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veronica perez
Biography

Veronica B. Perez, PhD is core faculty at Alliant International University - San Diego.  

Her expertise is focused on the improvement of diagnostic assessment and treatment for severe mental illness (SMI), specifically schizophrenia spectrum illnesses, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Dr. Perez is the PI of the Treatment and Assessment of Cognitive Effectiveness (TRACE) lab. The aim of Dr. Perez’s research is 1) to trace the neurocognitive deficits that occur in SMI, 2) to understand how these deficits may predict the clinical presentation in individuals with co-morbid illnesses, 3) to improve the efficacy of interventions that reduce stigma against individuals with mental illnesses, and 4) to repair the neurocognitive domains that most deleteriously pervade the lives of those suffering with mental illness. Dr. Perez has a translational research program that can only come to fruition with direct contact with patients to generate research questions, and then the application of those research outcomes in the clinic. 

Dr. Perez completed her postdoctoral training at University of California, San Francisco and through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Center of Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center. She completed a predoctoral internship through UC San Diego School of Medicine/VA San Diego Healthcare System's psychology internship program. Dr. Perez earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in cognitive electrophysiology at the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR. 

Professional Interests

Neurocognitive impairments in psychosis and schizophrenia, biomarkers of severe psychopathology, pathophysiology of cognition in patients with psychosis or at high-risk for psychosis, neurophysiological response to cognitive interventions.

Education and Certifications

Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences, Ithaca, NY - Degree: B.A. in Psychology, May 1998

 

Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Symptoms and Course of Schizophrenia. This grant will examine the basic and clinical mechanisms of psychotic illnesses to gain an understanding of neurocognitive and perceptual impairment. PI: Judith M. Ford, Ph.D. Role: Postdoctoral Fellow

 

San Diego State University, San Diego, CA - Degree: M.A. in Psychology, May 2003

 

University of Oregon, Eugene, OR - Degree: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, May 2008

 

Schizophrenia Psychosocial CBT Intern

 

University of California, San Diego/VA San Diego Healthcare System - APA-Accredited Internship, Clinical Psychology, July 2008 - June 2009

 

Honors

2013

Clinical & Translational Research Institute, UC San Diego Health Sciences Pilot Grant

This grant will support the establishment of an academic-community partnership to apply cognitive neuroscience methodology in a community setting. Data examining targeted cognitive training (TCT) interventions in the initial stages of neuroplasticity-based skills acquisition will be collected at a mental health and transitional care facility. Role: PI

 

2013

MIRECC Veterans' Administration (VA) Pilot Grant

This grant will support collection of pilot data examining targeted cognitive training (TCT) interventions in the initial stages of neuroplasticity-based skills acquisition. Role: PI

 

2012

Veterans' Administration (VA) Institutional Training Grant

This institutional training grant will train a new generation of neuroscientists to improve the long-term functional outcome of patients with chronic psychotic mental disorders, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and psychotic mood disorders. Role: Research Fellow

 

2007

This grant will support the planning and development of a summer workshop to teach issues of diversity within the Department of Psychology at University of Oregon.

Role: Committee Member

 

2009

Society for Psychophysiological Research (SPR)

Courses
Psychopathology
Neurophysiology
Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior
Neuropsychology