Andrea Graham, PhD, Honored with Prestigious ABCT SIG Award

December 17, 2024

Andrea Graham, PhD, Chief of the Division of Implementation Science in the Department of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has been awarded the highly esteemed recognition of the Mid-Career Investigator Award by the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Technology & Behavior Change Special Interest Group (SIG). This award, a testament to her exceptional contributions, celebrates Graham’s innovative work designing and implementing digital health interventions. Among a community of leading behavioral scientists devoted to studying and advancing digital tools to promote behavioral health, this achievement underscores Graham’s pivotal role in the field. “Being selected for this achievement amongst my esteemed colleagues is a real honor,” said Graham, who has dedicated her career to addressing the global challenge of limited access to mental health care.

A Mission Born from a Critical Need

Graham’s work is fueled by a powerful motivation: the reality that there are not enough clinicians to meet the world’s mental health needs through face-to-face treatments alone. “I study digital interventions because these tools have unprecedented potential to increase access to care given their accessibility, affordability, and pervasiveness in people’s daily lives,” she explained. Her research not only seeks to expand access but also ensure that evidence-based care reaches marginalized populations in dire need of effective solutions. Further, Graham is motivated to tackle “the roadblocks” that make it challenging to get digital interventions to those who need them. She uses human-centered design methods to design digital interventions that are engaging to users and that improve their successful implementation in clinical practice.

Overcoming Challenges with Community Support

Graham’s journey to this recognition was not without its challenges. However, she attributes her success to the unwavering support of her mentors, colleagues, and the Feinberg School of Medicine community. “A whole village!” she said. “I am so grateful to an incredible team of mentors, staff, colleagues, and family and friends who have supported me and my research. I also am grateful for the amazing support of the Department of Medical Social Sciences, the Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies, and our Feinberg School of Medicine community in helping me pursue impactful digital intervention research.”

A Moment of Reflection and Tribute

Receiving this award held personal significance for Graham, beyond professional validation. She shared a moving tribute to her late mentor, C. Barr Taylor, MD during her acceptance presentation at the SIG meeting. Reflecting on Barr’s influence, Graham remarked, “Barr passed away one year ago, and receiving this honor around the first anniversary of his passing enabled a meaningful moment for me to reflect on and acknowledge the impact he had on my career. What gets me up in the morning – why I pursue the work that I do – is continuing Barr’s legacy of bringing affordable, accessible, evidence-based mental health care to populations worldwide.”

Looking Ahead

This recognition is a springboard for Graham’s future endeavors. She is particularly excited about building new collaborations with community-based organizations to study strategies for implementing her digital intervention for binge eating so it can be more accessible to marginalized populations, such as individuals experiencing food insecurity. She also is excited about the sea-change that reimbursement will bring for digital mental health interventions, which will open the door for addressing numerous questions about how best to implement evidence-based digital interventions in healthcare settings and beyond.

Advice for Aspiring Innovators

Graham’s advice to others striving for impactful contributions and recognition is rooted in curiosity and resilience. “Embrace other disciplines. Embrace being wrong. Embrace iteration and chances to learn and get feedback,” she advised. “Also, harness opportunities to ask more questions than you set out to answer, so you can innovate and extend impact beyond a project’s bounds.”

Celebrating a Legacy of Innovation

Andrea Graham, PhD, stands as a shining example of how innovation, dedication, and a collaborative spirit can drive meaningful advancements in mental health care. Her work continues to honor her mentors while paving the way for future innovations in digital health interventions and their implementation. Congratulations, Andrea Graham, on this well-deserved recognition!