Rebecca Ashare, Ph.D.
Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Ashare’s research takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding health behavior among individuals with medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Dr. Ashare’s research has evaluated novel intervention strategies across the translational spectrum, from early phase mechanistic studies to understanding barriers to implementation. To date, much of this work has focused on strategies to improve smoking cessation rates among vulnerable populations including smokers with psychiatric disorders and comorbid medical conditions, with a particular emphasis on HIV. Methodologically, her work utilizes technology to deliver mobile health and text message-based interventions and to measure real-time, real-world mechanisms of behavior change.
Other research and clinical interests include the intersection of palliative and end-of-life care and psychology including serious illness communication strategies, caregiver health, and coping with grief and loss.
After graduating from the University at Buffalo with her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (where she also received her undergraduate degree in Psychology), Dr. Ashare completed her predoctoral clinical internship at the Yale University School of Medicine in the Division of Substance Abuse. She then completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. In 2012, she was appointed to faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine where she established a successful research program focused on HIV and tobacco. A UPenn, she was a member of the Abramson Cancer Center and the Center for AIDS Research and developed experience collaborating in interdisciplinary environments and working with community partners. Dr. Ashare’s work has been supported by several NIH-funded awards including 4 R01s. She was also a Senior Fellow in the UPenn Center for Public Health Initiatives and taught several courses in Master of Public Health program.
In 2021, Dr. Ashare came ‘home’ to Buffalo to join the faculty in the Department of Psychology. She is excited to be a part of the UB family again and to be back in Western New York. Dr. Ashare lives with her wife, daughter, dog, and three cats. Her family enjoys spending time outdoors and trying new restaurants and she can often be found out running or biking with her daughter in tow.
ask me about
Ironman triathlons
contact
rlashare@buffalo.edu