Dr. Nancy M. Petry was a distinguished clinical psychologist and behavioral scientist renowned for her pioneering contributions to addiction treatment research. She served as a professor of medicine at UConn Health, where she established herself as a leading authority in the development and validation of behavioral interventions for substance use disorders. Born on November 1, 1968, Dr. Petry dedicated her career to advancing evidence-based approaches to treating addictive behaviors through rigorous scientific inquiry. Her academic journey culminated in numerous leadership positions within professional organizations focused on behavioral health and addiction science. Throughout her career, she maintained a steadfast commitment to translating research findings into practical clinical applications that could benefit individuals struggling with addiction.
Dr. Petry's groundbreaking research centered on the development and refinement of contingency management interventions, particularly the Community Reinforcement Approach and Prize-Based Abstinence Contingency Management. Her innovative work demonstrated that positive reinforcement strategies could significantly improve treatment retention and abstinence rates among individuals with substance use disorders, including those with co-occurring conditions. She pioneered the application of behavioral economic principles to addiction treatment, creating practical tools that have been widely adopted in clinical settings across the United States. Her extensive publication record, comprising hundreds of scholarly articles and several influential books, has shaped contemporary understanding of behavioral treatments for addiction. Dr. Petry's methodological rigor and clinical relevance earned her widespread recognition as one of the most impactful researchers in the field of addiction psychology.
Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Petry was instrumental in shaping national treatment guidelines through her service on expert panels for organizations including the National Institutes of Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. She mentored countless students and early-career researchers, fostering a new generation of addiction specialists committed to evidence-based practice. As a respected voice in the field, she served in editorial roles for prominent journals and regularly presented her findings at major international conferences. Dr. Petry received numerous honors for her work, including the Connecticut Technology Council's Women of Innovation Award for Research, recognizing her exceptional contributions to scientific advancement. Though her life was tragically cut short by metastatic breast cancer on July 17, 2018, at the age of 49, her scientific legacy continues to influence addiction treatment approaches worldwide, ensuring her work remains highly relevant in ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for individuals with addictive disorders.
