Dr. Margaret Sala

Rebecca Berg

Graduate Student

Rebecca is a first-year student in Ferkauf's Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She previously graduated from the University of Richmond with a BA in Psychology and PPEL (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law). Since graduation, she has been working at a residential treatment center for individuals with eating disorders.  Her research interests broadly include the development of coping skills and maladaptive behaviors in the context of PTSD, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, seeing live music, and spending time outdoors.

Sofia Coll

Graduate Student

Sofia Coll is a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology Psy. D. program at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. She has completed a one-year placement as an extern at Baruch College Counseling Center and is currently a neuropsychology extern at Cornell Neurosurgery. She also works as a student clinician at The Max and Celia Parnes Family Psychological and Psychoeducational Services Clinic in the Bronx. Her research interests focus on understanding the intersection of trauma and eating disorders. She is looking forward to joining the MEAL lab to begin working on her RPII (dissertation).

Danielle L. Kahn

Graduate Student

Danielle is a first-year student in Ferkauf's Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She graduated in 2019 from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in Psychology and Educational Studies. During her undergraduate experience, she was a Research Assistant and Data analyst at the Weight Management and Eating Disorder Program with a focus on how Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) can be used as a premiere form of treatment for Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. Post-graduation, Danielle was a Clinical Psychology Research Coordinator in the Eating Disorder Clinical and Research Program and Neuroendocrine Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School where she supported research investigating the homeostatic and hedonic food motivation pathways underlying Eating Disorder trajectories. Specifically, how the course of eating disorders relate to food motivation pathways in the brain through resonance imaging (MRI), psychological assessments, and evaluation of hormones in the blood that influence feelings of hunger and satiety. Her research and clinical interests broadly include eating disorders, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and suicide. In particular, Danielle is interested in mindfulness-based interventions for Anorexia Nervosa, the complexity that distinguishes Anorexia Nervosa from Atypical Anorexia Nervosa, and treatment/recovery. In her free time, Danielle is a certified Yoga Instructor and loves reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Madeline Schupak

Graduate Student

Madeline is a first-year student in Ferkauf's Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She graduated in 2021 from Tulane University with a B.S. in Psychology and two minors in both Spanish and Music. During her undergraduate experience, she interned at Children's National Medical Center's Donald Delaney Eating Disorder Clinic. Her research interests generally include eating disorders, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, the effects of COVID-19 on the aforementioned disorders, and mindfulness. In her free time, she enjoys singing, writing, and spending time with friends.

Ayelet Schechter

Graduate Student

Ayelet is a first-year student in Ferkauf's Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She previously graduated from Yeshiva University with a BA in Psychology and Studio Art. Since graduation, she has been working as a clinical/treatment coordinator at an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in a behavioral health clinic which provides high-level care to high-risk patients struggling with interpersonal difficulties, emotional dysregulation disorders, and other comorbid disorders. She has helped create an effective way of tracking clients progress throughout treatment and has worked to use this information to create the most effective treatment for each client. Ayelet’s research interests broadly include eating disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders and effective treatments for each of these disorders. She is also particularly interested in studying early intervention for Anorexia Nervosa and identifying as well as tracking the development of this disorder. In her free time, Ayelet enjoys painting, traveling, hiking, and sports.

Joshua Plutchik

Research and Marketing Assistant

Joshua is a third-year undergraduate student at New York University studying psychology and media. He has long been captivated by the workings of the mind, from both a neurobiological and psychological standpoint. He intends to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology. His areas of research interests include mood and anxiety disorders, working with LGBTQIA+ adolescents and adults, mindfulness-based interventions, and trauma. Joshua is also passionate about portrait and landscape photography and videography. He hopes to contribute to the burgeoning utilization of technology to assist in evidence-based psychological interventions to increase access to at-risk populations.

Meredith Zoltan

Research Assistant

Meredith graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Marketing and Finance in 2015. Having an interest in third wave psychology that focuses on mindfulness and behavior, Meredith is currently in the process of a career change. Meredith plans to attend a PsyD program starting in the Fall of 2023 with the intention of integrating psychoanalytic approaches with current mindful practices learned through her work within Dr. Sala’s Mindfulness Lab. In her free time, you can find Meredith running, practicing yoga, giving her dog too many kisses and trying new restaurants!