1. JOEL EPSTEIN, PhD
(314) 322-0698 • joel.epstein@mimh.edu
Overview
• Joel Epstein is a research associate professor who has received numerous local, state, and federal
grants to develop innovative technology-based educational programs to teach students about drug
addiction. His areas of expertise include curriculum design, program development, and outcomes
evaluation. Dr. Epstein has a PhD in clinical/community psychology and is licensed in the state of
Missouri. He has an active interest in the intersection of technology and behavioral health. To that
end, he has developed a number of therapeutic smartphone applications.
Expertise
• Curriculum Design
- Developing educational programs and aligning them to state and national curriculum guidelines
• Program Development
- Creating interactive online and video-based learning courses for both adults and children
• Outcomes Evaluation
- Analyzing program outcomes using both qualitative and quantitative methods
• Stakeholder Engagement
- Involving key players in the development of new interventions
• Copy Editing
- Proofreading and editing professional documents including grant applications and video scripts
• Grants Management
- Managing all aspects of large-scale projects including writing, budgeting, executing, and evaluating
• Junior Faculty Mentorship
- Instructing junior faculty in the art of grantsmanship
• Script Writing
- Writing scripts for both video and narrated audio programs
• Mobile App Creation
- Authoring game-based smart-phone applications for both entertainment and therapeutic purposes
Professional Experience
• Research Associate Professor 2003 to present
• Research Assistant Professor 1993 to 2003
Missouri Institute of Mental Health
Education
• Post-Doctoral Fellow, Computer Applications for Mental Health 1992 to 1993
Missouri Institute of Mental Health
• PhD, Clinical-Community Psychology 1988 to 1992
University of South Carolina
• BA, Psychology 1984 to 1988
University of Kansas

2. Grant Funding
• Principal Investigator for three separate four-year awards from the National Institute on Drug Addiction
totaling over two and a half million dollars
• Recipient of numerous other awards for the development of interactive educational programs
Publications
• Over a dozen first-authored peer-reviewed manuscripts
• Family Writes – handbook of interactive family communication exercises published by Capital Books
Honors
• 2009 NIDA application selected for inclusion in University of Missouri’s “Model Proposal” portfolio
• 1996 Top 100 Multimedia Producers, A/V Video - Multimedia Producer Magazine
• 1994 Outstanding Scientist Award from Missouri Alliance for Mentally Ill
Professional Accreditation
• Licensed clinical psychologist, MO#1616
Service
• Ad-hoc member of several National Institute of Health study sections; responsible for reviewing
federal grant applications; 2002 to present
Presentations
• Dozens of invited talks on behavioral health and technology at local, state, and national conferences
Program Development
• Behavioral health applications for mobile devices:
- Suicide Lifeguard; for first responders dealing with individuals who express suicidal intent
- Bridges to Sobriety; for teens in treatment for problems with substance abuse
- Pain Retreat; for children with undiagnosed head and chest pain
• Educational interventions to teach students about substance abuse
- Bacon Brains; video games featuring robotic pigs
- The Doubles; scripted interactive adventures featuring an up-and-coming pop band
- LockerTalk; workbook and multimedia presentation featuring animated sports equipment
• Additional multimedia interventions
- Sandwich Generation Diner; online video dramas to support women caring for elderly family members
- Cracking The Skull; interactive film noir mysteries to teach students about brain disease and trauma
- Mental Health Studios; exhibit about mental illness for the St. Louis Science Center
• Other software
- Educational games for C64, Android, and iOS
- Psychological-based assessments
- Web-based surveying tools