Melanis Rivera-Rodriguez, Psy.D.

Melanis Rivera-Rodríguez is a licensed psychologist formally trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and evidence-based practices. In addition to teaching and research, she provides psychology services to our medical students as part of Student Well-being and Mental Health Services. 

Before joining FIU, Rivera-Rodríguez provided clinical health psychology services for HIV/AIDS patients at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She also worked in inpatient/outpatient care settings focused on the treatment of eating disorders. 

Education 

Postdoctoral Fellowship degree, Clinical Health Psychology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital
PsyD, Clinical Psychology, Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Certification, Primary Care Behavioral Health, UMASS Amherst
BA, Psychology and Mental Health, University of Puerto Rico Cayey Campus

Areas of Interest

Rivera-Rodriguez’s areas of interest span from Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and practices from an integrative model that incorporates interpersonal, acceptance and commitment, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness therapies.

Research Areas

Rivera-Rodriguez’s research interests include benefits of mindfulness, personality styles and medicine, burnout in medical students, program development with a focus on wellness and well-being, enhancing the well-being of healthcare providers and neurocognitive factors of learning and education.  

Publications

1. Case Report: The Gold Standard: The Case for Inclusion of a Medical Student-Specific Counseling Center and Wellness Programming in Early Medical Education (2020) DOI: 10.1007/s10880-020-09726-4
2. First Year Burnout and Coping in One US Medical School (2019) DOI: 10.1007/s40596-020-01198-w
3. The Anabolic Steroids Testosterone Propionate and Nandrolone, but Not 17alpha-methyltestosterone, Induce Conditioned Place Preference in Adult Mice (2008) DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.09.014

Licensure

Active Psychology License in the state of Florida since 2014.