Jackie Bhattarai, PhD, MS, BS

Primary Academic Title

Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Background

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

• Disparities in Multiple Sclerosis Healthcare | Ask an MS Expert by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (June 2020)

  Racial Disparities in MS Care with Dr. Jackie Bhattarai |  RealTalk MS (June 2020)

  Racial Disparity in MS Symptomatology with Dr. Jackie Bhattarai | RealTalk MS (March 2020)

  Young MS Researchers Share Findings and Excitement at Tykeson Fellows Conference | National Multiple Sclerosis Society (December 2019)

Research Interests

Achieving Health Equity, Disability and/or Chronic Health Conditions, Experiences of Racial Discrimination’s Effect on Health, Multiple Sclerosis in Underserved Populations, Neuropsychological Assessment and Intervention, Racial Disparities, Rehabilitation Psychology, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

Research Summary

Dr. Bhattarai's long-term goal is to reduce racial disparities and improve the health of underrepresented populations with multiple sclerosis (MS). Her current research focuses on the experiences of racial discrimination among MS patients, community-based approaches to address disparities and mixed method analysis of interpersonal processes between providers and patients.

Selected Publications

• Bhattarai J, Oehlert ME, Weber D (2018). Psychometric properties of the Mississippi Scale for Combat Related PTSD (M-PTSD) based on Veteran’s Period of Service (POS). Psychological Services.

• Bhattarai J, Sumerall S (2018). Diagnostic delay of narcolepsy: Contributing factors and implications for clinicians. Sleep and Vigilance, 2, 103-109.

• Beier M, Hartoonian N, D’Orio VL, Terril AL, Bhattarai J, Paisner ND, Alschuler KN (2019). Relationship of perceived stress and employment status in individuals with multiple sclerosis. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation.

• Hartz SM, Oehlert M,s Horton AC, Grucza R, Fisher SL, Culverhouse RC, Nelson KG, Sumerall SW, Neal CP, Regnier P, Guoging C, Williams A, Bhattarai J, Evanoff B, Bierut LJ (2018). Daily drinking is associated with increased mortality. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

• Hughes AJ, Bhattarai J, Paul S, Beier M (2019). Depressive symptoms and fatigue as predictors of objective-subjective discrepancies in cognitive function in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
  

Honors

• The PM&R 8th Annual Research & Clinical Expo Third Place Poster Award, Johns Hopkins Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 1/1/19
• 2019 Early Career Psychologist Credentialing Scholarship, National Health Register Awards Committee, 1/1/19
• Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar, NIH National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, 1/1/19
• Sunil K. Sengupta VA Student Research Award, 1/1/18

Memberships

• Johns Hopkins Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology Multicultural Action Committee (MAC)
• Sigma Sigma Sigma Alumni Mentor Network
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Minority Research Network
• Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity Community Advisory Board (CAB)
• Johns Hopkins Postdoctoral Association (JHPDA)
• APA Division 22 Rehabilitation Psychology
• APA Division 40 Clinical Neuropsychology
• American Psychological Association (APA)

Professional Activities

• Journal of the Neurological Sciences, Peer Reviewer, 1/1/19
• Patient Education and Counseling, Co-Peer Reviewer, 1/1/19
• Psychological Services, Peer Reviewer, 1/1/17
• Rehabilitation Psychology, Peer Reviewer, 1/1/18