Author: Sylvie Naar

Sylvie Naar, Ph D, is Distinguished Endowed Professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at the Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine. She is also Founding Director of FSU”s Center for Translational Behavioral Science. She is trained as a pediatric health psychologist and has conducted health disparities research with minority youth since the 1990s. With over 160 publications, Dr. Naar has both clinical and research expertise in behavioral interventions for youth living with HIV, focusing on adherence to medications, adherence to appointments, substance use, and sexual risk. A member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), she has provided numerous trainings to agencies and treatment organizations nationally and internationally, with particular emphasis on MI with adolescents and young adults. Mariann Suarez, Ph D, ABPP, is Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Education at the University of South Florida Health, Morsani College of Medicine. Dr. Suarez is a community–clinical and pediatric psychologist, with specialization in child abuse and neglect and board certification in behavioral and cognitive psychology. She served on the American Board of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology and publishes on the use of MI in the treatment of substance use problems, neurocognitive developmental issues, and parenting concerns. A member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) for decades, she provides training nationally and internationally, with particular interests in teaching health care and community providers to use MI and evidence-based practices with adolescents and young adults.