Shana Stites, PsyD, MA, MS, is an Instructor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine. She is a clinical psychologist and a researcher with the Penn Project on Precision Medicine for the Brain (P3MB). Dr. Stites studies the ethical, legal, and social challenges of advances in precision medicine for neurological and psychiatric diseases.
She studies advances in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease dementia and their impact on individuals with the disease and their family members. Dr. Stites uses a patient-centered approach, studying the experiences of persons who are living with Alzheimer’s disease and those participating in Alzheimer’s prevention research, to understand ways to promote quality of life and psychological wellbeing in individuals living with the disease. She hopes to determine what changes may be needed in both clinical care and public policy to promote safe and effective translation of advances from research into routine care.
Dr. Stites earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from Chestnut Hill College and MA in Sociology from Lehigh University. She completed her internship at Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. Her clinical concentration was in psychological assessment with a special focus on the role of diversity in inclusion in clinical practice and representation in research.