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Shana D Stites
78Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
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Research Associate , Population Aging Research Center (PARC), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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Department: Psychiatry
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Contact information
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Ralston House, Suite 214
33 3615 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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33 3615 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Fax: 215-573-8684
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Education:
21 9 B.S. 20 (Pre-Med, Psychology) c
3c Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA , 2000.
21 9 M.A. 16 (Sociology) c
39 Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 2004.
21 9 M.S. 17 (Psychology) c
40 Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA, 2008.
21 b Psy.D. 17 (Psychology) c
40 Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA, 2012.
21 8 --- 1b (Aging Research) c
3d NIA Butler-Williams Scholars Program, 2020.
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21 9 B.S. 20 (Pre-Med, Psychology) c
3c Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA , 2000.
21 9 M.A. 16 (Sociology) c
39 Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 2004.
21 9 M.S. 17 (Psychology) c
40 Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA, 2008.
21 b Psy.D. 17 (Psychology) c
40 Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA, 2012.
21 8 --- 1b (Aging Research) c
3d NIA Butler-Williams Scholars Program, 2020.
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Post-Graduate Training
24 4b Clinical Internship, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 1b , 2011-2012.
24 4b Research Fellow, Alzheimer’s Association, 2017-Present.
24 70 Scholar, Christopher M. Clark Scholars at the Penn Memory Center, Philadelphia, PA, 2017-2020.
24 92 Postgraduate Clinical Trainee, Department of Neurology, Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2018-2019.
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Permanent link24 4b Clinical Internship, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 1b , 2011-2012.
24 4b Research Fellow, Alzheimer’s Association, 2017-Present.
24 70 Scholar, Christopher M. Clark Scholars at the Penn Memory Center, Philadelphia, PA, 2017-2020.
24 92 Postgraduate Clinical Trainee, Department of Neurology, Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2018-2019.
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164 pathology as well as their family members. As part of this work, Dr. Stites has a special focus on better understanding how aspects of identity, such as age, gender, and race, operate as determinants in the disease experience. Understanding these features of the disease experience may offer insights into disease-mechanisms and into development of
3e interventions that help limit burdens of the disease.
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2bc Dr. Stites is a graduate of the National Institute on Aging’s (NIA’s) Butler-Williams Scholars Program, has a master’s of arts in sociology from Lehigh University, and earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from Chestnut Hill College with a concentration in psychological assessment and special focus on the role of multicultural diversity in clinical practice and representation in research. Dr. Stites clinical training includes completion of a doctoral internship at Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA and post-doctoral training in the Penn Memory Center and Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
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Description of Research Expertise
21c Shana D. Stites, PsyD, MA, MS, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. As a clinical psychologist and researcher with the Penn Project on Precision Medicine for the Brain (P3MB), Dr. Stites’ research focuses on advancing diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease dementia. The goal is to understand ways to promote quality of life and psychological wellbeing. This includes understanding the impacts of the disease on individuals who may be directly affected by164 pathology as well as their family members. As part of this work, Dr. Stites has a special focus on better understanding how aspects of identity, such as age, gender, and race, operate as determinants in the disease experience. Understanding these features of the disease experience may offer insights into disease-mechanisms and into development of
3e interventions that help limit burdens of the disease.
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2bc Dr. Stites is a graduate of the National Institute on Aging’s (NIA’s) Butler-Williams Scholars Program, has a master’s of arts in sociology from Lehigh University, and earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from Chestnut Hill College with a concentration in psychological assessment and special focus on the role of multicultural diversity in clinical practice and representation in research. Dr. Stites clinical training includes completion of a doctoral internship at Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA and post-doctoral training in the Penn Memory Center and Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
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20b Arce Rentería, M., Strangmann, I., Ghazi Saidi, L., Subina, M., Paplikar, A., Dash, T., Costa, A. S., Lahiri, D., Page, Z., Bose, A., Ahmed, S., Stites, S. D., D'Souza, A., Ellajosyula, R., Franzen, S., Alladi, S., de Leon, J., Calabria, M., Tee, B. L., Babulal, G. M., & Grasso, S. : Deconstructing bilingualism and its sociocultural determinants in cognitive aging and ADRD. Alzheimer's Dement 22: e71393, April 2026 Notes: DOI: 10.1002/alz.71393.
17e Stites SD, Kuz C, Harkins K, Sankar P, Coe NB, & Mittelman M.: Effects of Caregiving Experience on Expectations of Becoming an Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver in the Future. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 81(4), April 2026 Notes: DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbag031.
139 Stites SD, Dedhia M, & Kuz C.: Predictors of Extreme Future Time Perspective Change in Persons who Learn an Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker Test Result. Aging & Mental Health Page: 1-17, March 2026 Notes: doi: 10.1080/13607863.2026.2643904.
1ac Stites SD, Lee DS, Kuz C, Humphreys V, Streitz ML, Xie SX, Flatt J, Glover CM, & Mechanic-Hamilton D.: Repeated Administration of Social and Structural Determinants of Health (SSDOH) Questions in an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center*: The Aging Brain Study (ABC) Life Experience Survey. Sage Open Aging March 2026 Notes: Doi:10.1177/30495334261430788.
167 Stites SD, Dedhia M, Harkins K, Karlawish J, Langbaum JB, Mather M, & Barber SJ.: Learning about a heightened genetic risk for dementia: Anticipated stigma is greater than experienced stigma. Psychology and Aging Advance online publication, February 2026 Notes: DOI: 10.1037/pag0000970.
1a7 Britt KC, Dong F, Hamilton JB, Massimo LM, Hodgson NA, Mechanic-Hamilton D. & Stites SD.: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Change in Church Activity with Cognitive, Functional, and Mental Health Among Black and White Older Adults Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders EXTRA Advance online publication., February 2026 Notes: DOI: 10.1159/000551303.
47c Shaaban, C. E., Suryadevara, V., Hill, A. V., Milani, S. A., Agarwal, P., Aggarwal, N. T., Akinyemi, R. O., Alladi, S., Brown, M. J., Caldwell, J. Z. K., Caramelli, P., DuBose, L., Ellajosyula, R., Esiaka, D. K., Gibson, A., Griffith, P., Harper, J., Karanja, W., Li, W., Llibre-Guerra, J. J., Loi, S. M., Mielke, M. M., Molina-Henry, D. P., Ogunniyi, A., Pudumjee, S., Stites, S. D., Sundermann, E., Turner, A. D., Vila-Castelar, C., Viswanathan, J., Trani, J-F., Babulal, G. M., Diversity and Disparities Professional Interest Area’s Low- and Middle-Income Countries Work Group of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART), Diversity and Disparities Professional Interest Area’s Sex and Gender Special Interest Group of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART): The Population Neuroscience-Dementia Syndemics Framework to better understand global sex and gender-based risk in low- and middle-income countries. Nature Aging 6: 38-55, January 2026 Notes: Doi:10.1038/s43587-025-01035-5.
161 Britt KC, Dong F, Massimo LM, Hamilton JB, Hodgson NA, Stites SD. & Mechanic-Hamilton D.: The Association of Spirituality & Memory in Older Black and White U.S. Adults. Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging 38(1): 1-15, January 2026 Notes: doi: 10.1080/15528030.2025.2590770.
13b Stites SD, Schumann R, Shi Y, Mechanic-Hamilton D, Wolk DA, & for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative: Depression and Anxiety Modify Cognitive Concerns Associated with Amyloid and Early Clinical Impairment. Neuropsychology 2026.
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Selected Publications
164 Stites SD, Kuz C, Largent EA, Harkins K, Krieger A, Sankar P, Barber SJ.: Four Common Beliefs About Patient Memory Evaluations: Who Has Them and What Modifies Them? American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias ® 41: 1-15, May 2026 Notes: DOI: 10.1177/15333175261447038.20b Arce Rentería, M., Strangmann, I., Ghazi Saidi, L., Subina, M., Paplikar, A., Dash, T., Costa, A. S., Lahiri, D., Page, Z., Bose, A., Ahmed, S., Stites, S. D., D'Souza, A., Ellajosyula, R., Franzen, S., Alladi, S., de Leon, J., Calabria, M., Tee, B. L., Babulal, G. M., & Grasso, S. : Deconstructing bilingualism and its sociocultural determinants in cognitive aging and ADRD. Alzheimer's Dement 22: e71393, April 2026 Notes: DOI: 10.1002/alz.71393.
17e Stites SD, Kuz C, Harkins K, Sankar P, Coe NB, & Mittelman M.: Effects of Caregiving Experience on Expectations of Becoming an Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver in the Future. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 81(4), April 2026 Notes: DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbag031.
139 Stites SD, Dedhia M, & Kuz C.: Predictors of Extreme Future Time Perspective Change in Persons who Learn an Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker Test Result. Aging & Mental Health Page: 1-17, March 2026 Notes: doi: 10.1080/13607863.2026.2643904.
1ac Stites SD, Lee DS, Kuz C, Humphreys V, Streitz ML, Xie SX, Flatt J, Glover CM, & Mechanic-Hamilton D.: Repeated Administration of Social and Structural Determinants of Health (SSDOH) Questions in an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center*: The Aging Brain Study (ABC) Life Experience Survey. Sage Open Aging March 2026 Notes: Doi:10.1177/30495334261430788.
167 Stites SD, Dedhia M, Harkins K, Karlawish J, Langbaum JB, Mather M, & Barber SJ.: Learning about a heightened genetic risk for dementia: Anticipated stigma is greater than experienced stigma. Psychology and Aging Advance online publication, February 2026 Notes: DOI: 10.1037/pag0000970.
1a7 Britt KC, Dong F, Hamilton JB, Massimo LM, Hodgson NA, Mechanic-Hamilton D. & Stites SD.: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Change in Church Activity with Cognitive, Functional, and Mental Health Among Black and White Older Adults Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders EXTRA Advance online publication., February 2026 Notes: DOI: 10.1159/000551303.
47c Shaaban, C. E., Suryadevara, V., Hill, A. V., Milani, S. A., Agarwal, P., Aggarwal, N. T., Akinyemi, R. O., Alladi, S., Brown, M. J., Caldwell, J. Z. K., Caramelli, P., DuBose, L., Ellajosyula, R., Esiaka, D. K., Gibson, A., Griffith, P., Harper, J., Karanja, W., Li, W., Llibre-Guerra, J. J., Loi, S. M., Mielke, M. M., Molina-Henry, D. P., Ogunniyi, A., Pudumjee, S., Stites, S. D., Sundermann, E., Turner, A. D., Vila-Castelar, C., Viswanathan, J., Trani, J-F., Babulal, G. M., Diversity and Disparities Professional Interest Area’s Low- and Middle-Income Countries Work Group of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART), Diversity and Disparities Professional Interest Area’s Sex and Gender Special Interest Group of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART): The Population Neuroscience-Dementia Syndemics Framework to better understand global sex and gender-based risk in low- and middle-income countries. Nature Aging 6: 38-55, January 2026 Notes: Doi:10.1038/s43587-025-01035-5.
161 Britt KC, Dong F, Massimo LM, Hamilton JB, Hodgson NA, Stites SD. & Mechanic-Hamilton D.: The Association of Spirituality & Memory in Older Black and White U.S. Adults. Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging 38(1): 1-15, January 2026 Notes: doi: 10.1080/15528030.2025.2590770.
13b Stites SD, Schumann R, Shi Y, Mechanic-Hamilton D, Wolk DA, & for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative: Depression and Anxiety Modify Cognitive Concerns Associated with Amyloid and Early Clinical Impairment. Neuropsychology 2026.
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