Doctor of Philosophy

University of Miami (in Progress)

Coral Gables, FL

APA Accredited Program: Clinical Psychology 

Major area of study: Adult Clinical Psychology

Concentration in Quantitative Psychology

Dissertation Title: A Psychoeducational workshop to facilitate help-seeking in Muslims living in the United States by applying an Islamic lens on mental health

Dissertation Chair: Amy Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D.

Master of Science

University of Miami (August 2021)

Coral Gables, FL

Clinical Psychology 

Thesis Title: Spiritual bypass as a moderator of the relationship between religiosity and psychological distress in Muslims living in the United States 

Thesis Chair: Amy Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D.

Master of Science

Barry University (May 2019)  

Miami Shores, FL

Clinical Psychology 

Thesis Title: Cultural factors influencing mental health stigma: A comparison of university students in Pakistan and America 

Thesis Chair: Stephen W. Koncsol, Ph.D.

Eligible Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI)

Bachelor of Science

University of Tampa (Dec 2014)

Tampa, Florida

Major: Psychology (Pre-medicine track)

Minor: Chemistry

2023 - The Kirk R. Danhour Memorial Award for Overall Excellence, Department of Psychology 

University of Miami

2023 - The Gail Ironson Distinguished Speaker Series Award for outstanding graduate research achievements, Department of Psychology 

University of Miami

2023 - The Graduate School's Graduate Student Diversity Advocate Award (nominee)

University of Miami

2023 - Toppel Career Center's Graduate Student of the Year (nominee)

University of Miami

2022 - Islamic Psychology Research Fellowship (fellowship is not funded)

Alkaram Institute

2021 - Bertha Weber Appreciation Award for Graduate Service to the Psychology Department

University of Miami Department of Psychology 

2019 - Outstanding Graduate Student

Barry University Department of Psychology 

2018 - Outstanding Graduate Student Oral Presentation - Social Sciences

Florida Academy of Sciences (FAS) 76th annual meeting

2018 - Outstanding Undergraduate Student Poster Presentation - Social Sciences (co-author)

Florida Academy of Sciences (FAS) 76th annual meeting

2018 - Honorable Mention for the RISE Research Award

Association for Psychological Science (APS) 30th annual convention

2014 - Interfaith Graduation Ceremony Speaker

University of Tampa

2023 - APA Division 36’s (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) Student Research Award to deliver a Psychoeducational Workshop to Muslims in Florida ($2500)

PI: Salman S. Ahmad. Co-PIs: Merranda McLaughlin, Amy Weisman de Mamani.

2023 - Fred C. and Helen Donn Flipse Graduate Student Fellowship - University of Miami ($36,500)

2022 - APA Division 36’s (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) Student Research Grant to deliver a Psychoeducational Workshop to Muslims in Florida ($2000)

PI: Salman S. Ahmad. Co-PIs: Merranda McLaughlin, Amy Weisman de Mamani.

2022 - APA Division 29’s (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy) Charles J. Gelso Grant to deliver Culturally Informed Therapy for Muslims in Florida ($5000)

PI: Merranda McLaughlin. Co-PIs: Salman S. Ahmad, Amy Weisman de Mamani.

2022 - Graduate Activity Fee Allocation Committee (GAFAC) - University of Miami to attend the American Psychosomatic Society’s annual conference in Long Beach, California ($400) 

2021 - APA Division 36’s (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) Diversity Travel Grant Award to present at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion’s (SSSR) 71st annual convention in Portland, Oregon ($500)

2021 - Fred C. and Helen Donn Flipse Research Support Fund towards attending Duke University’s Spirituality and Health Research Workshop – University of Miami ($1400)

2021 - Duke University’s Partial Scholarship towards attending the Spirituality and Health Research Workshop ($600)

2020 - Graduate Activity Fee Allocation Committee (GAFAC) - University of Miami to recontact participants for a one year follow-up study ($750)

PIs: Salman S. Ahmad, Merranda McLaughlin. Co-PI: Amy Weisman de Mamani.

2020 - APA Division 36 (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) Research Seed Grant to collect a representative sample of Muslim Americans ($1000)

PI: Salman S. Ahmad. Co-PIs: Merranda McLaughlin, Amy Weisman de Mamani.

2019 - Fred C. and Helen Donn Flipse Research Support Fund towards a master’s thesis - University of Miami to collect a representative sample of Muslim Americans ($2500)

PIs: Salman S. Ahmad, Merranda McLaughlin. Co-PI: Amy Weisman de Mamani.

2018 - College of Arts and Sciences Student Travel Award - Barry University to present at the International Neuropsychological Society’s annual conference in Prague, Czech Republic ($500)

2018 - Department of Psychology Student Travel Award - Barry University to present at the International Neuropsychological Society’s annual conference in Prague, Czech Republic ($500)

CULTURALLY INFORMED THERAPY (CIT), University of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida (August 2019 to Present)

Supervisor: Dr. Amy Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D.

-        Delivered culturally informed therapy (CIT) to adults (18-97 years) of diverse religious/spiritual and racial/ethnic groups. CIT is a family/group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for individuals with general mental health concerns (e.g., depression, family conflict) and serious mental illnesses (SMI, e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder).

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BRUCE W. CARTER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER

Miami, Florida (August 2022 to May 2023)

Supervisor: Dr. Grace Caldas, Psy.D.

-        Provided post-operative (e.g., amputations, transplants) psychodiagnostic assessments, individual, and group (for amputees) therapy in the Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP). 

  - - -

PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES CENTER (PSC), University of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida 

Clinic Assistant (January 2022 to Present)                                                                                       

Supervisors: Kristin Lindahl, Ph.D., and Tony Petruzzella, Ph.D.

-        Conducted phone screens and intake evaluations with prospective clients, determined fit of prospective clients and assigned cases to junior students, audited files to ensure record-keeping quality, and trained and supervised junior clinic assistants in their conduct of phone screens and intake interviews.

-        Provided supervised trainings on assessments for graduate students in class and during practicum.

-        Attended regular clinic staff meetings to discuss new and ongoing cases and administrative issues.  

Peer Supervision (January 2022 to Present)

Supervisors: Tony Petruzzella, Ph.D., Kristin Lindahl, Ph.D., and Spencer Evans, Ph.D.

-        Provided supervised peer assessment supervision to junior graduate students in psychological assessments (e.g., assessment administration, scoring, report writing) via individual meetings.

Trauma Treatment Program (TTP) (June 2021 to May 2023)

Supervisors: Gail Ironson, M.D., Ph.D., and Blanche Freund, Ph.D.

-        Conducted supervised structured diagnostic assessments (i.e., using the SCID-5) and delivered evidence-based treatments to address symptoms of trauma-related disorders (e.g., PTSD).          

-        Treatments delivered: Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).         

Outpatient Assessment Services (August 2021 to December 2022)

Supervisors: Tony Petruzzella, Ph.D., Kristin Lindahl, Ph.D., and Saneya Tawfik, Ph.D.

-        Conducted supervised psychoeducational assessments to clarify diagnoses (e.g., ADHD, Learning Disorders) and provide recommendations (e.g., academic accommodations) as needed.

-        Assessments delivered: WAIS, WMS, WIAT, WJ-ACH, WJ-O, CTOPP, KTEA, TOWRE.

Outpatient Therapy Services (June 2020 to May 2023)

Supervisors: Tony Petruzzella, Ph.D., Kiara Timpano, Ph.D., Daniel Bradford, Ph.D., Gail Ironson, M.D., Ph.D., and Victoria Schlaudt, Ph.D.

-        Conducted structured and semi-structured diagnostic assessments and intake interviews (e.g., SCID) to inform diagnosis and treatment planning; delivered evidence-based cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, and acceptance-based interventions (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CPT/PE, Exposure and Response Prevention) for a variety of presenting problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, OC-related disorders, PTSD).

-        Provided supervised treatment to complex cases at the clinic as an advanced practicum trainee.

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI COUNSELING CENTER

Coral Gables, Florida (August 2021 to May 2022)

Supervisors: Patricia Lobo Arena, Ph.D., Carla de Simone Irace, Ph.D., Laura Curren Adams, Ph.D.

-        Provided clinical services to University students and conducted outreach with interdisciplinary teams.

-        Treatments delivered: Unified Protocol for the transdiagnostic treatment of mental disorders, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, and supportive psychotherapy.

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BARRY UNIVERSITY

Miami Shores, Florida

DESIGN NEUROSCIENCE CENTER (DNC)

Doral, Florida (January 2018 to May 2019)

Supervisors: Isaac Tourgeman, Ph.D., Ivelisse Raimundi, Psy.D., and Cristina Santiago, Psy.D.

-        Conducted comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations (academic, legal, disability) post-acquired brain injuries (ABI) and delivered individual/group cognitive rehabilitation to clients aged 3-85 years. 

-        Recorded 1,000 hours on site; eligible Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI) in Florida.

-        Assessments delivered: WAIS, WISC, WMS, WTAR, WPPSI, WRAT, DKEFS, RBANS, WJ-ACH, WJ-Cog, WRAML, TOMM, TONI, C-TONI, TMT, COWAT, RCFT, Rey-15, RAVLT, WCST, CPT, CATA, PPVT, EVT, Finger Tapping, Grooved Pegboard.

1. Ahmad, S. S., McLaughlin, M. M., Tawfik, S. H., Messinger, D., Weisman de Mamani, A. (In Press). Exploration of an immigrant paradox in Muslims living in the United States (MLUS). Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.

2. McIntosh, R., Hoogerwoerd, H., Ahmad, S. S., Michel, C., Dillon, K., Kumar, M., &  Ironson, G. (2023). A 4-session written emotional disclosure intervention lowers 6-month sympathoadrenal urinary output in persons living with HIV. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 159(1), 106403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106403

3. Ironson, G., Ahmad, S. S. (2023). Frequency of private prayer predicts survival over 6 years in a nationwide US sample of individuals with a chronic illness. Journal of Religion and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01870-z

4. Ahmad, S. S., McLaughlin, M.M., Weisman de Mamani, A. (2023). Validation and test-retest reliability of the spiritual bypass scale in Muslims: Implications for psychological help-seeking attitudes and self-stigma. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 10(1), 62-73. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000300 (Special Issue: Islamic Spirituality in Clinical Contexts).  

5. Weisman de Mamani, A., Lopez, D., McLaughlin, M.M., Ahmad, S.S., Altamirano, O. (2022). A pilot study to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a transdiagnostic, religiously/spiritually integrated, culturally informed therapy. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000308

6. Maura, J., Ahmad, S.S., Weisman de Mamani, A. (2022). The impact of familial involvement on dropout in a Culturally Informed Group Therapy for people diagnosed with 'schizophrenia'. Psychosis, 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2022.2118358

7. Ironson, G., Ahmad, S. S. (2022). Praying for people you know predicts survival over 17 years among people living with HIV in the US. Journal of Religion and Health, 61, 4081-4095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-022-01622-5  

8. McLaughlin, M. M., Ahmad, S. S., Weisman de Mamani, A. (2022). A mixed methods approach to understanding psychological help-seeking in Muslims: Islamophobia, self-stigma, and therapeutic preferences. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90(7), 568–581. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000746

9. McLaughlin, M.M., Ahmad, S.S., Rodriguez, M., Weisman de Mamani, A.G. (2022). Vulnerable – Not zealous: Muslim converts experience greater distress when experiencing religious struggle. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 53(4), 340–350. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000473

10. Ahmad, S.S., McLaughlin, M.M., Weisman de Mamani, A. (2022). Spiritual bypass as a moderator of the relationships between religious coping and psychological distress in Muslims living in the United States. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 15(1), 32-42. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000469

11. Ahmad, S.S., Koncsol, S.W. (2022). Cultural factors influencing mental health stigma: Perceptions of mental illness (POMI) in Pakistani emerging adults. Religions (Special Issue: Focusing on the Elusive: Centering on Religious and Spiritual Influences within Contexts of Child and Young Adulthood Development), 13(5), 401. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13050401 

Weisman de Mamani, A. Altamirano, O., Lopez, D., McLaughlin, M., Maura, J., Martinez de Andino, A., Ahmad, S.S., Hafner, L., Lund, S. (2023). Culturally informed therapy: An intervention that addresses the psychological needs of religious individuals of diverse identities. In P. S. Richards, G. E. K. Allen, D. K. Judd (Eds.), Handbook of Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapies. American Psychological Association.

Weisman de Mamani, A., McLaughlin, M., Altamirano, O., Lopez, D., Ahmad, S.S. (2021). Culturally Informed Therapy for Schizophrenia: A Family-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Approach, Clinician Guide. Treatments That Work. Oxford University Press. 

1. Weisman de Mamani, A. G., McLaughlin, M. M., Ahmad, S. S., Saenz Escalante, G. M., & McCain, M. (2023, November). Improving police officer interactions with Black individuals suffering from serious mental illness. Oral accepted at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies’ (ABCT) 57th annual convention, Seattle, Washington. 

2. McLaughlin, M. M., Ahmad, S. S., Saenz Escalante, G. M., & Weisman de Mamani, A. G. (2023, November). The role of collectivistic behaviors in distress reduction in group therapy for serious mental illness and transdiagnostic concern. Oral presentation accepted at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies’ (ABCT) 57th annual convention, Seattle, Washington.

3. Hoogerwoerd, H., Ahmad, S. S., McIntosh, R., Ironson, G. (2023, November). Do religious and spiritual beliefs moderate the effect of script-driven imagery and trauma recall on real-time heart rate variability in Latina/Hispanic women with PTSD? Poster accepted at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies’ (ABCT) 57th annual convention, Seattle, Washington. 

4. Ahmad, S. S. (2023, November). Toward religious and spiritual competencies in evidence-based practice: Research, training, community, and clinical applications. Chaired symposium (1 presentation, 2 co-authored talks) accepted to be delivered at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies’ (ABCT) 57th annual convention, Seattle, Washington.

5. McIntosh, R., Michel, C., Ahmad, S. S., Baeza Robba, M. J., Caballero, K., Cespedes, A., Di Bello, M., Dillon, K., Figuerdo, E., Hoogerwoerd, H., Machado, I. A., Shemali, Y., Verhagen, R., Rodriguez, A., Ironson, G. (2023, March). Neuroendocrine correlates of trauma recall in Hispanic/Latina women living with and without HIV. Poster presented at the American Psychosomatic Society’s (APS) annual conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

6. Ahmad, S.S., McLaughlin, M.M. (2022, November). On the front lines of the Muslim mental health crisis: Risk of Psychosis, High Suicide, Low Help-seeking, and the vulnerability of Converts to Islam. Chaired symposium (1 presentation, 1 co-authored talk) at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies’ (ABCT) 56th annual convention, New York City, New York.

7. Ahmad, S.S. (2022, September). Trauma, Intersectionality, and Discrimination: Presentations from the AMENA-Psy trauma research collaboration group. Chaired symposium (1 co- authored talk) at the Arab American, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association's (AMENA-Psy) 3rd annual conference, virtual.

8. Ahmad, S.S., McLaughlin, M.M., Weisman de Mamani, A.G. (2022, April). Spiritual bypass in Muslims: Validation and relationship to religious and spiritual coping, help-seeking attitudes, and self-stigma. Data Blitz Presentation at the midyear conference of Division 36 (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) of the American Psychological Association’s (APA), virtual.

9. Ahmad, S.S. (2022, March). Differentiating Prayers for Self, Known Others, and Unknown Others, predicting Survival over 17 Years in People Living with HIV. Citation Poster at the American Psychosomatic Society’s (APS) annual conference, in Long Beach, California.

10. Ahmad, S.S. (2021, November). Cultivating religiosity and spirituality (R/S): spiritual bypass and external locus of control as barriers to better mental health. Chaired symposium (1 presentation, 1 co-authored talk) at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies’ (ABCT) 55th annual convention, virtual.

11. Ahmad, S.S., McLaughlin, M.M., Weisman de Mamani, A.G. (2021, October). Exploration of an immigrant paradox in Muslims living in the United States (MLUS). Oral presentation in a symposium at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion’s 71st annual convention, Portland, Oregon.

12. Ahmad, S.S., McLaughlin, M.M., Weisman de Mamani, A.G. (2020, November). Spiritual bypass as a moderator of the relationships between religiosity and psychological distress in Muslims living in the United States. Oral presentation in a symposium at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies' 54th annual convention, virtual.

13. McLaughlin, M.M., Ahmad, S.S., Weisman de Mamani, A.G. (2020, September). Examining Demographic Concordance of Clinicians and Therapeutic Preferences of Muslims Living in the United States. Poster presentation at the American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association’s (AMENA-PSY) 1st convention, virtual.

14. Ahmad, S.S., McLaughlin, M.M., Weisman de Mamani, A.G. (2020, September). Acculturation as a moderator of the relationships between perceived discrimination or Islamophobia and negative attitudes toward psychological help-seeking among Muslims living in the United States. Oral presentation at the American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association’s (AMENA-PSY) 1st convention, virtual.

15. Ahmad, S.S., Ruiz, L., Predestin Carrier, V., Santini Santiago, M., Tourgeman, I. (2020, February). Spice up your life: An exploratory review of the neuroprotective effects of spices. Poster presentation at the International Neuropsychological Society's 48th annual meeting, Denver, CO.

16. Ahmad, S.S., Mclaughlin, M., Zatarain, R., Ortega, C., de Andino, A.M., Weisman de Mamani, A. (2019, November) Exploring heart rate variability among fully bilingual individuals with schizophrenia. Poster presentation at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies' 53rd annual convention, Atlanta, GA.

17. Ahmad, S.S., Koncsol, S.W. (2019, April). Cultural factors influencing mental health stigma: A comparison of university students in Pakistan and America. Oral presentation at the 25th annual psychology research forum at Barry University, Miami, FL.

18. Maresco, A., Ahmad, S.S., Gregorian, A., Tourgeman, I. (2018, October). A systematic review of singing therapy as a treatment for language disorder. Poster presented at the National Academy of Neuropsychology's 38th annual conference, New Orleans, LA.

19. Ahmad, S.S., Weatherly-Kershaw, A., Wehrle, L., Rios, L., Santiago, C., Tourgeman, I. (2018, July). The effectiveness of group cognitive rehabilitation for acquired brain injury patients. Oral presentation at the International Neuropsychological Society's bi-annual meeting, Prague, Czech Republic.

20. Wated, G., Des Rosiers, S.E., Barnes, M. Ahmad, S.S., & Suglia, J. (2018, May). College Students' Attrition: Do Perceptions of Employability Matter? Poster presented at the 30th annual convention of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.

21. Ahmad, S.S., Koncsol, S.W. (2018, May). Perceptions of mental illness in Pakistani versus American university students. Poster presented at the 30th Association for Psychological Science's annual convention, San Francisco, CA.

22. Ahmad, S.S., Lian, I., Suglia, J., Andersson, I., Carabarin, A., Zonnevylle, T. (2018, April). Family, adolescent and cultural transitions (F.A.C.T.) laboratory. Oral presentation at the 24th annual psychology research forum at Barry University, Miami, FL.

23. Ahmad, S.S., Koncsol, S.W. (2018, March). Attitudes and beliefs towards mental illnesses in African American, European American, and Latin American university students. Oral presentation at the 76th annual meeting of the Florida Academy of Sciences, Miami, FL.

24. Bottinelli, J., Wated, G., Des Rosiers, S., Ahmad, S.S. (2018, March). The sixth trait: humility and college success. Poster presented at the 76th annual meeting of the Florida Academy of Sciences, Miami, FL.

25. Zonnevylle, T., Wated, G., Des Rosiers, S., Ahmad, S.S. (2018, March). Top-down and bottom-up processes of subjective well-being.Poster presented at the 76th annual meeting of the Florida Academy of Sciences, Miami, FL.

26. Wilmore, K., Wated, G., Des Rosiers, S., Ahmad, S.S. (2018, March). Intentional self-regulation and life satisfaction during emerging adulthood. Poster presented at the 76th annual meeting of the Florida Academy of Sciences, Miami, FL.

27. Wated, G., Des Rosiers, S., Ahmad, S.S., Suglia, J. (2017, June). Perceived linguistic discrimination, stress, motivation, and employability among emerging adults. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association's Work, Stress and Health conference, Minneapolis, MN.

28. Ahmad, S.S., Le, J., Lian, I. (2017, April). Myth vs. fact: The influence of research. Oral presentation at the 23rd annual psychology research forum at Barry University, Miami, FL.

1.     Ahmad, S. S. (2023, April). Diversity and cultural competence: The Cultural Formulation Interview. Lecture in the Introduction to Psychotherapy, Ethics, and Professional Issues graduate course in clinical psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.

2.     Ahmad, S. S. (2023, March). Praying the pain away: Spiritual bypass in Muslims. Oral presentation at the Gail Ironson Annual Speaker Series, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.

3.     Ahmad, S. S. & Mclaughlin, M. M. (2023, February). Understanding and tackling the low engagement in mental health treatment among Muslims: from research to social and clinical implementation. Virtual presentation at the Religion & Spirituality Preconference, Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP).

4.     Ahmad, S. S. & Mclaughlin, M. M. (2022, November). The Muslim American Project (MAP) and implications for research and practice with Muslims. Virtual lecture to Herbert Wertheim College Of Medicine’s (HWCOM) Muslims in Healthcare Group, Florida International University (FIU).

5.     Ahmad, S. S. (2022, November). Muslims’ work-life balance. Invited panelist at the National Association of Muslim Lawyers’ (NAML) annual conference, Las Vegas, NV.                              

6.     Ahmad, S. S. & Mclaughlin, M. M. (2022, October). A brief overview of mental health symptoms & treatment models. Invited panelist at a mosque event held by the South Florida Muslim Federation (SFMF), Davie, FL.

7.     Ahmad, S. S. (2021, November). Spiritual bypass and an immigrant paradox among Muslims living in the United States: Studies from the Muslim American Project at the University of Miami. Guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Spiritual & Religious Issues in Behavior Change Special Interest Group (SIG), Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT; virtual).

8.     Ahmad, S. S. (2021, June). Therapeutic considerations & the role of spiritual bypass for Muslims living in the United States.Virtual members-only lecture organized by the Arab American, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association (AMENA-Psy).

9.     Ahmad, S. S. (2021, March). Spiritual bypass as a moderator of the relationships between religiosity and psychological distress in Muslims living in the United States. Virtual lecture in the Sociology of Religion undergraduate honor’s class, Catholic University of America.

1.     Ahmad, S. I., ISNA’s Ongoing Quest to Serve Muslim Americans. (2023). Islamic Horizons. 

2.     Ahmad, S. S., McLaughlin, M. M., Weisman de Mamani, A. (2023). Integrating culture and religion/spirituality with evidence-based treatments for underserved groups. Psychotherapy Bulletin (Volume 57, Issue 4).

3.     Al-Waheidi, M. (2022). How Imams can destigmatize mental health care among Muslims. YES! Magazine.

4.     Janette N. Tannen (2022). Psychology team hopes to increase mental health care for Muslims. News@theU.

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

1. CULTURE, PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, AND WELLBEING (CPW) LABORATORY

Department of Psychology, University of Miami

August 2019 to Present

Principal Investigator: Amy Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D.

-        CPW projects lie at the intersections of culture, religion/spirituality, and mental health. We are testing culturally informed therapy (CIT), a group CBT that incorporates clients’ cultural/religious/spiritual practices. CIT is delivered by graduate students (PI-supervised) in separate groups for general mental health concerns and serious mental illnesses (SMI). 

-        The Muslim American Project (MAP; website: www.map-um.com), co-founded by me and Merranda M. McLaughlin, investigates the unique mental health needs of Muslim living in the United States. We also adapted CIT for Muslims (called CIT-M) and are currently co-leading its clinical trial among Florida-based Muslims.

-        The Black Lives Matter project seeks to improve interactions between police officers and Black men with SMI, and to investigate the mental health eneds of police officers. 

-        Responsibilities: managing IRB protocols, recruitment/training/mentoring of Research Assistants (RAs), participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, and other administrative tasks.

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2. Doctoral Dissertation: A psychoeducational workshop to facilitate help-seeking in Muslims living in the united states by applying an Islamic lens on mental health.

Chairperson: Amy Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D.

-        After collaborating and consulting with Muslim communities and researchers, this study proposes to offer a culturally informed psychoeducational workshop, titled Islamic Lens on Mental Health (ILM), to Muslims in Florida to increase the likelihood that they will seek professional care when needed. 

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3. Master’s Thesis: Spiritual Bypass as a moderator of the relationship between religiosity and psychological distress in Muslims living in the United States.

Chairperson: Amy Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D.

-        Investigated spiritual bypass (i.e., use of religious/spiritual beliefs or practices to avoid facing psychological difficulties) in Muslims. Results: Muslims engaging in high levels of spiritual bypass experienced reduced benefits of adaptive religious coping, and exacerbated harm associated with maladaptive religious coping, on their mental health. Spiritual bypass also predicted greater self-stigma and negative help-seeking attitudes in 59 recontacted (13 months later, on average) participants.

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DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, BARRY UNIVERSITY

1. DESIGN NEUROSCIENCE CENTER (DNC) RESEARCH TEAM

Doral, Florida

January 2018 to May 2019

Principal Investigator: Isaac Tourgeman, Ph.D.

-        The DNC Research Team investigates treatments for acquired brain injuries (ABI). I managed 2 studies that the team professionally presented: a review of group-based cognitive rehabilitation post-ABI, and a review of the efficacy of Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) for the treatment of aphasia post-TBI.

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2. FAMILY AND ADOLESCENT CULTURAL TRANSITIONS (FACT) LABORATORY

Department of Psychology, Barry University

January 2017 to May 2019

Principal Investigators: Sabrina Des Rosiers, Ph.D.; Guillermo Wated, Ph.D.

-       The FACT lab investigates risk and protective factors at familial, individual (adolescent/youth), and cultural-social levels for immigrant youth developmental and workplace transitions. As Project Manager, I mentored students during independent research activities and collected/analyzed data.

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3. Master’s Thesis: Cultural factors influencing mental health stigma: A comparison of university students in Pakistan and America.

Chairperson: Stephen W. Koncsol, Ph.D.

Defense Date: January 2019

-        This study (N = 495) compared university students in Pakistan with those in the U.S. on mental health stigma (MHS) and its correlates by piloting the Perceptions of Mental Illness (POMI) Scale. Significant correlates of MHS included inaccurate perceptions and less exposure to mental illness, followed by individualism, decreasing age, being male, and having less mental health knowledge. 

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DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA

COMPARATIVE NEUROANATOMY AND NEUROSCIENCE METHODS

Department of Psychology, University of Tampa

January 2014 to December 2014

Principal Investigator: Scott Husband, Ph.D.

-        Conducted literature reviews and assisted PI with exploring how neural circuits contribute to complex cognition within the larger context of brain evolution in non-mammalian species, especially birds.

BMC Psychiatry

Clinical Psychological Science

Family Process

Journal of Clinical Psychology

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Journal of Religion and Health

Journal of Mental Health

Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Psychotherapy

COURSE INSTRUCTOR, University of Miami

Undergraduate Courses: 

Psychopathology (Spring 2023)

Cultural Diversity in Psychology (co-instructor with Dr. Omari Keeles; Fall 2022)

Personality (Fall 2021)

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TEACHING ASSISTANT, University of Miami

August 2019 – August 2023

Courses: Introduction to Psychology; Social Psychology; Emotion; Special Topics in Psychology (Pseudoscience; Psychology of Racism); Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics; Intermediate Biobehavioral Statistics; Positive Psychology; and Mindfulness, Attention, & the Brain. Responsible for grading, proctoring, guest lecturing, and tutoring students during office hours.

    - - - 

TEACHING ASSISTANT, Barry University

August 2017 – May 2019

Course: Research Methods & Analysis in Psychology 1 and 2. Tutored, graded, proctored, & lectured.

2020-Present    American Psychological Association (APA)

2020-Present    Division 36 (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) - APA

2020-Present    Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology) - APA

2020-Present    American Arab, Middle Eastern, North African Psychological Association (AMENA-Psy)

2019-Present    Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)

2022-2023        American Psychosomatic Society (APS)

2021-2023        Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)

2018-2020        International Neuropsychological Society (INS)

2016-2019        Association for Psychological Science (APS)

2016-2019        Florida Academy of Sciences (FAS)

2023-Present     External Examiner, National Institute of Psychology, Quad-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

2023-Present     Student Representative, Faculty Search, Department of Psychology, University of Miami

2023-Present     Grant Manager, Diversity Grants, Presidential Social Justice Task Force, American Psychological Association (APA) Division 36 (Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) 

2022-Present     Leader, Spiritual & Religious Issues in Behavior Change Special Interest Group (SIG), Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)

2021-Present     Member, Presidential Social Justice Task Force, APA Division 36 

2021-2023         Co-President, Psychology Graduate Student Organization (PGSO), UMiami

2021-2022         Student Leader, Spiritual & Religious Issues in Behavior Change SIG, ABCT

2020-2021         Social Chair, Psychology Graduate Student Organization (PGSO), UMiami

2019-2022         Student Representative, Psychosis and Schizophrenia Spectrum SIG, ABCT

2019-2020         Social Media Committee, Technology and Behavior Change SIG, ABCT

2018-2019         Head Graduate Assistant, Department of Psychology, Barry University

2013-2014         Vice-President, Muslim Students Association, University of Tampa