Jennifer Vasterling

Dr. Vasterling serves as the Chief of Psychology at VA Boston Healthcare System. She is also a clinical investigator within the Behavioral Sciences Division of the VA National Center for PTSD. Dr. Vasterling obtained her Ph.D. in psychology from Vanderbilt University in 1988, subsequently completing pre- and post-doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology at the VA Boston Healthcare System/Boston University School of Medicine.

Previously appointed to the faculty of Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Vasterling functioned as the Associate Director of Research for the VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center until 2006. Dr. Vasterling has served on the editorial boards of several journals, and currently serves on the board the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. Her research has centered on neurocognitive and emotional changes that accompany war-zone deployment and posttraumatic stress responses. She is the lead editor of the sole book on the neuropsychology of PTSD and is an editor of a book addressing the mental health concerns of returning veterans.

Dr. Vasterling is the 2009 recipient of the American Psychological Association Trauma Psychology (Division 56) Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award. Her recent work, currently funded as a multi-site VA Cooperative Studies program, involves longitudinal examination of neuropsychological and emotional outcomes of military deployment to Iraq.