Medical University of South Carolina - United States
AUTHOR PROFILE
ORCID
SCOPUS
🧠EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS
DR. TANYA C. SARAIYA began her academic journey with a B.S. in Biological Sciences, graduating cum laude from the University of Florida, where she also minored in English Literature. Her intellectual curiosity and dedication to psychological science led her to Adelphi University, where she earned both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from APA-accredited programs. During these formative years, she cultivated a deep interest in trauma, substance use, and health disparities. Her dissertation, defended with distinction, and multiple academic commendations—including the George Stricker Research Award—reflected her early promise as a rigorous scientist-practitioner. These foundational experiences shaped her commitment to using evidence-based psychological principles to address complex mental health issues. Her educational trajectory laid the groundwork for a career dedicated to blending clinical excellence with impactful research, particularly in underserved and underrepresented populations. Her passion for translational and culturally informed science took root in these early years.
🧪 PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS
DR. SARAIYA’S professional career has been marked by rapid advancement and meaningful appointments. She currently holds a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor in the Addiction Sciences Division at the Medical University of South Carolina and serves as an Affiliate Faculty Member at both Rutgers University and the College of Graduate Studies at MUSC. Her earlier roles include Research Assistant Professor and key mentorship positions in national training programs, highlighting her dual commitment to science and capacity-building. She is also licensed to practice in multiple jurisdictions, reflecting her clinical versatility. Dr. Saraiya integrates research, clinical training, and academic leadership in her roles, often mentoring emerging scholars from diverse backgrounds. As a scientist-practitioner, she contributes to cutting-edge interventions and national policy-oriented discussions, especially those relating to opioid use disorders, PTSD, and trauma-informed care. Her academic path is rich with innovation, mentorship, and advocacy—elevating her influence across clinical psychology, psychiatry, and public health domains.
🧬 CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS
DR. SARAIYA’S research is rooted in addressing co-occurring substance use and posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), with a focus on health equity, culturally responsive interventions, and trauma among marginalized populations. Her scholarship spans over 50 peer-reviewed publications, several high-impact NIH-funded grants (e.g., K23, R61), and pioneering studies like the HOPE intervention for OUD/PTSD. Her interdisciplinary and intersectional lens has led to novel insights into trauma-related shame, internalized racism, and systemic barriers in care. She also explores underrepresented topics such as trauma in Asian American communities and the impact of invisible and identity-based traumas. Her work reflects a commitment to real-world impact, integrating community-based, technology-enhanced, and trauma-focused interventions. Dr. Saraiya has developed and evaluated clinical protocols, mentored early career scientists, and pushed forward translational science agendas—all while foregrounding equity and inclusion. Her work exemplifies rigor, relevance, and responsiveness to contemporary public health needs.
🏆 ACCOLADES AND RECOGNITION
DR. SARAIYA has received numerous prestigious awards and fellowships, recognizing her excellence as both a scientist and clinician. Notable honors include the John C. Roitzsch Scientist-Practitioner Excellence Award, NIH Science Policy Scholar Travel Awards, and multiple fellowships with elite institutions like Stanford’s C-DIAS and NIH’s CURA. Her work has also been highlighted in major media outlets, including the American Psychological Association and EurekAlert. She has earned national travel and junior investigator awards from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, as well as listings in APA’s Dissertation List. These accolades are testaments to her influence in advancing trauma and addiction research and her capacity to lead collaborative, impactful initiatives. Her achievements highlight a consistent recognition of her scholarly merit, leadership in interdisciplinary settings, and her role in addressing crucial gaps in mental health care for underserved populations.
🌎 IMPACT AND INFLUENCE
DR. SARAIYA’S influence spans clinical innovation, policy, mentorship, and public engagement. Through her leadership in NIH-funded grants and national training networks, she mentors diverse early-career professionals and contributes to policy-shaping discussions on trauma and addiction. She has been instrumental in advancing culturally grounded research on racial trauma, substance use, and treatment disparities, particularly within Asian American and Black communities. Her invited talks at leading institutions, including Stanford and the American Public Health Association, show her role as a thought leader. Media features have amplified her message on systemic trauma and health equity. Her scholarship shapes trauma-focused care practices, especially in the Veteran Affairs system and opioid-affected populations. Dr. Saraiya’s impact is felt not only in academia but also in clinical communities and national discourse, where she advocates for more inclusive, evidence-based, and compassionate mental health frameworks that reach historically excluded voices.
🔬 LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS
DR. SARAIYA is poised to leave a lasting legacy at the intersection of trauma science, addiction research, and mental health equity. Her ongoing and pending multimillion-dollar grants reflect the scale of her future impact, with projects that aim to develop digital toolkits, redefine trauma diagnostics, and evaluate integrated treatments for co-occurring disorders. She is shaping a new paradigm that honors the complexity of intersecting identities in clinical research and care. Her mentorship of underrepresented scholars ensures a pipeline of diverse future leaders in clinical psychology. By continuing to produce policy-relevant, socially conscious research, she challenges structural barriers and reimagines systems of care. Her work not only informs best practices in trauma treatment but also advances systemic change. As her career progresses, Dr. Saraiya’s contributions promise to deepen our understanding of trauma, empower marginalized populations, and reshape behavioral health interventions for generations to come.
PUBLICATION
Title: Are we gatekeeping trauma? A conceptual model to expand criterion A for invisible, identity-based, and systemic traumas
Authors: Tanya C. Saraiya, Alexandria G. Bauer, Devin E. Banks, Delisa G. Brown, Amber M. Jarnecke, Chantel T. Ebrahimi, Donte L. Bernard
Journal: Social Science & Medicine
Title: Traumatic stress in the South Asian diaspora: A narrative review
Authors: Tanya C. Saraiya, Krithika Prakash, Anu Asnaani, Sodah Minty, Ateka A. Contractor
Journal: Journal of Traumatic Stress
Title: Sex and Gender Differences in Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSD
Authors: Tanya C. Saraiya, Sudie E. Back, Amber M. Jarnecke, Shannon M. Blakey, Alexandria G. Bauer, Delisa G. Brown, Lesia M. Ruglass, Therese Killeen, Denise A. Hien
Journal: Current Addiction Reports
Title: We’re in This Together: A Case Study of the Concurrent Delivery of Prolonged Exposure Therapy to Intimate Partners With PTSD
Authors: Tanya C. Saraiya, Elizabeth J. Santa Ana, Amber M. Jarnecke, Hayley Feigl, Alex O. Rothbaum, Sudie E. Back
Journal: Cognitive and Behavioral Practice
Title: “Culturally Responsive” Substance Use Treatment: Contemporary Definitions and Approaches for Minoritized Racial/Ethnic Groups
Authors: Devin Banks, Kanila Brown, Tanya C. Saraiya
Journal: Current Addiction Reports
đź“š CONCLUSION
DR. TANYA C. SARAIYA’s career is a testament to the transformative power of science grounded in empathy, equity, and excellence. Through rigorous training, cross-disciplinary research, and unwavering advocacy, she has carved a distinctive path as a leader in trauma and addiction psychology. Her work bridges individual healing with systems change, addressing deeply entrenched social and health inequities. With a legacy rooted in culturally attuned, evidence-based care, she remains a pivotal figure in reimagining how mental health services are delivered to those most in need. Her trajectory exemplifies the best of modern clinical science—compassionate, data-driven, inclusive, and bold. As she continues to shape research, train future leaders, and influence national discourse, Dr. Saraiya’s impact will resonate across institutions, communities, and generations, solidifying her place as a changemaker in behavioral health.