Clinical Assistant Professor
Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School
Newark, New Jersey
Dr. Pamela Valera is a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Valera received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of San Francisco, an MSW from the University of Michigan, and a PhD in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. In addition to her academic background, Dr. Valera completed a three-year NIMH T32 postdoctoral research fellowship in HIV Prevention and Human Sexuality at the Columbia University/New York Psychiatric Institute, as well as clinical training in cancer health from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and also an NHLBI R25 Program to Increase Diversity among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (PRIDE) fellowship from SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
Dr. Valera’s research focuses on the drivers of health inequities in marginalized groups, including people living with HIV, those at risk for HIV, people involved in the criminal justice system, and the health and wellbeing of correctional professionals. She uses community engagement methods to explore health behaviors and health promotion strategies to reduce the detrimental effects of incarceration.
G15 - Mental Health First Aid for Corrections Professionals
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM MDT