Who We Are
Dr. Kelly Peck, PhD, Primary Investigator
Dr. Kelly Peck (he/him) is a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Research Professor with joint appointments in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychological Sciences at University of Vermont.
He is also the Director of Clinical Operations for the University of Vermont Center on Rural Addiction (UVM CORA) which is one of three national Rural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorders.
His primary research and clinical interests are two-fold. First, he has conducted research focused on the development and evaluation of novel treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD). Most recently, this has included randomized clinical trials evaluating a novel technology-assisted buprenorphine treatment for reducing illicit opioid use and other high-risk behaviors among adults with untreated OUD. Second, he has worked extensively to address co-occurring PTSD in individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), particularly around the delivery and evaluation of cognitive-behavioral treatments for PTSD.
Kelly recently completed a pilot study to develop and demonstrate the initial feasibility of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy plus attendance-contingent financial incentives for improving PE attendance and PTSD symptoms in individuals with PTSD and OUD.
He received an R01 from the National Institutes of Drug Abuse that expands upon the promising preliminary findings of this project and funds the current research study.

Who We Are
Olivia Tarmey, B.A., Research Project Assistant
Smith College, MA
2020
BA, Psychology
Certificate in Culture, health, and Science
Olivia Tarmey is a researcher, advocate, and activist with an interest in health disparities as they relate to the experience of trauma. Olivia is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Vermont. She is interested in the intersection between women's experiences of intimate partner violence and opioid use disorder.

Who We Are
Rebecca Cole, B.A., Research Project Assistant
Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY
2020
BA, Psychology
Concentration in Global Studies
Rebecca Cole (she/her) is a full-time research project assistant at UVM in psychiatry on the PTSD and OUD Study. She is currently completing her MS degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has experience with conducting qualitative and quantitative psychological research, as well as clinical experience with those who struggle with addiction disorders, intimate partner violence, criminal justice involvement, and other vulnerable, marginalized, and traumatized populations.
For fun, she loves to travel, spend time outdoors, meet up for chats with close friends, or create art such as embroidery, painting, and poetry.

Who We Are
Peter Lontine, Research Project Assistant

Who We Are
Jillian Giannini, B.S., M.S.
Predoctoral Fellow
UC San Diego, San Diego C.A., 2021
Bachelors of Science,
Cognitive - Behavioral Neuroscience
Jill Giannini (she/her) is a graduate student in UVM's clinical psychology doctoral program and a therapist on the study. Her research focuses on the treatment of substance use disorders, specifically in those with comorbid mental health conditions such as PTSD. She is particularly interested in exploring combined pharmacotherapy and therapeutic interventions to target these specific populations. In her free time, she loves to see live music and enjoy time with friends.

Who We Are
Johanna Hidalgo B.S.
Predoctoral Fellow
University of Central Florida, FL., 2019
Bachelors of Science,
Psychology
Johanna (she/her) is a graduate student in UVM's clinical psychology doctoral program and a therapist on the PTSD study. Her research focuses on the treatment of PTSD and comorbid mood disorders. She is passionate about optimizing technology-assisted interventions to widen the reach of trauma-informed services.
