Allison E. Gaffey, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)DownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Appointments
Cardiovascular Medicine
Primary
Contact Info
About
Copy Link
Titles
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)
Biography
Allison E. Gaffey, Ph.D. is a clinical health psychologist within the Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, and a clinician investigator in cardiovascular medicine and women's health at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. Her research concerns the contributions of nontraditional factors - stress, sleep, trauma, and social determinants of health - to incident hypertension, cardiovascular disease and prognosis, comorbid psychiatric conditions, the pathophysiology underlying this risk, and determining associations that are unique to women. Other translational interests include developing and testing the efficacy and effectiveness of behavioral and integrated care interventions to improve cardiovascular health, related outcomes, and quality of life. Her clinical practice is focused on providing psychological and behavioral health services, education, and support to preventive and integrated care initiatives in cardiology.
Last Updated on May 15, 2025.
Appointments
Cardiovascular Medicine
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Advanced Fellowship in Women's Health (Research)
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System (2020)
- Clinical Fellowship
- Rush University Medical Center (2018)
- PhD
- University of Notre Dame
- Predoctoral Residency
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University (2016)
- MA
- University of Notre Dame (2012)
- BA
- University of Connecticut (2006)
Research
Copy Link
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Anxiety; Blood Pressure; Depression; Emotions; Heart Diseases; Hypertension; Psychophysiology; Sleep; Social Determinants of Health; Social Support; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress, Physiological; Stress, Psychological
Public Health Interests
Behavioral Health; Cardiovascular Diseases; Mental Health; Women's Health
ORCID
0000-0002-2960-2772
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Allison E. Gaffey's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Allison E. Gaffey's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Allison E. Gaffey is interested in exploring.
Matthew Burg, PhD
Sally Haskell, MD
Lori Bastian, MD, MPH
Cynthia Brandt, MD, MPH
Melissa Skanderson, MSW
James Dziura, MPH, PhD
55Publications
1,007Citations
Hypertension
Stress, Psychological
Anxiety
Sleep
Blood Pressure
Depression
Publications
Featured Publications
The Yale Roadmap for Health Psychology and Integrated Cardiovascular Care
Gaffey AE, Harris KM, Mena-Hurtado C, Sinha R, Jacoby DL, Smolderen KG. The Yale Roadmap for Health Psychology and Integrated Cardiovascular Care. Health Psychology 2022, 41: 779-791. PMID: 35201804, DOI: 10.1037/hea0001152.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricScreening for Psychological Distress and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Related Mortality
Gaffey AE, Gathright EC, Fletcher LM, Goldstein CM. Screening for Psychological Distress and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Related Mortality. Journal Of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation And Prevention 2022, 42: 404-415. PMID: 36342683, PMCID: PMC9646240, DOI: 10.1097/hcr.0000000000000751.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMilitary sexual trauma and incident hypertension: a 16-year cohort study of young and middle-aged men and women
Gaffey AE, Rosman L, Sico JJ, Haskell SG, Brandt CA, Bathulapalli H, Han L, Dziura J, Skanderson M, Burg MM. Military sexual trauma and incident hypertension: a 16-year cohort study of young and middle-aged men and women. Journal Of Hypertension 2022, 40: 2307-2315. PMID: 35983872, DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003267.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricIntensive Behavioral Counseling in Cardiovascular Care Opportunities to Improve Health Equity
Vela A, Gaffey A, Carroll A, Cavanagh C, Brewer L, Hayman L, Burg M. Intensive Behavioral Counseling in Cardiovascular Care Opportunities to Improve Health Equity. JACC Advances 2023, 2: 100678. PMID: 38938497, PMCID: PMC11198138, DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100678.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersCitationsAltmetricInsomnia and Early Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A 16‐Year Cohort Study of Younger Men and Women Veterans
Gaffey A, Rosman L, Lampert R, Yaggi H, Haskell S, Brandt C, Enriquez A, Mazzella A, Skanderson M, Burg M. Insomnia and Early Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A 16‐Year Cohort Study of Younger Men and Women Veterans. Journal Of The American Heart Association 2023, 12: e030331. PMID: 37791503, PMCID: PMC10757545, DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.030331.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricStrengthening the Pillars of Cardiovascular Health: Psychological Health is a Crucial Component
Gaffey A, Rollman B, Burg M. Strengthening the Pillars of Cardiovascular Health: Psychological Health is a Crucial Component. Circulation 2024, 149: 641-643. PMID: 38408143, PMCID: PMC10924771, DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.066132.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricOptimizing Psychological Health Across the Perinatal Period: An Update on Maternal Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Sharma G, Gaffey A, Hameed A, Kasparian N, Mauricio R, Marsh E, Beck D, Skowronski J, Wolfe D, Levine G, Research T. Optimizing Psychological Health Across the Perinatal Period: An Update on Maternal Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Journal Of The American Heart Association 2025, 14: e041369. PMID: 39996493, PMCID: PMC12132617, DOI: 10.1161/jaha.125.041369.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricClosing the Gap: Digital Innovations to Address Hypertension Disparities
Shanab B, Gaffey A, Schwamm L, Zawalich M, Sarpong D, Pérez-Escamilla R, Dorney J, Cooperman C, Schafer R, Lipkind H, Lu Y, Onuma O, Spatz E. Closing the Gap: Digital Innovations to Address Hypertension Disparities. Current Cardiology Reports 2025, 27: 23. PMID: 39812880, PMCID: PMC12919887, DOI: 10.1007/s11886-024-02171-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2026
Beyond the apnea-hypopnea index: Precision cardiovascular risk stratification in obstructive sleep apnea
Gaffey A, Moura F. Beyond the apnea-hypopnea index: Precision cardiovascular risk stratification in obstructive sleep apnea. American Journal Of Preventive Cardiology 2026, 101690. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpc.2026.101690.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersAltmetricHypertension Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Management for Post‐9/11 US Veterans
Chang T, Lichtman J, Brandt C, Jackson S, He S, Haskell S, Gaffey A. Hypertension Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Management for Post‐9/11 US Veterans. Journal Of The American Heart Association 2026, 15: e045830. PMID: 42017325, PMCID: PMC13279121, DOI: 10.1161/jaha.125.045830.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Copy Link
Activities
activity American Journal of Preventive Medicine
2020 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Health Psychology
2018 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Psychosomatic Medicine
2018 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention
2021 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Journal of the American College of Cardiology
2023 - PresentJournal ServiceReviewer
Honors
honor Excellence in Health Psychology Research by an Early Career Professional Award
06/18/2025National AwardSociety for Health Psychology/American Psychological AssociationDetailsUnited Stateshonor Fellow
03/13/2024National AwardAmerican Heart Associationhonor Early Stage Investigator Award
06/09/2023International AwardAcademy of Behavioral Medicine ResearchDetailsCanadahonor Research Recognition Award
07/26/2021National AwardAmerican Heart Association, Hypertension Scientific Sessions, Trainee Advocacy CommitteeDetailsUnited Stateshonor Young Investigators Research Fellow
08/18/2020National AwardAmerican Academy of Sleep MedicineDetailsUnited States
News & Links
Copy Link
News
- August 21, 2026Source: Real Simple Online (with Allison Gaffey, PhD)
8 Habits That Seem Healthy-But Could Be Doing More Harm Than Good, According to Longevity Experts
- June 17, 2026Source: Health.com (with Allison Gaffey, PhD)
Why Going to Bed at the Same Time Every Night Is So Good for Your Heart Health and Mood
- March 27, 2026Source: WTNH-TV (with Allison Gaffey, PhD)
How your mental health and sleep can impact your heart health
- March 08, 2026Source: Newsweek (with Allison Gaffey, PhD)
Top 3 'Healthy' Habits That Can Worsen Anxiety-Psychiatrist Warns
Get In Touch
Copy Link