Karen A. Matthews
Karen A. Matthews is an American psychiatrist and psychologist. She is currently the Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Epidemiology, Psychology, and Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Matthews is known for her contributions to health psychology, including research on the epidemiology and experimental manipulation of behavior concerning cardiovascular disease, early signs of coronary heart disease risk in children, women’s health and menopause and the connection between socioeconomic status and health. Education. Matthews received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California at Berkley in 1968. In 1971, she received a master 's degree in psychology from California State University at San Jose. She received a PhD in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976. Career. Matthews has served as a Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Epidemiology, Psychology, and Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh since 2009. She also works at the university as a professor of psychology and epidemiology. Matthews is the program director for the university's Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Research Training Program, which she started. She leads the Pittsburgh chapter of the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). From 1973 through  1978, Matthews held instructor and research associate positions at the University of Texas at Austin and Kansas State University. She has also served as: president of the Division of Health Psychology and the American Psychosomatic Society; a member of Council of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and the Advisory Board for the NIH Center for Scientific Research; and editor-in-chief of "Health Psychology". She was also director of the Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center.