Cori A. Palermo, MA

Cori A. Palermo, MA (she/her) is currently a Sr. Research Project Manager within the Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Research Program (DDTRP) at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA. Under the direction of Dr. Milissa Kaufman and Dr. Lauren Lebois, she conducts and supervises staff for several clinical research studies on complex trauma and dissociation. Cori has worked in the lab for five years, performing diagnostic assessments and neurobiological research to center the lived experience of people with histories of childhood trauma and trauma-related dissociation, including dissociative identity disorder (DID).

Cori received a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Towson University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Sacred Heart University. She has internship experience in multiple hospital inpatient programs, including a unit for children at the Yale Child Study Center, and for adolescents at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her graduate training under the mentorship of Dr. Bethany Brand, Cori researched the assessment of complex trauma and trauma-related dissociation and completed a thesis project on the subject. Cori then served as a Research Project Coordinator at Clark University under the direction of Dr. Seana Moran, studying the impact of service-learning on youth purpose. Prior to her role at McLean, Cori worked as a Trauma Therapist in a residential program, providing behavior modification as well as individual and group therapy for young men with comorbid developmental disabilities and trauma histories. Cori is dedicated to the research and treatment of childhood trauma and dissociation, with a focus on assessing and encouraging resilience.

Xi Pan, LICSW, MPA

Xi Pan, LICSW, MPA, is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she conducts research in the Loss, Trauma, and Emotion Lab under Dr. George A. Bonanno's supervision. Her multidisciplinary background in social work, public administration, and clinical research provides her with a comprehensive perspective on trauma studies, allowing her to approach research questions from multiple angles.

Before pursuing her doctorate, Xi served as a Senior Clinical Research Assistant at McLean Hospital's Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Research Program. In this role, she contributed to NIMH-funded research investigating the neurological, cognitive, and physiological aspects of PTSD and dissociation. Her work at McLean Hospital helped establish foundational insights into the complex mechanisms underlying trauma-related disorders. Her clinical experience spans positions as an Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician at Boston Medical Center and as a training therapist at the Dean Hope Center for Educational and Psychological Services, where she worked directly with diverse populations facing various mental health challenges.

Xi's research focuses on identifying factors that influence mental health outcomes, particularly PTSD and dissociative symptoms across diverse populations. She employs multiple research methodologies to understand patterns in psychological adaptation to trauma, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to capture the full complexity of trauma responses. Her work has been featured in peer-reviewed publications and presented at various academic conferences, contributing to the growing body of knowledge in trauma studies. Through her research and clinical work, Xi aims to advance the understanding of trauma and resilience. Her ultimate goal is to improve treatment outcomes for individuals affected by traumatic experiences.

Juliann B. Purcell, PhD

Juliann B. Purcell, PhD is a postdoctoral fellow in the Trauma Continuum at McLean Hospital. In her role as a research fellow, Dr. Purcell is a member of the Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Research Program under co-directors Lauren A.M. Lebois, PhD and Milissa L. Kaufman, MD/PhD. Clinically, Dr. Purcell works in both partial hospital and outpatient levels of care providing group and individual treatment to survivors of trauma. Dr. Purcell is currently completing the final stages of psychology licensure in Massachusetts and plans to open a private practice upon licensure approval.

Dr. Purcell was awarded a Master’s degree with distinction in Clinical Neuroscience from University College London (London, UK) in 2013. She then completed her PhD in Medical/Clinical Psychology at the University of Alabama Birmingham in 2022. Her NIH-funded dissertation explored the neural impacts of adolescent substance use. Dr. Purcell completed her clinical internship in 2022 at the Central Virginia Veteran’s Administration HealthCare System Hospital in Richmond, VA where she worked with veterans who experienced various trauma types (e.g., combat, childhood abuse, military sexual trauma).

Dr. Purcell’s published research utilizes neuroimaging approaches to understand the neurobiological impacts of adversity, including childhood abuse and neighborhood disadvantage. She has clinical expertise working with individuals who have experienced a broad range of traumatic experiences, including military veterans, formerly incarcerated people, and survivors of trafficking. Dr. Purcell’s clinical background and neuroscience expertise afford a unique perspective from which she approaches clinical, research, and advocacy work. She is passionate about utilizing neuroscience to understand posttraumatic adaptations with the goal of improving the lives of those living with trauma and dissociation.

Mollie C. Marr, MD, PhD

Mollie C. Marr, MD, PhD is a second year in the Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital Adult Psychiatry Residency Program and part of the Physician Scientist Training Program. She is a member of the Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Research Program under co-directors Lauren A.M. Lebois, PhD and Milissa L.Kaufman, MD, PhD. Dr. Marr is also a member of the Community and Global Psychiatry Program and collaborates with Onnalin Singkhorn at Mae Fah Luang University on mental health interventions for young people in Northern Thailand.

Dr. Marr is a graduate of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Oregon Health & Science University. She completed her PhD in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience in 2021 and her Master of Clinical Research in 2023. Her NIH-funded dissertation focused on the effects of stress during pregnancy on offspring neurodevelopment and the intergenerational transmission of childhood maltreatment. Her graduate research was also supported by the ISTSS Putnam Trauma Research Scholars Award. Prior to medical school, she worked in the Bellevue Innovation Lab within the Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health where she assisted in the adaptation of Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation for Adolescents (STAIR-A) for use on the inpatient services, supported the implementation of a SAMHSA grant on creating trauma-informed care in juvenile secure detention, and co-developed the Autism Care Pathway.

Dr. Marr’s research utilizes machine learning, neuroimaging, and qualitative methods to explore the role of stress and trauma on socio-emotional and neurobiological development. She is also interested in understanding the structural and cultural contexts affecting stress and healing.