Mentor - Susan Rosenthal, PhD

Susan L. Rosenthal, PhD, is a Professor of Medical Psychology (in Pediatrics and Psychiatry) at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She is Vice Chair for Faculty Development as well as Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Health in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Rosenthal has over 30 years’ experience as a pediatric psychologist and is an accomplished researcher in the areas of adolescent health, promotion of sexual health, vaccine acceptability, and the acceptability of microbicides.

Dr. Rosenthal received her BA from Wellesley College and her PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed an internship at the University of Maryland and did her postdoctoral training at the Yale Child Study Center. Her first faculty appointment was at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Dr. Rosenthal later served on the faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where she was Director of the Division of Adolescent and Behavioral Health and Director of the Pediatric Department's Office of Faculty Development.

Throughout her career, Dr. Rosenthal has focused on applying psychological and developmental knowledge to the promotion of sexual health as well as the acceptability and implementation of new biomedical interventions that prevent acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Her work has included both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Dr. Rosenthal’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control, industry, and foundations. She has served as an advisor to the World Health Organization regarding the implementation of the HPV vaccine in developing countries. Dr. Rosenthal has published over 250 publications.

In 2009, Dr. Rosenthal was recruited to Columbia to serve as the Vice Chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Pediatrics. In this role, she developed and implemented a faculty development program designed to enable faculty to achieve career advancement and professional satisfaction. She has presented at local and national meetings and published on her work in faculty development. Particular areas of focus pertaining to faculty development include mentoring relationships, leadership development, and wellness/burnout prevention.

As Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Health since 2011, Dr. Rosenthal has overseen the growth of existing programs and the addition of new programs including the creation of a monitored unit, an insurance-based adolescent outpatient program, and a complex care program.