Emily C. Gathright, PhD, FAACVPR
Mailing Address
104 Rawl Building
Department of Psychology
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
Willing to consider mentoring a new doctoral student in 2025-26?
- Yes
Education
- T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University (2017-2019)
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, Kent State University (2017)
- APA-accredited Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology (Behavioral Medicine Track), Alpert Medical School of Brown University (2016-2017)
- BA, Psychology, Baylor University (2011)
Research Interests
Dr. Gathright is a clinical psychologist with expertise in interactions between psychological distress and disease self-management (e.g., medication adherence) in older adults with chronic illness(es). Dr. Gathright’s program research encompasses three primary goals:
(1) To understand the biopsychosocial and behavioral contributors to worsening health outcomes for older adults with chronic illnesses with the goal of identifying intervention targets,
(2) To evaluate existing interventions and research gaps through meta-analytic methodology, and
(3) To develop and test behavioral interventions to improve health behaviors, function, and quality of life among older adults managing chronic illness(es).
To date, Dr. Gathright’s work has predominantly focused on older adults with chronic forms of heart failure, which is a progressive illness that is highly prevalent among older adults. Dr. Gathright plans to continue this work and to apply the biopsychosocial conceptual models she has explored within heart failure to multimorbidity and other chronic illnesses impacting quality of life in aging. The overarching motivation of this research is to support older adults in working towards values-driven, healthy and meaningful aging.
Service Positions
- Program Planning Committee Psychosocial/Behavior Change Section Lead, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, 2018 – 2021
- Program Planning Committee Vice Chair (2021-2022) and Chair (2022-2023), American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, 2021 – 2022
- Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention Editorial Board Member, 2022 – present
- Review Panel Member, Clinical Management in General Care Settings (CMGC), Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, June 2024
Grant Funding
- R34HL165716-01A1 (PIs: Gathright/Busch) NIH/NHLBI. Multisite feasibility of BA-HD: An integrated depression and behavioral risk factor reduction coaching program following acute coronary syndrome, 2023-2025.
- STAR COBRE Pilot Project (PI: Stroud; Pilot Project PI: Gathright). NIGMS. An Implementation Science-Informed Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Stress Management in Cardiac Rehabilitation, 2023 – 2025
- K23AG061214-01A1 (PI: Gathright)- NIH/NIA. Development of a Values-Affirmation Intervention Targeting Medication Adherence in Older Adults with Heart Failure Completing Cardiac Rehabilitation. 2019 – 2025
- Rhode Island Foundation Medical Research Grant (PI: Gathright) Development of a Peer-Led Community to Support Women in Cardiac Rehabilitation, 2022-2024.
Selected Publications
- Click here for a list of publications.