Dr. Vanessa Malcarne
Dr. Vanessa Malcarne is currently a Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University (SDSU). She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Vermont in 1990. Dr. Malcarne’s graduate advisor was Dr. Bruce Compas. She has various research interests within the behavioral medicine field.
Dr. Malcarne’s research includes psychological, medical, and multicultural aspects of adjustment to chronic illness, children’s cognitions about physical and mental illness, children’s adjustments to chronic illness. She is also interested in both prevention of illness and enhancing quality of life for persons who have been diagnosed with serious illnesses, as well as in measure development and validation, particularly in diverse communities. Part of Dr. Malcarne’s current work with done in collaboration with Dr. Georgia R. Sadler at the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Some of the research project at the Cancer Center include an investigation of the efficacy of CBT for spouses of men with prostate cancer (with Dr. James Varni of Texas A&M University), a study of fatigue in African American cancer survivors, and an instrument validation study with African American community members, among other projects.
Dr. Malcarne has taught undergraduate and graduate courses throughout her career. Undergraduate courses are: Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychopathology, Childhood Behavior Disorders, Psychology of Personality, Psychology of Women, and Introduction to Counseling and Therapy. Graduate courses are: Seminar in Clinical Assessment, Developmental Psychopathology, Clinical Practicum (Child, Family, and Couples Therapy), Clinical Interventions (team-taught), and Gender Roles.