Kathryn E Kanzler, PsyD, ABPP

Kathryn E. Kanzler, PsyD, ABPP, is a clinical health psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences with a joint appointment in Family and Community Medicine. Her research focuses on behavioral (non-medication) interventions to help people thrive while living with chronic diseases and health conditions such as diabetes and chronic pain. Dr. Kanzler’s primary research objective is to develop scalable (easily shared) interventions to help reduce health disparities and improve health equity and outcomes for diverse communities. 

     Dr. Kanzler earned her Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology in 2007 from La Salle University in Philadelphia and served as a United States Air Force Active Duty officer for 8.5 years. As an active-duty psychologist, Dr. Kanzler conducted Department of Defense-funded research and served as a clinician-educator at Wilford Hall Medical Center (Lackland AFB) and Malcolm Grow Medical Center (Andrews AFB). Dr. Kanzler also deployed to a combat operational stress control clinic in Iraq in 2009, and later served in a temporary duty assignment at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.

     Dr. Kanzler transitioned from the military to UT Health San Antonio in 2015 and is currently Principal Investigator of a 4-year K23 (Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award) through the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases/National Institutes of Health. Dr. Kanzler’s K23 focuses on task-shifting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for delivery by promotores (community health workers) to Hispanic/Latinx patients with type 2 diabetes.

     Dr. Kanzler has delivered numerous national presentations and is co-author of 25 peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Kanzler has served in national positions with professional organizations, including the American Board of Clinical Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. 

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 2007 - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) - Clinical Psychology - La Salle University
  • 2005 - MA - Clinical Psychology - La Salle University
  • 1999 - BS - Psychology (summa cum laude) - Liberty University
  • 1999 - BS - Psychology (summa cum laude) - Liberty University

  Training

  • 2011 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Clinical Health Psychology - Wilford Hall Medical Center
  • 2007 - Clinical Internship (Residency) - Clinical Psychology - Wilford Hall Medical Center

  Appointments

  • 2/2015-present - Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

• Research & Grants

  Kanzler Lab

  Grants

  • Acceptance Based Coping (ABaCo) Skills Delivered by Promotores for Hispanic/Latino Patients with T2DM

• Clinical

  Dr. Kanzler serves as an integrated Behavioral Health Consultant at the UHS Robert B. Green Family Health Center. In this role, she precepts trainees and provides brief evidence-based assessment and treatment approaches for behavioral health disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, substance use), medical conditions (e.g., chronic pain, diabetes management) and lifestyle factors (e.g., insomnia, tobacco cessation). As a BHC, she is a core member of the primary care team, providing same-day access to care for patients and consultation to physicians (Family Medicine residents and faculty) and mid-level primary care providers.

  Board Certifications

  • 2012 - American Board of Professional Psychology