Dr. S. Thaddeus Connelly, research fellow, received a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Columbia University in
New York, completed an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency, obtained a Medical Degree and Ph.D. from
the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Connelly is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an
actively practicing, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with a clinical subspecialty in treating temporomandibular disorders.
He has been involved in pain research throughout his clinical training, however, his doctoral studies
focused on investigating how the stromal tumor microenvironment contributes to the development
and aggressiveness of human oral squamous cell carcinoma. This is work that evolved from his interest
in oral cancer related pain.
Research Focus
Dr. Connelly is currently taking a clinical approach to investigating the mechanisms that generate and maintain
chronic pain conditions such as temporomandibular disorder and their relationship to Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder. The long-term goal of this research is to develop clinical protocols that can successfully intervene and
lessen the impact of these often co-morbid conditions.
Sergio Garcia, POinT Study Coordinator
Sergio Garcia is a research coordinator for the Emotion and Pain Laboratory. He received his Bachelor’s degree in
Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley.
Research Focus
He is interested in learning more about the inner workings of the brain and how it is that conditions such Traumatic Brain Injuries
can alter the communication of neurotransmitters through PET scan technologies. Sergio hopes to eventually obtain a PhD in Neuroscience.
Emily Murphy, Study Coordinator
Emily is a study coordinator for the Emotion and Pain Laboratory. Emily graduated from the University of San Francisco with a
major in Psychology and minor in Neuroscience, and is currently working towards her master's degree in Clinical Research at the
University of California, San Francisco.
Research Focus
She is interested in clinical psychology, and specifically working with young adults with mental health disorders, such as trauma and
depression. Emily plans on achieving a Master’s degree is Marriage and Family Therapy after gaining more experience.
Tiffany Toor, Research Associate
Tiffany Toor is a Research Associate for the Emotion and Pain Laboratory. She has a Bachelor's
degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Health Informatics, both from the
University of San Francisco (USF).
Research Focus
As a Research Associate, Tiffany unites her knowledge of clinical psychology with her data analytic skills to serve a
wide variety of roles within the lab. Over her years in the ePain lab, she has a growing interest in brain imaging,
neurobiology, and pain management. She hopes to soon attend medical school and continue a role in research as a physician.
Dr. Clayton McClintock is a postdoctoral fellow in the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)
at the San Francisco VA Health Care System and University of California, San Francisco. He graduated with honors
from Dartmouth College with an A.B. in English, received an M.T.S. from Harvard University in religion and the social sciences, and
recently completed a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Columbia University.
His doctoral research identified cross-cultural dimensions of spirituality using a data-driven approach in a large, multinational, and culturally diverse sample, as well as neural circuitry underlying self-transcendent,
spiritual experiences in a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. His dissertation examined brain mechanisms by which spirituality contributes to mitigating the acute stress response.
Research Focus
As a fellow, Clayton brings together his background in contemplative science with an interest in the deleterious long-term impact of chronic and traumatic stress. His current research focus includes delineating neurocognitive effects of embodied mindfulness practices as well as nature immersion experiences on resilience and complementary treatment of trauma-related mental disorders. Methodologically, he is interested in utilizing functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to acquire neuroimaging data in a portable and ecologically valid manner. Outside the lab and clinic, Clayton also enjoys sharing leisurely meals with family and friends, practicing qigong, and exploring the natural beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area.
