College of Medicine

Biosketch

Heather A. Flynn, Ph.D. is a Professor at the Florida State University (FSU), College of Medicine and Chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine.  She is Director of the FSU Center for Behavioral Health Integration.  Dr. Flynn received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Florida State University, and completed a mental health and substance use fellowship at the University of Michigan  Medical School in 1998.  She served on the faculty at the UM Department of Psychiatry from 1998-2011, where she co-founded the UM Women and Infants Mental Health Program.   Dr. Flynn’s research is focused on improved identification, treatment and outcomes for behavioral health disorders, with a particular focus on women and children.  As a clinical psychologist, she has worked for over 25 years as a clinician, researcher and trainer in the behavioral health field.  Her work is  specifically aimed at developing and testing for behavioral health in medical and community settings.  Dr. Flynn is also involved in statewide, national and international work on improving behavioral health approaches and outcomes.  She is the Co-Chair of the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative, and the Chair of the Women & Mood Disorders Task Group within the National Network of Depression Centers. She has worked with teams to develop international quality standards by implementing processes for practitioner and trainer / supervisor certifications in evidence-based behavioral health treatments including Motivational Interviewing and Interpersonal Psychotherapy. In 2018,  Dr. Flynn was appointed to serve on the Florida Governors Mental Health Task Force.  She also served as a member of the Florida Statewide Suicide Prevention Task Force, and in 2020 was appointed to the Florida Governors Opioid Task Force.  Dr. Flynn is passionate about community-partnered, collaborative work aimed at improving mental health and substance use for families in the US and around the world.

 

Education

Florida State University, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology (APA Accredited)	1996
Florida State University Master of Science, Clinical Psychology	1992
Florida State University Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Cum Laude	1990

 

Honors/Awards

Scholar, Harvard Macy Program for Leading Innovations in Health Care & Education	2012
The Florida State University Department of Psychology, Doctoral Graduate Award of Distinction	2012
Honorable Mention, University of Michigan Health System “Program of the Year” (Director, Women’s Mental Health and Infants Program)	2010
Advanced Leadership Program, Center for the Education of Women	2010

 

Memberships

American Psychological Association	1995-2001, 2009-present
International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy	2003-present
Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers	2002-present

 

Research Focus

• Development and examination of the effectiveness of psychological interventions to improve detection, treatment engagement and outcomes for depression in women around the time of childbearing
• Evaluation of the impact of improved maternal depression and functioning on obstetrical and infant outcomes
• Understanding psychological, structural and health care system influences on depression treatment use in women in health care settings
• Dissemination and implementation of evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions for depression in health care settings

 

Publications

Peer Reviewed Articles

1. Swanson, L., Pickett, S., Flynn, H., Armitage, R. (2011). Relationships between depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms in perinatal women seeking mental health treatment. Journal of Women’s Health, Apr;20(4):553-8.
2. Henshaw, E., Flynn, H., Himle, J., O’Mahen, H.A., Forman, J., Fedock, G. (2011). Patient preferences for clinician interactional style in treatment of perinatal depression. Qualitative Health Research, March 23 (EPUB).
3. O’Mahen, H., Henshaw, E., Jones, J., Flynn, H. (2011). Stigma and depression during pregnancy: Does race matter? Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Apr;199(4):257-62.
4. Palladino CL, Flynn, H., Richardson C, Marcus SM, Johnson TR, Davis MM (2011). Lengthened Pre-Delivery Stay and Antepartum Complications in Women with Depressive Symptoms During Pregnancy. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2011 Jun;20(6):953-62
5. Lancaster, C., Fedock, G., Forman, J., Davis, M., Henshaw, E., Flynn, H.(2011). OB CARES: Providers’ Perceptions of Addressing Perinatal Depression: A Qualitative Study. General Hospital Psychiatry. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. May-Jun;33(3):267-78
6. Lancaster C, Gold, K., Singh, V. Flynn, H., Campbell, J. (2011). Pregnancy-associated Homicide and Suicide: Findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System. Obstetrics & Gynecology. Obstet Gynecol. Nov;118(5):1056-63.
7. Sexton, M., Flynn, H., Vazquez, D., Lopez, J., Volling B., McDonough, S, Marcus, S. (2012). Predictors of recovery from prenatal depressive symptoms from pregnancy through postpartum. J Womens Health (Larchmt) Jan;21(1):43-9.
8. O’Mahen, H, Fedock G, Henshaw E, Himle J, Forman J, Flynn, H. Modifying CBT for Perinatal Depression: What do Women Want? A qualitative study (2012). Cognitive and Behavioral Practice 19. 2May : 359-371
9. Burnett-Zeigler I, Pfeiffer P, Zivin K, Glass J, Ilgen M, Flynn, H., Austin, K, Chermack S (2012). Psychotherapy Utilization for Acute Depression within the VA Healthcare System. Psychol Serv. May 7

Books and Book Chapters

1. Flynn, H. Depression and postpartum disorders. A public health perspective of women's mental health. Levin, B.L.; Becker, M.A. (Eds); New York, NY, US: Springer Science + Business Media, 2010. pp. 109-120
2. Flynn, H. and Himle, J. The role of psychotherapy in treatment resistant depression, In Treatment Resistant Depression. Riba, M., Greden, J. (Eds). In press.
3. Novick, D And Flynn, H. Psychiatric Symptoms During And Following Pregnancy: Using Psycho-Education, Assessment, And Intervention to Improve Outcomes. Women’s Health Psychology. Spiers M, Geller, P., Kloss J (eds).

 

Additional Information

Behavioral Health Research and Community Engagement

FSU Center for Behavioral Health Integration

Dr. Flynn's CV