Tamara Sher
Encyclopedia
Tamara Goldman Sher, Ph.D.
(November 9, 1962) is a licensed clinical psychologist and Vice President for Research at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. She is a leading researcher in the fields of Behavioral Medicine
(Health Psychology
) and Couples Therapy
. Sher was awarded a $2.4 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH
) which combined both of these fields in a study measuring the benefits of couples' involvement in cardiac treatment. This grant is part of Sher's work with the National Institute of Health's Behavior Change Consortium. Sher's research has been mentioned in the Chicago Tribune
, Psychology Today
, on Chicago Public Radio
, and published in several leading psychology journals.
. She is the sister of Abigail Helaine Goldman (Pulitzer Prize
winning author for the LA Times) and Josh Goldman (Partner at Norwest Venture Partners).
Sher earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1989) and B.A. from the University of Michigan (1984). After completing her internship training at Rush University Medical Center
she spent seven years on medical school faculty where she became head of the health psychology track of the internship program and Director of the Couples and Health program. In 1994, Dr. Sher moved to the Collage of Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology
(IIT) where she taught for 17 years. In 2007 she become Director of Clinical Training for the College of Psychology. In 2011, Sher left IIT as a Full Professor to join The Family Institute at Northwestern University as their Vice President for Research.
In 2000, Sher co-authored (with K. B. Schmaling) a text book entitled "The Psychology of Couples and Illness". She belongs to several professional societies including the American Psychological Association (APA
), the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT
), and the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM). Sher is regularly invited as a symposium discussant and presentation author to each of these professional societies annual conferences. In addition, she is on the editorial board of the APA Journal of Family Psychology, a member of the National Institute of Health's Behavior Change Consortium, and sits on the Clinical Oversight Committee for the Cancer Wellness Center.
, bypass graft surgery
, angioplasty
). Using a short term couples intervention strategy designed to optimize relationships and reduce interpersonal stress, the team focused on three areas of change: exercise, weight management, and compliance with lipid-lowering medication. These areas were targeted because of the difficulty many cardiac patients face in maintaining long-term commitments to change.
Currently, Sher is interested in applying what she has learned from previous work to a much wider population of patients through the use of the Internet and telephone. She is particularly interested in reaching patients who do not have the time or resources to participate in intensive out-patient groups.
Educational Videos
Academic Journals
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(November 9, 1962) is a licensed clinical psychologist and Vice President for Research at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. She is a leading researcher in the fields of Behavioral Medicine
Behavioral medicine
Behavioral medicine is an interdisciplinary field of medicine concerned with the development and integration of knowledge in the biological, behavioral, psychological, and social sciences relevant to health and illness...
(Health Psychology
Health psychology
Health psychology is concerned with understanding how biological, psychological, environmental, and cultural factors are involved in physical health and illness. Health psychologists work alongside other medical professionals in clinical settings, work on behavior change in public health promotion,...
) and Couples Therapy
Relationship counseling
Relationship counseling is the process of counseling the parties of a relationship in an effort to recognize and to better manage or reconcile troublesome differences and repeating patterns of distress...
. Sher was awarded a $2.4 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
) which combined both of these fields in a study measuring the benefits of couples' involvement in cardiac treatment. This grant is part of Sher's work with the National Institute of Health's Behavior Change Consortium. Sher's research has been mentioned in the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, Psychology Today
Psychology Today
Psychology Today is a bi-monthly magazine published in the United States. It is a psychology-based magazine about relationships, health, and related topics written for a mass audience of non-psychologists. Psychology Today was founded in 1967 and features articles on such topics as love,...
, on Chicago Public Radio
Chicago Public Radio
WBEZ is a noncommercial, public radio station broadcasting from Chicago, Illinois. Financed primarily by listener contributions, the station is affiliated with both National Public Radio and Public Radio International; they also broadcast content from American Public Media...
, and published in several leading psychology journals.
Biography
Tamara Goldman Sher is a native of Chicago's suburbs who lives with her husband and two daughters in suburban Cook countyCook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
. She is the sister of Abigail Helaine Goldman (Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning author for the LA Times) and Josh Goldman (Partner at Norwest Venture Partners).
Sher earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1989) and B.A. from the University of Michigan (1984). After completing her internship training at Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center is a 676-bed academic medical center that includes hospital facilities for adults and children. It also includes the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center...
she spent seven years on medical school faculty where she became head of the health psychology track of the internship program and Director of the Couples and Health program. In 1994, Dr. Sher moved to the Collage of Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
(IIT) where she taught for 17 years. In 2007 she become Director of Clinical Training for the College of Psychology. In 2011, Sher left IIT as a Full Professor to join The Family Institute at Northwestern University as their Vice President for Research.
In 2000, Sher co-authored (with K. B. Schmaling) a text book entitled "The Psychology of Couples and Illness". She belongs to several professional societies including the American Psychological Association (APA
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
), the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies was founded in 1966. Its headquarters are in New York City and its membership includes researchers, psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, social workers, nurses, and other mental-health practitioners, researchers, and students who...
), and the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM). Sher is regularly invited as a symposium discussant and presentation author to each of these professional societies annual conferences. In addition, she is on the editorial board of the APA Journal of Family Psychology, a member of the National Institute of Health's Behavior Change Consortium, and sits on the Clinical Oversight Committee for the Cancer Wellness Center.
Research description
The goal of Sher's NIH grant was to determine if improvement in a couples interpersonal relationship would result in sustained changes in health behavior, improvement in the couples quality of life, and health benefits specific to the cardiac patient. Working out of labs at both the Illinois Institute of Technology and Rush University Hospital, Sher's team recruited 160 participants (approximately 35% minorities, 30% women) in which one member suffered from a cardiovascular event (e.g., myocardial infarctionMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, bypass graft surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
, angioplasty
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size...
). Using a short term couples intervention strategy designed to optimize relationships and reduce interpersonal stress, the team focused on three areas of change: exercise, weight management, and compliance with lipid-lowering medication. These areas were targeted because of the difficulty many cardiac patients face in maintaining long-term commitments to change.
Currently, Sher is interested in applying what she has learned from previous work to a much wider population of patients through the use of the Internet and telephone. She is particularly interested in reaching patients who do not have the time or resources to participate in intensive out-patient groups.
Interviews
- BNET Sher discusses the difficulty of telling a new romantic relation about a preexisting STD
- Chicago Public Radio program 848 Sher discusses her NIH funded study (date: February 14, 2001)
- Chicago Tribune Sher discusses her NIH funded study for the Chicago Tribune
- Psychology Today Sher discuses difficulties in doctor/patient communication based on her research findings
Selected works and publications
Books- Osterman, G. P.; Sher, T. G.; Hales, G.; Canar, W. J.; Singla, R.; & Tilton, T. (2003). Physical Illness. In D. K. Snider & M. A. Whisman (Eds.), Treating Difficult Couples: Helping Clients with Coexisting Mental and Relationship Disorders (pp. 350–369). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
- Schmaling, K.B. & Sher, T.G. (Eds.) (2000). The Psychology of Couples and Illness: Theory, research, & practice.. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Books.
- Schmaling, K.B. & Sher, T.G. (1997). Physical health and relationships. In W. K. Halford & H. J. Markman (Eds.), Clinical handbook of marriage and couples interventions (pp. 323–345). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
- Sher, T. G. (1996). Courtship and marriage: Choosing a primary relationship. In N. Vanzetti & S. Duck (Eds.), A lifetime of relationships (pp. 243–264). Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Educational Videos
- Couples and Illness with Tamara Goldman Sher, PhD
Academic Journals
- Sher, T. G.; Cella D.; Leslie W. T.; Bonomi P.; Taylor IV S. G.; & Serafian B. (1997). Communication Differences Between Physicians and Their Patients in an Oncology Setting. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 04(3), 281-293.
- Sher T. G. & Schmaling K. B. (1997). Intimate Relationships and Health: Research and Practice. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 04(4), 359-360.
- Sher, T. G. & Baucom, D. H. (1993). Marital communication: Differences among maritally distressed, depressed, and nondistressed-nondepressed couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 7(1), 148-153.
- Sayers, S. L.; Baucom, D. H.; Sher, T. G.; Weiss, R. L.; et al. (1991). Constructive engagement, behavioral marital therapy, and changes in marital satisfaction. Behavioral Assessment, 13(1), 25-49.
- Sher, T. G. & Weiss, R. L. (1991) Negativity in marital communication: Where's the beef? Behavioral Assessment, 13(1), 1-5.
- Sher, T. G.; Baucom, D. H.; & Larus, J. M.(1990). Communication patterns and response to treatment among depressed and nondepressed maritally distressed couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 4(1), 63-79.