CONTACT INFORMATIONBIOGRAPHYCREDENTIALSAWARDSCLINICAL TRIALSPUBLICATIONSKathi L. Heffner, Ph.D.Contact InformationPhone NumbersOffice: (585) 273-4786Fax: (585) 273-1384LocationsUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterSchool of Medicine and Dentistry601 Elmwood Ave, Box SONRochester, NY 14642Faculty AppointmentsAssociate Professor - Department of Psychiatry , Behav/Psychosoc Med (SMD) - JointAssociate Professor - Department of Medicine , Geriatrics/Aging (SMD) - JointBiographyProfessional BackgroundKathi Heffner is an Associate Professor of Nursing, Medicine, and Psychiatry, and the Associate Chief of Research in the Division of Geriatrics and Aging in the Department of Medicine. Her multidisciplinary and interprofessional collaborations and mentorship are aimed at supporting research initiatives that can ultimately foster individuals' health and well-being in later life. Dr. Heffner's work has been supported by multiple organizational, NIH and other federally funded grants. Her growing leadership in aging research has been recognized locally and nationally, including as a selected scholar for the Tideswell UCSF Emerging Leaders in Aging Program. She is currently the Principal Investigator and Program Director for the Healthy Aging Research Program, supported by the UR Clinical Translational Science Institute, School of Nursing, and Department of Psychiatry.ResearchMy research centers on understanding the links between stress and health in older adulthood. I am particularly interested in how stress affects the immune system, and how to promote stress resilience to keep the immune system healthy at older ages. My scientific contributions fall into three areas: (1) implications of stress, including older family caregivers' stress, for healthy immune aging, (2) the influence of sleep and insomnia on stress physiology and inflammation, and (3) the role of social relationships in older adults' stress and stress resilience. Across these areas, my goal is to identify behavioral interventions that can affect multiple domains of older adults' well-being, including mood and anxiety, cognitive function, pain, and risk for chronic aging-related diseases.CredentialsEducation1994BA | University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkPsychology2001PhD | University of Nevada, RenoSocial PsychologyPost-doctoral Training & Residency2001 - 2003Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychoneuroimmunology, The Ohio State UniversityAwards2017 - 2018UCSF Tideswell Emerging Leaders in Aging, Leadership Scholar in Research2015 - 2016W. G. Stuber Research Fellowship AwardSponsor: Office of the Senior Associate Dean for Basic ResearchLocation: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry2014Selected cohort member; Developing from WithinSponsor: Mid-Level Academic Women's Leadership ProgramLocation: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry2013Excellence in Research Incentive Program AwardSponsor: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry2009Citation PosterSponsor: American Psychosomatic Society Annual Meeting2009Collier Research Award, First PlaceSponsor: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester2008Citation PosterSponsor: American Psychosomatic Society, Annual Meeting2008Renewal award, National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program, Clinical Research ProgramSponsor: National Institutes of Health2008Invitation and Honorarium for attendanceSponsor: National Institute on AgingLocation: Opportunities for Advancing Behav & Social Research Workshop2006Funding recipient, National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program, Clinical Research ProgramSponsor: National Institutes of Health2006University International Council, International Travel AwardSponsor: Ohio University2005Faculty Development AwardSponsor: College of Arts & Science, Ohio University2000Social Psychology Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program Competitive Travel AwardSponsor: University of Nevada, Reno2000Graduate Student Association Annual Research Competition, FinalistSponsor: University of Nevada, Reno1998Graduate Student Association (GSA) Merit ScholarshipSponsor: University of Nevada, RenoVIEW ALL expand_moreClinical TrialsMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Family Caregivers of Dementia PatientsLead Researcher: Kathi L Heffner The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and the Living Well (LW) for Dementia Caregivers program, compared to any usual care, to see if the programs might be associated with better immune function, physical and emotional health, and well-being. This study is looking for individuals age 55 and up who are caring for someone (such as a spouse, parent, close friend) who has dementia. Participation includes attending a weekly small group meeting at Lifespan over eight weeks for one of two study programs (determined randomly). Both programs address ways of improving physical and emotional well-being in the context of dementia caregiving. View Study Details PublicationsJournal Articles7/15/2021Pigeon WR, Crean HF, Cerulli C, Gallegos AM, Bishop TM, Heffner KL. "A Randomized Clinical Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia to Augment Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment in Survivors of Interpersonal Violence." Psychotherapy and psychosomatics.. 2021 Jul 15; :1-13. Epub 2021 Jul 15. 3/30/2021Heffner KL, Quiñones MM, Gallegos AM, Crean HF, Lin F, Suhr JA. "Subjective memory in adults over 50 years of age: associations with affective and physiological markers of emotion regulation." Aging & mental health.. 2021 Mar 30; :1-9. Epub 2021 Mar 30. 6/8/2020Chen Q, Yang H, Rooks B, Anthony M, Zhang Z, Tadin D, Heffner KL, Lin FV. "Autonomic flexibility reflects learning and associated neuroplasticity in old age." Human brain mapping.. 2020 Jun 8; Epub 2020 Jun 08. Books & Chapters2014 Chapter Title: Stress and immune function in humans: A life-course perspective Book Title: Handbook of Psychoneuroimmunology Author List: Moynihan, J. A.; Heffner, K. L.; Caserta, M.; O'Connor, T. Published By: Oxford: John Wiley & Sons 20142009 Chapter Title: Psychoneuroimmunology Book Title: The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology Author List: Heffner, K. L. Published By: Wiley-Blackwell 20092009 Chapter Title: Isolation: Health effects Book Title: The Encyclopedia of Human Relationships Author List: Heffner, K. L. Published By: Sage 2009VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONSClose WindowSchedule an appointment with Kathi L. Heffner, Ph.D.Please answer the following questions to help us find the right appointment for you.Important: If you believe that you have a medical or psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. This website is not intended for emergency care.Have you seen this provider in the last 2 years?YesNoExisting Patient Schedule or request a follow up appointment online through MyChart. If you do not have a MyChart account, please close this window and call the appointment phone number. Kathi L. Heffner, Ph.D. is currently scheduling for the following appointment type(s): Our policy does not permit patients to establish care with multiple providers within the same practice or specialty without prior approval. If you choose a new provider in the same office, we will cancel the appointment. Please contact the office directly with questions on this policy.