Wachholtz Lab Members
Lab Director
Dr. Amy Wachholtz graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Boston University and a specialized graduate degree in Bioethics from a joint Harvard University and Boston University program. She the continued her education to earn her MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Bowling Green State University where she had a dual specialization in Behavioral Medicine and Psychology of Religion. She completed her internship through fellowship training at Duke University where she focused on medical psychology and pain management. She also recently completed a post-doctoral Master’s degree in Psychopharmacology.
Her research and clinical interests focus on 1) the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model for chronic pain disorders and palliative care, and 2) the complexities of treating of co-morbid pain and opioid addiction in both acute pain and chronic pain situations. Her research encompasses bench to bedside methodology from psycho-physiological research methods to testing improved patient treatments and has resulted in over 100 publications and presentations. She enjoys teaching students of all levels both in the classroom at the University of Colorado Denver and in laboratory settings.
Graduate Students
Daniel Luedtke graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2017 with BAs in Psychology and French. He is interested in studying the relationship between chronic pain, stress, and trauma as well as social and cultural means of resilience. In his free time he enjoys watching movies, drawing, and listening to music. Daniel.luedtke@ucdenver.edu
Cohort: Year 5
Alex Otto graduated from University of Alabama Birmingham in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Her research interests include behavioral interventions and ethnic disparities in comorbid chronic pain and opioid use disorder. She enjoys reading, baking, and anything outdoors, namely skiing and hiking. Alexandra.Otto@ucdenver.edu
Cohort: Year 4
Maya Joshi Delity graduated from Boston University in 2021 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Statistics. Maya then completed a two-year fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Her research interests are health equity and interventions for chronic pain and opioid use disorder. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, cooking, and long walks. maya.delity@ucdenver.edu
Cohort: Year 2
Chrysantha (Chrys) Davis graduated from George Mason University Honors College with a BS in Psychology and Minor in Neuroscience in 2018, and from Oklahoma State University with a MS in Mental Health Counseling in 2024. Simultaneously during her Master's program, she completed post-baccalaureate research at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. Chrys is interested in researching the effectiveness of spirituality and mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment and prevention of chronic pain in individuals dually diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder and PTSD at a community level. Outside of the lab, Chrys loves going on outdoor adventures where she can be with her family and three dogs.
Cohort: Year 1
Siara Sitar graduated from The University of Georgia in 2018 with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Criminal Justice, then completed a M.S. in Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania in 2019. Her research interests include relationships between substance use, chronic pain, stigma, and associated disparities in marginalized communities. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting, starting a new book then staying up all night finishing it, and eating pickles.
Cohort: Year 1
I-STOP Study Collaborators
Nora L. Nock, PhD, PE is a Co-Principal Investigator with I-STOP and Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University
Harlan Austin, PhD is the Director of Clinical Operations at CeDAR. In his role as director, he coordinates and oversees the clinical, training, education, and research endeavors of CeDAR. Dr. Austin received his Master of Arts in counseling from New Mexico State University and his Doctorate of Philosophy in counseling psychology at the University of North Texas. He has specialty training and certifications in addiction, sport and performance psychology, and psychological assessment.
Christian Hopfer, MD. Dr. Hopfer is Professor of psychiatry in the Division of Substance Dependence at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Before coming to CeDAR he served as the Director of Adult Psychiatric Services at the Addiction Research and Treatment Services for 15 years. Dr. Hopfer is a distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, member of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, and past president of the Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society. He has authored over 95 scientific publications on substance dependence and has been the principal investigator on multiple studies funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Lee Hoffer, PhD, MPE is a Co-Investigator with I-STOP and Associate Professor at Wayne State University
Samiran Ghosh, PhD is a Co-Investigator with I-STOP and Associate Professor at Wayne State University
Jay Alberts, PhD is a Co-Investigator with I-STOP and Vice Chair at Health Enabling Tech. Office Cleveland Clinic
STOP Study Collaborators
Elizabeth Epstein, PhD (STOP Study Co-Investigator) is a Professor of Psychiatry at University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has extensive NIH-funded experience developing and testing CBT treatments for alcohol and drug disorders in a variety of modality and for specific subpopulations (see above, Preliminary Studies). She has also studied heterogeneity among substance abusers in terms of comorbid disorders and has developed integrated therapies for depression and anxiety among alcohol dependent women.
Alexis Carrington-Ford, MD (STOP Study Medical Safety Officer) is a Board Certified Addiction Psychiatrist at the University of Colorado Hospital, CeDAR (Center for Dependency, Addiction, and Rehabilitation). She is also an ABPM Diplomate.
Previous Lab Members
Sarah Wilson (Graduate Student)
Dallas Robinson (Graduate Student)
Dustin Goerlitz (Graduate Student)
Caitlin Kienzler (Graduate Student)
Kelsey Nogg (Graduate Student)
Susanne Withrow
Joe McNabb
Paige Barrette
Alexandra Dolezal
Danny Hernandez Altamirano
Jamie Woelk
Amy Frers
Cameron Battersby
Madisen Frederick
Amanda Hong
Ryan Radosevich
Bethany Hawley