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Research Faculty & StaffResearch Faculty
Dr. Wolever is a clinical health psychologist and the Research Director of Duke Integrative Medicine (Duke IM). She specializes in behavior change, treatment of stress-related problems, and mind-body health. Both her research and her clinical practice focus on the application of integrative medicine techniques to affect lifestyle change. She is specifically interested in utilizing the connection between mind and body to improve health. Dr. Wolever consults with companies to help executives identify strategies to better manage their challenging environments. She also serves as the Chief Scientific Officer for eMindful. From a research perspective, Dr. Wolever studies the integration of innovative Mind-Body-Spirit treatments into mainstream medicine. She has studied treatments to improve sleep, exercise, weight management, diabetes control, medication adherence and other health indices; some of this work focuses on the role of integrative health coaching in creating sustainable lifestyle change. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Mental Health, Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the Office of Women’s Health), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, by GlaxoSmithKline and by the Bravewell Philanthropic Collaborative. Dr. Wolever has been working in the field of Health Psychology since 1989 and at the Duke University School of Medicine since 1994. She received her PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Miami in 1994, and completed her Clinical Internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill the same year. She is licensed as a Clinical Psychologist (State of NC), is certified as a Health Services Provider (NC), a PAIRS Facilitator (PAIRS Foundation, Fairfax, VA), a Lifeskills trainer (Williams’ Lifeskills Inc., Durham, NC), and is credentialed in Medical Hypnotherapy as well. Dr. Wolever is also the Director of Health Psychology at Duke Integrative Medicine and the Director of Behavioral Health & Lifestyle Coaching at the Duke Diet & Fitness Center. Prior to entering the field of Health Psychology, Dr. Wolever earned her B.A. in Spanish at the University of Virginia, taught in the Dade County Public High Schools and directed a youth program in South Florida. She and her husband Mark are active in educating the public on Rett Syndrome. Her deepest delight is her daughter Emma.
Dr. Greeson has conducted research in the fields of integrative medicine, mindfulness meditation, and stress physiology since 1998. His current research on mechanisms linking mindfulness, stress, sleep, and cardiovascular disease risk is funded by a Career Development Award from the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His work has been recognized at national and international conferences, and his studies have been published in multiple scientific journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine; Brain, Behavior, and Immunity; and The Journal of Neuroscience. Dr. Greeson is currently collaborating with neuroscientists and “omics” scientists to better understand how mindfulness practice can benefit mental & physical health through changes in the brain and biochemical pathways. Dr. Greeson also has a clinical practice. He specializes in integrating mind-body skills like meditation and hypnosis with cognitive-behavioral therapy to help clients treat and prevent stress-related health problems - from high blood pressure, chronic pain, and obesity, to depression, anxiety and insomnia. He also specializes in helping patients prepare for successful surgery. Dr. Greeson holds a PhD in Clinical Health Psychology (University of Miami, 2006) and a Masters degree in Biomedical Chemistry (Thomas Jefferson University, 2001). He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke, and a Licensed Psychologist and Health Services Provider in the state of North Carolina.
Dr. Fikkan completed a fellowship in Health Psychology at Duke Integrative Medicine and her internship in medical psychology at Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Vermont. Dr. Fikkan’s clinical interests include applying mindfulness and acceptance-based treatment approaches to a variety of behavioral disorders. She is also interested in how interventions that promote self-acceptance can assist individuals in achieving health-related goals. Her clinical training at Duke included rotations in the Duke Eating Disorders Program, as well as the Cognitive Behavioral Research and Treatment Program, where she received training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Dr. Fikkan’s research has focused on understanding how body image and disordered relationships with food are maintained over time and how they interfere with the adoption of long-term health-promoting behaviors. She is also interested in exploring the stigma associated with body size, particularly as it disproportionately affects women.
Dr. Bailey received her M.D. at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn and completed her residency in Pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina. Dr. Bailey directs educational programs in integrative medicine for medical students, residents, and faculty at Duke. She currently provides primary care in the department of pediatrics and provides integrative medicine consultations for children on a variety of health conditions at Duke Integrative Medicine. Dr. Bailey was a recipient of the Bravewell Fellowship scholarship award and completed the 2 year Associate Fellowship program in Dr. Andrew Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona. Special interests include community education in nutrition and prevention and management of overweight and obesity in children. She is planning to pursue research in pediatric integrative medicine, specifically looking at the effectiveness of mind-body therapies for a variety of conditions affecting children. Karen Caldwell, M.Div., Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling, Appalachian State University. Dr. Caldwell joined the Duke Integrative Medicine research team in 2008. She holds a BA in music from Mars Hill College (1975), an MDiv from Southeastern Seminary (1984), and a PhD in Family and Child Development from Virginia Tech (1988). She also completed training in Clinical Pastoral Education at Duke and the University of Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Caldwell is a professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University where she teaches graduate students family therapy, expressive arts therapies, and mind-body interventions. Dr. Caldwell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and her clinical experience includes work with runaway and homeless children and their families. Dr. Caldwell’s current research interests include the integrative health coaching process and the clinical application of mind-body interventions. She loves gardening, practicing qigong and taiji quan, as well as camping with her husband and their dogs. Research Staff
Kathy joined the Integrative Medicine team in January 2007 as Administrative Assistant to the Director of Research and enjoys the challenges associated with supporting the Director and her research team with their ongoing studies and grants. Kathy came to Integrative Medicine after working at the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center where she initially served at Administrative Assistant to the Director. She was then promoted to Project Coordinator and worked on several federal grants, including the Cancer Center's 31 million dollar "Core" grant. Prior to that she supported Vice Chancellor Bucky Waters in the Office of Vice Chancellor for Special Projects. Kathy has been working at Duke since 1994 after relocating from Long Island, New York. She has also worked in the Office of Information Technology, Occupational and Environmental Safety and Duke Auxiliary Services. Having worked in all of Duke's entities (University, Medical Center and Health System), Kathy has a broad knowledge of Duke and its working operations.
Teresa has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a BA in Psychology from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. She is the Coordinator for Dr. Adam Perlman’s NIH funded study, “EMBARK: Exploring Massage Benefits in Arthritis of the Knee” which seeks to compare Swedish massage and light touch bodywork in decreasing pain and improving function for adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. Teresa has worked in research for over ten years with experience in women’s and children’s health, cord blood donation, anesthesiology and allergies. She has also worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse and as a higher education administrator. In addition, Teresa is a freelance writer and has written for Carolina Parent and Advance for Nurses. Teresa believes in the holistic model of healthcare, and seeks to help further our understanding and knowledge of integrative medicine through research. She enjoys spending time her husband, and her two children, Emmett and Molly.
Dennis received a BA in Psychology with a minor in Computer Science at the State University of New York at New Paltz. He is a research coordinator at Duke Integrative Medicine, working with Dr. Jeffrey Greeson, MS, PhD for his NIH funded study, “The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Sleep Quality, Stress Physiology & CVD Risk” to understand how mindfulness training impacts a cluster of biobehavioral factors implicated in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Before starting his position at Duke Integrative Medicine, he spent 5 years actively working in research at Duke Clinical Research Institute, Quintiles and Statworks with experience in several therapeutic areas such as: oncology, colorectal surgery and electrophysiology. Dennis has had a passion for meditation since he participated in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in 2006, and has had a personal meditation practice for the last 5 years. He is a strong advocate of complementary medicine practices like meditation, tai chi and yoga to help reduce stress and improve physical and mental health and well-being. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, fiancée and friends; going to local sports events, weight lifting, meditation, using his wheelchair to exercise on the various greenways in the Triangle, and going dancing. He is also a current board member of his homeowners association and has been actively involved since 2009.
Elizabeth Matteson joined the research team at Duke Integrative Medicine in 2012, and divides her time between the EMBARK study, which examines the role of Swedish massage in the treatment of osteoarthritis, and an NIH-funded pilot trial looking at the use of integrative therapies in the treatment of severe tinnitus. Elizabeth holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from UNC Chapel Hill. Her professional background includes nearly a decade of experience in major academic institutions and nonprofits, working with clinical research, global health, and HIV/AIDS. Elizabeth is currently in the process of becoming certified as an integrative health coach through Duke Integrative Medicine, and is certified by the Virginia Center for Reiki Training as a Level I/II Reiki practitioner. She is passionate about integrative medicine and has a special interest in the roles of spirituality, the arts, and intuition in health care.
Linda Duda is a professional coach who remains passionate and grateful to have the opportunity to partner with amazing individuals who are committed to building healthy, meaningful lives. Linda joined the Duke Integrative Medicine coaching team in 2003, initially providing group coaching experiences for selected Duke Prospective Health members interested in making significant lifestyle changes. Since then, her responsibilities have broadened to include individual coaching with Duke Integrative Medicine clients, coach training, and participation in Integrative Medicine research studies. While living in Connecticut for 15 years, Linda maintained an active, psychotherapy private practice as a licensed clinical social worker. She counseled adolescents, adults and families. In addition to serving on the Connecticut Clinical Society for Social Work board for a number of years, Linda spent 8 years teaching an interview techniques course at Yale Medical School. Throughout her years in Connecticut, she volunteered her time mentoring young teens and supporting elementary education projects. Linda received a Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Boston College, specializing in clinical work. She obtained a BA from Meredith College with a double major in Psychology and Sociology and social work certification. In 2004, Linda completed coaching training from The Coaches Training Institute and subsequently became a CoActive Professional Certified She recently became a Professional Certified Coach through the Internal Coaching Federation. In 1992, she acquired Level I and Level II Reiki training in the Usui method. Reiki remains a part of her daily life. Linda’s interest, exploration, and instruction in complementary and alternative medicine are longstanding. She holds a deep belief in the magnificent healing power that is present when mind and body work together.
Mark Dreusicke is a Duke medical student who joined the Integrative Medicine research team in 2009 to fulfill the School of Medicine’s third-year research requirement. Mark completed his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia in 2002 with a degree in neuroscience. Subsequently he spent four years conducting research in both neuroimaging and clinical psychology at the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and Harvard University. Mark’s research at Duke Integrative Medicine has primarily involved analyzing data from a health coaching intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes. Much of this work has focused on quantifying medication adherence using pharmacy claims insurance records, as well as cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses. This research has served as a useful adjunct to Mark’s medical education, particularly in recognizing the unique approach of Integrative Health Coaching to address important factors such as perceived stress, social support, mood, benefit-finding and patient engagement. Another valuable experience was the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, which helped influence Mark’s current research interests of analyzing models of health care that emphasize a balance between a holistic approach to patient care and a sustainable business approach. In addition, he maintains his longstanding interest in brain imaging and the behavior sciences, especially in light of emerging research revealing brain changes associated with mindfulness practice. Other interests include the unique stressors experienced by healthcare professionals, medical students and resident physicians, and how stress affects their ability to serve as role models for patients. A. Garrett Hazelton, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Hazelton received his Ph.D. in Health Psychology at East Carolina University and completed his pre-doctoral internship in Medical Psychology at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Hazelton is currently a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke. He is currently functioning in clinical and research oriented roles at both Duke Integrative Medicine and the Duke Diet and Fitness Center. Dr. Hazelton’s clinical interests involve medical decision-making as well as lifestyle modification for diabetes, cardiac disease, and obesity. A special interest also involves the incorporation of existential issues into psychotherapy.
Jessica received her Master of Arts in health psychology from Appalachian State University in 2001, and completed her clinical internship at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center and the Duke Center for Living that same year. From 2004 to present, Jessica has sought additional training in life coaching through the Coaches Training Institute and has learned coaching techniques to help clients find life fulfillment, balance, and process. For five years, Jessica was a licensed psychological assistant (master's level psychologist) in North Carolina and a Health Service Provider-Psychological Associate. Jessica is currently a licensed professional counselor and a certified QuitSmart smoking cessation instructor. As a part of the Duke Integrative Medicine research team, Jessica has served as a research therapist on three federally funded studies evaluating the use of mindful eating with overweight and obese populations. These studies included an NIH-funded study exploring the utilization of meditation and mindfulness-based treatments for binge-eating disorder and two NCCAM-funded studies investigating the use of meditation and mindfulness-based skills for weight maintenance. Additionally, Jessica has served as a health coach for a CMS-funded grant using a Strategic Health Planning model to reduce 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease, as research coordinator for the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)-funded study looking at diabetics and asthmatics barriers to medication adherence, and as a health coach for a GSK-funded study to improve medication adherence and the lifestyles of individuals with diabetics. Jessica's clinical and coaching practices have focused on helping individuals to obtain optimal health and well-being. She has helped clients reduce binge and compulsive eating, lose weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, become more physically active, better cope with anxiety and phobias, situational depression and life adjustments, and improve overall health and quality of life. In her work with clients, Jessica uses the mind-body approaches of mindfulness meditation, hypnosis, relaxation training (i.e., breath work, progressive muscle relaxation and imagery) and cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, person-centered and interpersonal therapies, motivational interviewing and coaching techniques with clients. |
Ruth Quillian Wolever, Ph.D. - Director of Research and Director of Clinical Health Psychology; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Jeffrey M. Greeson, Ph.D., M.S. - Clinical Health Psychologist; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Janna L. Fikkan, Ph.D. - Clinical Health Psychologist; Assistant Director of Health Psychology; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Michelle L. Bailey, M.D. - Director of Medical Education; Pediatric Integrative Medicine Physician
Kathy Buarotti - Administrative Assistant 
Teresa Keever, RN - Clinical Research Coordinator
Dennis Carmody
Elizabeth Matteson - Clinical Research Specialist
Linda Duda, M.S.W. - Integrative Health Coach
Mark Dreusicke - Research Associate 
Jessica P. Wakefield, M.A., L.P.C. - Research Therapist; Psychotherapist; Integrative Health Coach
