The Recognition and Prevention Program (RAP)

Our Staff

Barbara Cornblatt, Ph.D., M.B.A., Director
Barbara A. Cornblatt, Ph.D., M.B.A., is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Director of the Recognition and Prevention (RAP) Program. For over 20 years, she has focused on research concerned with the causes and treatment of serious mental illness. She is currently concentrating on the identification and early treatment of adolescents who appear to be at-risk for the development of emotional disorders, including psychosis. The RAP program, which was opened in 1997, is one of the first programs in the United States specifically dedicated to the prevention of severe mental illness in adolescents and young adults. To date, over 150 youngsters have participated in both the research and treatment components of this program. Early treatment in the RAP Clinic has been consistently associated with a high rate of clinical improvement. Dr. Cornblatt has authored or co-authored over 150 scientific articles or book chapters and is currently the Director of the International Prodromal Research Network which sponsors international collaborations and prevention studies. She recently received an award from the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill (NAMI Queens/Nassau) for the achievements of the RAP research program. (Email: cornblat@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6956)

Manoj Shah, M.D., Medical Director
Manoj R. Shah, M.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Medical Director of the Recognition and Prevention (RAP) Program. He has been associated with the RAP program since its inception in 1997. Dr. Shah is a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (London, UK) and an Honorary Fellow of the Indian Psychiatric Society.
(Email: mshah@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-3579)

Todd Lencz, Ph.D., Associate Director
Todd Lencz, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and is Associate Director of the Recognition and Prevention (RAP) Program, a position he has held since 1998. Dr. Lencz received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Southern California and has authored or co-authored more than 40 scientific articles and book chapters, focusing on two main research projects: 1) refining the clinical criteria that define the boundaries of mental illness, and 2) investigating the biological basis of mental illness in the brain, using techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurocognitive testing. Dr. Lencz is also the recipient of a Career Development Award from the National Institute of Mental Health and a Young Investigator Award from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders.
(Email: lencz@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6951)

Chris Smith, M.A., Assistant Director
Chris Smith, M.A., is Assistant Director of the RAP Program. He works with new families as they enter the program and helps develop new clinical and research programs. Contact him with questions about the clinical services or the research opportunities offered by the RAP Program. Mr. Smith is completing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the New School in New York City.
(Email: csmith@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6953)

Andrea Auther, Ph.D., Psychologist
Andrea Auther, Ph.D., received her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from St. John's University. She has been working with the RAP Program since 2000 conducting clinical diagnostic interviews and providing individual and group psychotherapy.
(Email: aauther@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6957)

Christoph Correll, M.D., Psychiatrist
Christoph U. Correll, M.D., is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and research scientist. He graduated from the Medical School at the Free University of Berlin in Germany before completing his training in adult as well as child and adolescent psychiatry at the Zucker Hillside Hospital and Schneider Children's Hospital, New York. Dr. Correll's primary interest is in the timely identification and treatment of young people who are in the earliest stages of severe mental illnesses, including psychotic disorders.
Dr Correll is the recipient of over 20 national and international
awards and fellowships, including the National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit (NCDEU) New Investigator Award; 11th Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia Young Scientist Award; American Psychiatric Association Junior Investigators Award; American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Presidential Scholar Award; American Federation for Medical Research Henry Christian Award; and the John and Maxine Bendheim Fellowship Award for Research. He has been working with the RAP Program since 1998 as a clinical and a research psychiatrist.
(Email: ccorrell@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-4636)

Keith Ditkowsky, M.D., Unit Chief, Adolescent Pavillion
Keith Ditkowsky, M.D., was one of the original members of the RAP Clinical team. After a three-year affiliation with the Child Study Center at New York University, he has returned to the Zucker Hillside and Schneider Children's Hospitals and to the RAP Program. Dr. Ditkowsky is currently the Unit Chief of the Adolescent Pavillion at the Zucker Hillside Hospital. He is Board Certified in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry. He has over fifteen years of experience in the assessment and treatment of high-risk and seriously mentally ill children.
(Email: Kditkows@lij.edu tel: (718) 470-8463)

Carmel Foley, M.D., M.P.H., Chief, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Carmel Foley, M.D., M.P.A., is the Division Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Schneider Children's Hospital and the Zucker Hillside Hospital. Dr. Foley is Board Certified in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry as well as addiction and forensic psychiatry. She has twenty years of experience in the assessment and treatment of high-risk and seriously mentally ill children.
(Email: cfoley@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-3510)

Lauren Hovey, B.A., Research Assistant
Lauren Hovey, B.A., joined the RAP program in July 2003 after graduation from Pomona College in California. She is currently doing neuropsychological testing and related research.
(Email: lhovey@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6412)

Russell Kehoe, M.S., Database Manager
Russell Kehoe, M.S., studied Social Research at Hunter College.
He has managed databases and performed statistical analyses for the United Way of NYC, the Edison Schools, the NPD Group
(a market research firm), and Philip Morris USA among others before joining the RAP Program.
(Email: rkehoe@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6949)

Kim Landau, Ph.D., Psychologist
Kim Landau, Ph.D., received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Hillside Hospital. She has recently joined the RAP program as a full-time clinician, conducting individual and group psychotherapy.
(Email: klandau@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6958)

Danielle McLaughlin, M.A., Psychometrician
Danielle McLaughlin, M.A., is completing her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology at Fordham University. She is involved in various research activities at RAP and works primarily as a neurocognitive tester.
(Email: dmclaugh@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6959

Emilie Nakayama, Ph.D., Psychologist
Emilie Nakayama, Ph.D., received her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland. She has worked with the RAP program since 2002 conducting clinical diagnostic interviews.
(Email: enakayam@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6941)

Ruth Olsen, B.S., Research Coordinator
Ruth Olsen, B.S., received her degree in Behavioral Science from the New York Institute of Technology and then attended graduate school at New York University. She is responsible for coordinating various activities within the clinical and research arms of the RAP program.
(Email: rolsen@lij.edu tel: (516) 470-6948)