Derek Novacek, PhD

Dr. Derek Novacek joined the Green Lab in 2019 through the VA’s Advanced Fellowship in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame. He earned his PhD in clinical psychology from Emory University and completed his APA clinical psychology internship at the UCLA Semel Institute. His postdoctoral research with the Green Lab investigated racial differences in community integration in homeless and recently housed Veterans. Dr. Novacek’s research is currently supported by a Career Development Award from the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development service to examine stress, inflammation, and resilience as predictors of social integration in Black and White recently housed Veterans. He is also a staff psychologist with the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) program and provides mental health services to Veterans experiencing homelessness. Dr. Novacek has authored publications in peer-reviewed journals such as the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Psychiatry Research, and Psychological Trauma. Dr. Novacek is a member of the Schizophrenia International Research Society, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders, Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race, and the Society for Research in Psychopathology.