Dr. Karen Matthews is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Epidemiology, Psychology, and Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh, where she has served as the Program Director of the Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Research Training Program since 1983. Her work addresses the psychosocial and biological pathways connecting sociodemographic factors and poor health; development of cardiovascular behavioral risk factors in childhood and adolescence; the influence of menopause on women’s health; and the role of stress-induced physiological responses and sleep in the etiology of heart disease and hypertension. Dr. Matthews has published extensively. Her work has been cited approximately 57,000 times and she has an H index of 129.  Dr. Matthews is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.  She has previously served as Editor-in-Chief of Health Psychology, and as President of the American Psychosomatic Society and the Health Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association (APA).  In recognition of her significant contributions to the field and accomplishments, Dr. Matthews has been presented with numerous awards including the 2005 American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology, and awards from the American Heart Association, APA Health Psychology and Pediatric Psychology Divisions, Society of Behavioral Medicine, North American Menopause Society, American Psychosomatic Society, and the Association of Psychological Science.  

Location: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Auditorium

For More Information: Please contact Frances Patrick (patrickfm@upmc.edu)

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this lecture, participants will be able to:

1. Define the menopausal transition.

2. Recognize which systems are likely to be impacted by the menopausal transition.  

3. Evaluate data on symptoms, depression, and cardiovascular risk factors as they impact progression of subclinical cardiovascular disease during the transition.  

Continuing Education Credit:  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Other health care professionals are awarded .15 continuing education units (CEUs), which are equal to 1.5 contact hours. In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials which will be distributed at the time of the conference. WPIC is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. WPIC maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. This program is being offered for 1.5 continuing education credits.