Michelle Fernando, PhD, is a postdoctoral clinical research fellow in the National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Sciences Division, at the VA Boston Healthcare System. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. Her research and clinical interests focus on improving the experience of individuals with marginalized racial or ethnic identities in receiving trauma-focused mental health treatment, as well as understanding how racism and marginalization can impact mental health and cause trauma-like reactions. Michelle has been actively involved in DEI efforts throughout her graduate training, such as through co-founding a “Psychologists of Color” student group at her graduate institution, facilitating BIPOC Affinity Groups at VA Boston, and engaging in efforts to address microaggressions from staff and trainees. She was an ADAA BIPOC Membership Scholarship Awardee in 2023.
