IHPS Grand Rounds: Development of the SPANYA Trial: How a Qualitative Health Disparities Researcher came to Run a Clinical Trial of Psilocybin to Treat Anorexia Nervosa

Marissa Raymond-Flesch, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor in the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies (IHPS) and the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics. Clinically she practices Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine with patients 12 to 26 years old, including treatment of depression, anxiety and eating disorders; providing all types of contraception; and providing primary care for patients with complex medical and mental health conditions. Her research focuses on access to care for adolescents and young adults with a particular interest in improving mental health and reproductive health care for minority and rural communities.  She is currently designing a clinical trial to test the use of psilocybin-assisted  therapy for the treatment of anorexia nervosa in young adults.  She is especially interested in using community-based participatory research to design meaningful research projects and create health inventions that communities want and need.