- Global Health
- Mental Health
Education
- PhD 2013, University of Louisville
- Pre-doctoral Internship 2012, Harvard Medical School
- Post-doctoral fellowship 2014, Emory University School of Medicine/Grady Health System
Courses Taught
- GH 500: Critical Issues in Glob.Health
Affiliations & Activities
Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis
Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science
American Psychological Association
Georgia Psychologial Association
Atlanta Asylum Network
Board of Directors, Community Friendship, INC.
Adolescent Advisory Council, Skyland Trail