Faculty

Sarah T Stahl, PhD

Sarah T Stahl, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science

Contact Details

3811 O'Hara Street
Pittsburgh
 
PA
 
15213
Email
Website
Aging & Behavioral Rhythms Research Lab

Education & Training

PhD
Developmental Psychology, West Virginia University
Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Professional Affiliations

Member, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
Member, American Psychosomatic Society
Member, Gerontological Society of America

Selected Honors & Awards

Medical Student Research Mentoring Merit Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Early Stage Investigator Award, Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research
Barry Lebowitz Early Career Scientist Award, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
Excellence in Research in the Field of Aging and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh Aging Institute

Research Interests

Geriatric mental health; Social/behavioral rhythms; Lifestyle medicine
Selected Research Publications & Products
  1. Stahl ST, Kincman J, Szanto K. A walk with grief: A personal narrative of coping with the death of a same sex partner in late life. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2025 Sep 20:S1064-7481(25)00480.
  2. Stahl ST, Skidmore E, Kringle E, Shih M, Baum C, Hammel J, Krafty R, Covassin N, Li J, Smagula SF. Rest-activity rhythm characteristics associated with depression symptoms in stroke survivors. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2023; 104(8): 1203-1208.
  3. Stahl ST, Smagula SF, Dew MA, Albert SM, Schulz RA, Reynolds, CF. Digital monitoring of sleep, meals, and physical activity for reducing depression in older spousally-bereaved adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020; 28(10): 1102-1106.
  4. Stahl ST, Beach SR, Musa D, Schulz R. Living alone and depression: The modifying role of the perceived neighborhood environment. Aging Ment Health. 2017; 21: 1065-1071.

Education Interests

Gerontology; Grief support education; Clinical research methodology
Selected Education Publications & Products
  1. Ferguson KA, Reitschuler-Cross EB, Stahl ST. A multimethod examination of medical students' experiences with bereavement and complicated grief. Omega (Westport). 2023 Dec;88(2):668-689. doi: 10.1177/00302228211049678. Epub 2021 Sep 30. PMID: 34590884.

Sarah Stahl, PhD, Elected as a Fellow to the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research

Dr. Sarah Stahl

We are pleased to announce that Sarah Stahl, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Assistant Professor of Clinical and Translational Science), has been elected a fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research (ABMR). The ABMR’s mission is to advance the field of behavioral medicine by creating and disseminating knowledge, cultivating discourse, and inspiring change that culminates in better health for...

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Promotes Sarah Stahl, PhD, to Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Dr. Sarah Stahl

We are delighted to announce that Sarah Stahl, PhD, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Stahl earned her PhD in developmental psychology from West Virginia University. Upon completion of her postdoctoral training in geriatric psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, she joined the Pitt Psychiatry faculty in 2014 as assistant professor. An...

New Research on Predicting Medication Nonadherence in Older Adults with Difficult-to-Treat Depression in the Incomplete Response in Late-Life Depression Getting to Remission Randomized Controlled Trial

Dr. Sarah Stahl

Over 50% of depressed older adults do not achieve remission with first-line antidepressant treatment, and only half of older adults improve with augmentation or switch to another medication. Multiple factors contribute to poor treatment response including incorrect diagnosis, comorbid physical or psychiatric conditions, and somatic symptoms that overlap with other illnesses. Older adults also experience...

Carla Mazefsky, PhD, & Sarah Stahl, PhD, Honored for Medical Student Research Mentorship

Carla Mazefsky, PhD, & Sarah Stahl, PhD, Honored for Mentorship

Congratulations to Carla Mazefsky, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology), & Sarah Stahl, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science), who have received Medical Student Research Mentoring Merit Awards from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Research Mentoring Merit Awards recognize outstanding Longitudinal Research Project mentorship of graduating...