Zachary K. Blumkin, PSYD

Jamie Vela, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Instructor in Psychology at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). Dr. Vela completed her undergraduate degree at Brown University followed by a Master's degree in Psychology in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Master’s degree in International Health Policy from the London School of Economics. Dr. Vela completed her doctorate at the University of Rhode Island followed by a predoctoral psychology internship at Julia Dyckman’s ANDRUS community health clinic and a postdoctoral fellowship at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell. Dr. Vela has articles published in peer-reviewed journals including Addictive Behaviors and Prevention & Policy. Dr. Vela has received training in a number of evidence-based treatments including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). She has extensive clinical training in the treatment of adolescents and adults with anxiety and mood disorders as well as suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors. She is skilled in the treatment of emotional and behavioral issues including depression, anxiety, ADHD, borderline personality disorder, and oppositional and defiant behaviors. She has extensive experience working with adolescents, adults, parents, caregivers and schools. She has expertise in implementing effective parent management training, social skills training and positive reinforcement strategies. At CUMC, Dr. Vela provides individual, family and group therapy, using a mindfulness and a skills-based, cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavioral approach.

Dr. Ana G. Cepin is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Her professional activities are diverse and include clinical, administrative and educational roles. As Director of Community Women's Health, she is actively engaged in efforts to improve the health outcomes of the women in the local community. As the Co-Director of the Ob/Gyn Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, she is committed to advancing health equity. Her clinical interests include all aspects of preventative care, family planning and general gynecology.

Dr. Medalia has been instrumental in raising awareness about the need to address cognition as a central aspect of health related to functional outcome. Her key contribution to psychiatry relates to her application of motivation theories to the treatment of cognitive disorders, and more generally psychiatric rehabilitation. Medalia identified the need for the treatment of cognition to move beyond theories of neuroplasticity, to embrace an understanding of how people learn. She developed the widely used Neuropsychological & Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR) model of cognitive remediation, which has been disseminated worldwide in psychiatric, educational, forensic, and supportive housing settings and used with people diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and mild cognitive impairment. Dr. Medalia has primary research interests in treating cognition, improving motivation, and facilitating recovery among people with mental illness. She is the principal researcher in several NIMH funded studies, and a prolific writer. Dr. Medalia is a leading proponent for the need to address cognition as a central aspect of health related to functional outcome for people living with persistent mental illness. In 1998, she established and continues to direct the world’s largest conference on this topic, Cognitive Remediation in Psychiatry, now hosted by Columbia University. She lectures and consults to agencies worldwide and conducts training workshops for clinicians to learn the techniques of cognitive remediation for psychiatric patients. By focusing on cognitive health in addition to mental health, cognitive remediation seeks to improve critical thinking skills, enabling people to be more effective in their daily lives and pursue their goals for recovery in a purposeful and meaningful way.