Ann Murphy, Ph.D., CPRP
My research focuses on improving the lives of young people and adults with mental health conditions via the development, evaluation, and implementation of evidence-based practices. Specifically, I focus on: the development of the behavioral health workforce, implementation science, and interdisciplinary education to enhance the capacity of future health professionals to adequately address the needs of individuals with serious mental illnesses.
I currently direct three funded projects related to workforce development, technical assistance, and performance improvement. My work has been funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), state departments of mental health and education, and foundations.
I am the Director of the Northeast and Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), a SAMHSA grant to enhance the capacity of behavioral health and school mental health providers to implement evidence-based practices; Director of the Rutgers Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health (CCSMH) and PI on the NJ Department of Education-funded Enhancing School Mental Health Services project; and PI on a NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ grant to conduct a state-wide performance improvement project with county-level oversight committees to reduce emergency department wait times for individuals in acute psychiatric crisis.
Keywords: serious mental illness, school mental health, implementation science, behavior health workforce development, interdisciplinary education, technical assistance
Grant Funding
Title: Northeast and Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)
Sponsor Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Brief Overview of Aims:The Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC provides training, technical assistance, consultation, and resource dissemination to support the transfer of knowledge from research to practice among the mental health workforce in federal region 2 (i.e., New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands). In addition to the MHTTC’s work with the mental health workforce, we also provide training and consultation in school mental health.
Total Dollar Amount: $6,950,000
Funding Period: 8/2018 – 9/2024
Title: Enhancing School Mental Health Services Project
Sponsor Agency: New Jersey Department of Education
Brief Overview of Aims:The New Jersey Enhancing School Mental Health Services Project supports the implementation of comprehensive school mental systems at the district and building levels by enhancing educators’ knowledge through training and technical assistance. Our multi-pronged approach includes the launch of the Technical Assistance and Leadership Academy for 50 New Jersey schools and Statewide Trainings available to all New Jersey schools and districts.
Total Dollar Amount: $2,500,000
Funding Period: 1/2023 – 1/2026
Title: Acute Mental Health Care Systems Review Committee Performance Improvement Project
Sponsor Agency: New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Brief Overview of Aims: This project utilizes the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) performance improvement process to examine the acute care processes utilized by each NJ County Systems Review Committee (SRC) to ensure procedural and clinical efficiencies for those requiring psychiatric hospitalization. Through a collaborative process, we work with the SRCs to develop sustainable structures to review and revise processes that lead to more expeditious outcomes for individuals requiring hospitalization and reduce extended wait times in emergency departments.
Total Dollar Amount: $595,000
Funding Period: 8/2022 – 3/2024
- Academic Leadership Program – Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences (ALP-RBHS) Fellow, 2022
- HERS Institute, Higher Education Leadership Development for Women, 2019
- Rutgers, OASIS Leadership and Professional Development Program, 2018
- Faculty Gonfalonier Honoree, Rutgers, School of Health Professions, May, 2019
- Outstanding Academic Performance Award, UMDNJ – School of Health Related Professions, Ph.D. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program, 2013
- Susquehanna University Departmental Honors, Department of Psychology, B.A. Program, 1998
- Susquehanna University Department Award, Department of Philosophy, B.A. Program, 1998
- Summa Cum Laude, Susquehanna University, B.A. Program, 1998
Selected Publications:
- Zechner M, Karyczak S, Murphy A, Vasilenko G, McMahon K, Drucks C, Singhal R. Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Program on Stigmatizing Attitudes in Dental Hygiene Students. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. 2022; 23, 121-141.
- Zechner M,Anderson E, Murphy A, Zazzarino A, Karyczak S. Physical Therapy Students’ Perceptions for Working with Persons with Mental Illness in the United States. Journal of Education and Health Promotion. 2022; 11. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1543_21
- Molfenter T, Heitkamp T, Murphy AA, Tapscott S, Behlman S, Cody OJ. Use of telehealth in mental health (MH) services during and after COVID-19. Community Mental Health Journal. 2021; 57(7), 1244-1251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00861-2
- Murphy AA, Karyczak S, Dolce J, Zechner M, Bates F, Gill KG, Rothpletz-Puglia P. Challenges experienced by behavioral health organizations in New York resulting from COVID-19: A qualitative analysis. Community Mental Health Journal. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00731-3
- Murphy AA, Malenczak D, Ghajar M. Identifying challenges and benefits of online education for students with a psychiatric disability. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability. 2019; 32, 395-409.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of these research topics, please email Ann Murphy at murphyaa@shp.rutgers.edu.
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