Biographical summary
Dr. Ames is board certified in Clinical Health Psychology and a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida. She holds the academic rank of Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida where she teaches undergraduate Health Psychology. Dr. Ames joined the staff at Mayo Clinic in Florida in 2007 as the psychologist for the bariatric surgery program. Her clinical duties include performing psychological evaluations for patients who are seeking surgical options for treatment of obesity. She also teaches pre-surgery education classes and provides individual treatment for co-morbid conditions like depression and problematic eating behaviors. Dr. Ames facilities post-surgery support groups and conducts clinical research. She has received several Mayo Clinic intramural grants and published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles. She has presented her research and has been an invited speaker for national and international meetings of The Obesity Society, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and Society for Behavioral Medicine. She has also served on committees in national organizations and serves as an ad hoc reviewer for multiple
peer-reviewed journals in the field of obesity and bariatric surgery as well as a practice sample reviewer for American Board of Professional Psychology.
Conditions treated
Interests
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2007
Externship - Postdoctoral ExternshipDepartment of Psychiatry & Psychology
- 2005
PhD - Clinical PsychologyUniversity of Florida
- 1998
MS - Clinical PsychologyNorth Dakota State University
- 1996
BA - PsychologyUniversity of North Dakota
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2010
Clinical Health PsychologyAmerican Board of Professional Psychology
Awards and honors
- 2013
Excellence in Peer ReviewingEating Behaviors
- 2004
College of Public Health and Health Professions Outstanding ResearchUniversity of Florida
- 2002
Research Travel AwardGraduate Student Council, University of Florida
- 2001
Research Travel AwardGraduate Student Council, University of Florida
- 1997
Research Travel AwardNorth Dakota State University
- 1996
Summa Cum LaudeUniversity of North Dakota
Professional memberships
- 2020 - present
Peer Nominated MemberObesity Specialty Council
- 2017 - present
Superuser for go-liveEpic Superuser
- 2016 - present
MemberAmerican Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
- 2014 - 2017
MemberThe Obesity Society Education Committee
- 2013 - present
FacultyHealth Sciences Institute
- 2011 - 2013
MemberThe Obesity Society Membership Committee
- 2010 - present
Reviewer and MemberAmerican Board of Professional Psychology
- 2009 - present
MemberThe Obesity Society (NAASO)
- 2006 - 2007
MemberSociety of Behavioral Medicine
- 2005 - 2007
MemberMaster of Arts in Counseling Psychology Faculty Committee, Department of Psychology, University of North Florida
- 2005 - 2006
MemberSociety for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
- 2005 - 2006
MemberAmerican Psychological Association
Publications