STEM-H for Mental Health Clinicians

STEM-H for Mental Health Clinicians introduces a new model that adapts scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical concepts to treat the health (STEM-H) of patients with medical problems. The book begins with a discussion of genetics and continues through current scientific research underlying each bodily system to inform practitioners and advanced students about development, as well as structure, and function. Signature illnesses and injuries that affect each system are discussed at length, as well as technological advances and biomedical engineering that developed apparatuses and medications to treat those signature conditions. Mathematical concepts that underlie public health models are introduced in each chapter and range from the prevalence and incidence of these medical conditions to social determinants of health, and the relationship of ethnicity, gender, and poverty. Clinical theories and methods are introduced to inform practitioners about treatments of signature illnesses and injuries experienced by children and adults. The book thoroughly explains the terminology and STEM-H concepts to inform students and mental health clinicians.

Readers who master the material will be prepared to work as medical team members or as independent clinicians with private or community clients who struggle with medical problems. This textbook addresses the well-being of the patient's family members and introduces solutions to improve the caregivers' burden. Chapters in STEM-H for Clinicians provide a bench-side to bedside approach to apply basic global scientific data, predominantly from the United States, that inform clinicians' treatment methods and develop research-informed practice.

Dr. Marilyn Weaver Lewis is Professor of Social Work at Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, She began her career as a researcher using animal models to study drug use and brain chemistry and behavior and later, neurodevelopment of drug-exposed babies. Dr. Lewis has been licensed as an independent, clinical psychotherapist with extensive experience working in outpatient substance use clinics, and in-patient psychiatric hospitals. Since 2004, she has instructed masters level social work students in the area of substance misuse and dependency, mental health, and has developed a masters level course in STEM-H for the Military.

Dr. Liyun Wu is Associate Professor at Norfolk State University School of Social Work. Her research focuses on technical methods for evaluating associations from correlated data in behavioural health and uncovering social determinants of health. She has been the lead faculty in research methodology for both master's and doctoral social work programs. In collaboration with gerontology, public health, and social work colleagues, she served as program evaluator to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth in terms of behavioural health assessment, care coordination, diagnosis, education, and intervention for school-aged children.

Dr. Zachary Allan Hagen, MD is an Emergency Medicine Physician in Baltimore. Prior to working clinically, he studied engineering and worked in medical software development. He then transitioned to clinical medicine, graduating from Eastern Virginia Medical School and began training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.