Cathrin D. Green, PhD

I specialize in treating children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with a particular focus on supporting racially marginalized families. As a researcher, my ultimate goal is to dismantle barriers to ADHD treatment and deliver culturally relevant, high-quality interventions in convenient and accessible settings. I’m also committed to addressing diversity, equity and inclusion on both small and large scales. I serve on the Diversity Committee for the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology.

My interest in this work stems from my own experience. I have witnessed and faced the challenges that children with ADHD encounter when trying to access the support they need. Through my collaboration with parents and professionals in clinical, educational and community settings, I became deeply interested in exploring how systemic factors affect the effectiveness of these interventions for youth with ADHD. These barriers often include a lack of understanding and awareness about the condition and limited resources, making it difficult for children to receive timely assessments and interventions. These experiences have fueled my passion for addressing these systemic barriers and advocating for more equitable access to care for children with ADHD, particularly in marginalized communities.

My research broadly focuses on ADHD in Black adolescents, with a particular emphasis on understanding how they navigate the world and their experiences in managing and treating their condition. I’m deeply committed to developing culturally competent interventions that incorporate protective factors such as racial socialization and community support, aiming to promote equitable health outcomes for Black teens with ADHD. Guided by a strengths-based, social justice approach, my work amplifies the voices of Black youth with ADHD and their families, advocating for mental health equity and fostering positive change.

I was honored with the Arnold W. Strauss Postdoctoral Award (2024), which funds my research project on understanding the barriers to managing ADHD in Black teens. This award is designed to support meritorious postdoctoral fellows by providing research funds that help pave the way for sustained research and extramural funding throughout and after postdoctoral training. Additionally, I was selected as a recipient of a two-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Award (2024) from the National Institute of Mental Health.