Dr. Edna B. Foa stands as a preeminent authority in clinical psychology with over five decades of groundbreaking contributions to the understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders. She currently serves as Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, positions she has held while establishing herself as a global leader in her field. After earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Personality from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1970, Dr. Foa dedicated her career to advancing evidence-based treatments for psychological conditions that profoundly impact millions worldwide. Her early work established foundational frameworks for understanding anxiety disorders, setting the stage for her later development of highly effective therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Foa's most significant contribution is her pioneering work in developing exposure-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, creating a therapy protocol that has received the highest possible evidence rating for efficacy and is now implemented across the United States and internationally. Her research has yielded 18 books and more than 350 scientific publications that have fundamentally reshaped clinical approaches to obsessive-compulsive disorder and PTSD, establishing cognitive-behavioral therapy as the gold standard treatment for these conditions. The theoretical frameworks she formulated for understanding anxiety disorders have provided clinicians with precise, targeted treatment approaches that address specific mechanisms underlying these conditions rather than employing generic interventions. Her work has not only transformed clinical practice but has also influenced diagnostic criteria through her leadership roles on the DSM-IV subcommittees for both OCD and PTSD.
Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Foa has profoundly shaped the field through her mentorship of generations of clinical psychologists and her leadership in establishing treatment guidelines as chair of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Disorders' Treatment Guidelines Task Force. Her influence has been recognized with numerous prestigious honors including the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology Award and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies' Lifetime Achievement Award, alongside her recognition as one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. As an active researcher and clinician, Dr. Foa continues to advance the science of anxiety disorders through her center at the University of Pennsylvania, where she remains dedicated to refining therapeutic approaches and training the next generation of clinicians who will carry forward her legacy of evidence-based practice. Her ongoing work focuses on optimizing treatment delivery systems and expanding access to effective care for trauma survivors globally.
