JULIA E. HOOKER, PHD

Dr. Julia Hooker is a postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital/CHOIR and a T32 research fellow at Harvard Medical School. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Syracuse University, and her pre-doctoral internship in the Lifespan Health track within CHOIR at HMS/MGH. Julia's work within CHOIR is focused on testing and delivering mind-body interventions for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Additionally, Julia’s research centers on managing pain and preventing the development of chronic pain among individuals recovering from acute injuries, and implementing technology-assisted interventions in this population. At CHOIR, Julia serves as a clinician for Dr. Vranceanu's Toolkit for Optimal Recovery (TOR) study, a virtual mind-body intervention to prevent persistent pain and disability following acute orthopedic injury, as well as the THRIVE study promoting activity and mind-body skills use among sedentary individuals with chronic pain. In addition to her research and clinical interests, Julia enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, traveling, playing mandolin, watching movies, and completing crossword puzzles.

ALEXANDER MATTIA PRESCIUTTI, PHD, MSCS

Alex is a clinical health psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at MGH CHOIR/ Harvard Medical School, where he also completed his predoctoral fellowship in 2023. He earned his MA in clinical psychology at Columbia University (2018), MS in clinical science at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (2020), and PhD in clinical health psychology at the University of Colorado Denver (2023). Alex was awarded the University of Colorado Elizabeth and Rick Gardner Predoctoral Fellowship in 2018 and an NIH/NCATS TL1 predoctoral fellowship in 2019 to support his pioneering research in cardiac arrest survivorship.

Alex is dedicated to improving quality of life and emotional well-being in critically ill patients and their caregivers through research, clinical work, and service. His work in cardiac arrest survivorship specifically has informed national and international guideline statements on post-arrest care. Through his K23 he will develop a novel dyadic, mind-body intervention for survivors and their caregivers. In January 2023 Alex co-launched the largest online support community for cardiac arrest survivors, loved ones, and advocates (the Cardiac Arrest Survivor Alliance).

At CHOIR, Alex is a clinician on Dr. Vranceanu’s Recovering Together study, building resilience and improving emotional distress in neurocritical care patients and their caregivers. In addition to his research and clinical interests, Alex enjoys reading non-fiction, hiking, playing soccer, and traveling.