Overview

An alumna of Emory University (89 Ox, 91Emory), Dr. Ali obtained her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Florida and completed her internship at the Gainesville Florida VA, specializing in Neuropsychology and Health Psychology. Returning to Atlanta, she completed a Health Psychology Fellowship at Northside Hospital, working on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, High Risk Pregnancy Unit, and Consult Liaison Service, as well as initiating an Interstitial Cystitis support group and lecturing in the WomenFirst seminar series. In 2002, Dr. Ali pioneered a new program for Kaiser Permanente Georgia, embedding mental health care within Hospitalist teams at two metro Atlanta hospitals, for which she was nominated as Associate Practitioner of the Year in 2004. She spent eight years as a Hospitalist Psychologist, specializing in work with challenging chronically ill inpatient medical populations.

In 2010, Dr. Ali was delighted to return to Emory University, in the School of Medicines Department of Human Genetics. She is currently Director of Psychological Resources for the Genetic Clinical Trials Center, in which she participates in clinical drug trials for conditions such as Down Syndrome, Autism, Fragile X, and Phenylketonuria, as well as conducting her own clinical research into cognitive and psychological manifestations of lysosomal storage diseases and other metabolic disorders. Dr. Ali is also Assistant Director of Emorys Genetic Counseling Masters program, in which she teaches the 1st-year Genetic Counseling Theory & Practice I & II courses, as well as co-coordinating the Standardized Patient Experiences, with an emphasis on training future genetic counselors the counseling skills necessary for compassionate, effective patient interaction and care. She completed the Public Voices Thought Leadership Fellowship through Emorys Center for Women and the OpEd Project, publishing op-eds on mental health in the Washington Post and Talking Points Memo. Dr. Ali has also lectured at conferences, business meetings, webinars and in hospitals on such topics as Compassion Fatigue Care for the Caregiver, Its Not All in Your Head: Dealing with the Psychological Impact of Chronic Conditions, and Genetic Counseling for Chronic Disease A Lifelong Relationship.

Areas of Specialization
-Psychological and neurocognitive aspects of genetic conditions, with emphasis on -Lysosomal Storage Diseases
-Psychosocial and ethical aspects of newborn screening for diseases with late-onset forms
-Psychosocial counseling education and training
-Health Psychology
-Neuropsychology
-Hospitalist Psychology

Professional Memberships
-Southeastern Regional Genetics Group
-Georgia Psychological Association
-National Arab American Medical Association
-Physicians for Human Rights

Honors and Awards
2018 - Paul M Fernhoff Excellence in Teaching Award

Academic Appointment

• Assistant Director, Genetic Counseling Training Program, Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine
• Assistant Professor, Health Psychologist / Neuropsychologist, Human Genetics, Emory School of Medicine
• Director of Psychological Resources, Human Genetics, Emory School of Medicine, Genetic Clinical Trials Center

Education

Research