Biography

Dr. Alfano is a licensed clinical psychologist and Director of the Sleep and Anxiety Center for Kids (SACK) at UH. She received her M.S. in Developmental Psychology from Florida International University in 2000 and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland at College Park in 2005. Dr. Alfano’s research program integrates two overlapping fields of study; the development and treatment of sleep and anxiety disorders, and the role of early sleep-wake processes in emotion dysregulation and the pathogenesis of affective illness. Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Department of Defense (DoD). Dr. Alfano serves on the scientific council of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), the board of directors for the Society for Behavioral Sleep Medicine (SBSM), and as Associate Editor for the Journal of Anxiety Disorders. She is co-author of the book, Child Anxiety Disorders: A Guide to Research and Treatment (2nd ed.),and co-editor of the book, Social Anxiety Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults: Translating Developmental Science into Practice.