Karen Ingersoll, Ph.D.

Clinical Psychologist

Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences
University of Virginia

"I have nearly three decades of experience as a clinical psychologist, behavioral scientist, and NIH-funded investigator. My university role is Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and faculty member in the Center for Behavioral Health and Technology (CBHT). Within CBHT, I lead the PositiveLinks team in conducting research and supporting clinical implementation.

My research portfolio focuses on developing psychological interventions for people with intersecting medical disorders, addictive behaviors, and mental disorders. Studies focus on 1) improving clinical outcomes for patients living with HIV, and 2) reducing the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Over the past decade, my research has involved testing scalable interventions for people with HIV and those with substance use disorder delivered over mobile phones (mHealth) and the Internet (eHealth), especially for groups experiencing health disparities. I have expertise in the clinical practice and science of Motivational Interviewing and use that counseling style as a foundation for new interventions and in my clinical practice of HIV care.

I'm proud that our research shows that the PositiveLinks platform (PL) helps clinicians and patients to maintain their connections, to reduce stigma, and to exchange social support. These processes result in better health by improving antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence, retention in care, and viral suppression rate. Research findings about PositiveLinks have garnered recognition of PL by CDC and HRSA as an Evidence-Based program for HIV care. Our team continues researching and innovating PL to ensure it remains relevant and useful to clinics and patients.”