Pam Linden and Nikola Zaharakis recently joined UTCSW as new research faculty members, each bringing their own unique experience to the college.
Pam Linden
What is your new role at the College of Social Work and what does it entail?
My appointment is Research Associate Professor and my responsibilities are research, teaching, curricular development, and service. I will be teaching the Veterinary Social Work Capstone course.
What is your main area of research?
I focus on veterinary student mental health and wellbeing. In 2021, I was awarded a three-year research grant from IDEXX Foundation to explore the experiences of veterinary medical students with diverse social identities, and to improve mental health and wellbeing among veterinary students in the U.S. This project is student-centric, with the primary aim being increased diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary medical education. The Inclusive Vet Med project is composed of both veterinary medical and veterinary social work students and represents universities in Tennessee, Alabama, and New York. The project deliverables include a Mental Health & Wellbeing Toolbox that will provide evidence-supported guidance to veterinary student leaders who are committed to developing a sustainable future veterinary workforce. In 2024, the Inclusive Vet Med Toolbox will be presented during Veterinary Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Symposium.
What were you doing before this?
I received my MSW and PhD at the Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare, and after a decade of administering residential and case management programs for people with severe and persistent mental illness, I was a research scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute studying mandated outpatient psychiatric treatment, also known as Kendra’s Law. I also conducted research on problem solving courts for both juvenile delinquents and veterans. As a faculty member at the Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare and School of Health Professions from 2009-2021, I taught Foundation Social Work Practice, Advanced Macro Social Work Practice, Psychopathology & Psychopharmacology, Disability Studies, and Proposal Writing for Health Professionals. Additionally, I designed and taught a Capstone Course for health professionals for several years. In particular, I enjoyed mentoring doctoral students in formulating research questions and designing study methodology. In 2020, I was the founding president of the International Association of Veterinary Social Work and am co-editor of the first veterinary social work textbook The Comprehensive Guide to Interdisciplinary Veterinary Social Work (Springer 2022). Finally, I was the director of Veterinary Social Work for the AlignCare program from January 2020 through March 2022.
What do you hope to accomplish during your time at the college?
As an inaugural council member of the Center for Veterinary Social Work, I look forward to expanding interdisciplinary collaboration in the research, policy and practice of the veterinary social work space. In addition, my goals are to expand health and wellness opportunities for veterinary and other animal health-related professionals internationally.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
As a graduate of the UTK VSW Certificate program, having been affiliated with the program since 2017, and as a lifelong social work educator, I am thrilled to be a part of the UT College of Social Work. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family – my husband, Steve, my son, Josh, and my two rescue dogs Dove and Lily, and being part of a spirited book club, hiking with friends, and listening to live music.
Nikola Zaharakis
What is your new role at the College of Social Work and what does it entail?
I am a Research Assistant Professor in the Center for Behavioral Health Research. I work with Drs. Coatsworth and Mason to seek grant funding to study programs to prevent and treatment youth substance misuse and mental health problems.
What is your main area of research?
My main area of research is in implementation science – studying how we can move prevention and treatment programs out of the research lab and into the community. I examine ways to improve youth engagement with these programs and best practices for integrating these programs into community settings.
What were you doing before joining the college?
I rejoined the College of Social Work in July 2021. In my first year here, I worked as a Research Scientist on Drs. Coatsworth and Mason’s Cannabis Use Treatment Study. I provided scientific oversight and data management and analysis for this NIDA-funded project. Prior to rejoining UTCSW, I completed two postdoctoral fellowships at Arizona State University, one on a NIDA T32 grant in the Psychology Department, where I trained in dissemination and implementation science related to substance misuse prevention programs, and one on a HRSA grant in the Department of Social Work, where I received training on opioid misuse prevention, treatment, and healthcare.
What do you hope to accomplish during your time at the college?
During my time at the college, I hope to grow the work of the Center for Behavioral Health Research and increase our research on best practices for implementing programs to prevent and treat substance misuse and mental health problems in the community to reach populations that might not otherwise seek these services. I also hope to create more opportunities for students to get involved in our work and gain training in clinical research.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
I worked at the college for a brief time in 2017 on Dr. Mason’s previous NIDA grant studying the influence of peers and places on substance use initiation and development. I am glad to have returned to UTCSW and am proud to be a Vol and living in beautiful East Tennessee.