Dr. Lekeisha A. Sumner, PhD

Lekeisha Sumner, PhD, ABPP is a licensed clinical psychologist (CA # 22665) with board-certification in Clinical Health Psychology. With expertise in both Clinical and Health Psychology, Dr. Sumner formerly served as the Director of Health Psychology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is currently on Clinical Faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science at UCLA. Her research, which examines the role of cultural, bio-behavioral, and psycho-social factors in health and well-being among women and ethnic minorities, has been supported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse and National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Sumner is an active member of the American Psychological Association, where she currently serves as the President of the Clinical Psychology of Women Section in the Division of Society of Clinical Psychology.

Dr. Sumner has authored or co-authored more than fifty publications, book chapters, and professional conference presentations, largely on women's health, trauma, behavioral health, chronic illness, and African American mental health. Noted for her ability to distill and translate complex scientific findings and psychological knowledge in an understandable and applicable manner, she has been a featured expert on behavioral and psychological health across media platforms, including Ebony Magazine, WedMD, KJLH Radio, Think Progress, and Prevention.

Sub-specialties: Trauma and Violence Against Women, Racism and discrimination among African Americans, Chronic Illness, Health Disparities, Women's Health, Depression, Behavioral Change