by Brenda Johnson, Ph.D. 

SDPA has been fortunate to have had many exceptionally talented Newsletter editors over its years. As this first online edition of The San Diego Psychologist launches, I am pleased and honored to introduce you to our newest editor, Gauri Savla. I have known Gauri for almost 13 years; I was among her first clinical practicum supervisors, and am now proud to call her my colleague and friend.

Gauri brings so much to the SDPA; Her academic achievements are significant. After graduating at the top of her class in her Clinical Psychology Master’s program at the University of Mumbai, India she attended the San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program, graduating with a second Master’s degree in 2006 and a Ph.D. in 2009. She went on to earn a National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry for her postgraduate studies at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry.

So far in her young career, Gauri has authored over 20 peer-reviewed papers and 10 invited book chapters. She has served as a reviewer for several journals, including the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and the British Journal of Psychiatry, and she has presented at numerous professional conferences. As a clinician, she has had years of experience providing individual and group psychotherapy in both outpatient and inpatient settings, and conducting neuropsychological assessments at UCSD Outpatient Psychiatry Services, VA Healthcare System San Diego, and the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute at UC San Francisco, among others.

Gauri’s primary professional focus and passion is working with seniors and their families. In 2014, she opened her private practice in Encinitas, specializing in geriatric psychology.
In 2005, as an SDPA student member, Gauri presented a workshop to our members on ways to improve power point presentations. Her task was challenging because the attendees’ computer skills varied wildly from “How do I turn on this laptop?” to “How do I add movie clips?” I recall Gauri clearly, concisely and very patiently taking each of us step-by-step through that process. She made the class a lot of fun and everyone left better informed.

Under her editorship, the San Diego Psychologist will enjoy the same professional focus and technical expertise Gauri brought to that workshop. She will welcome your contributions.

Dr. Johnson is a Past President and Fellow of the SDPA and a clinical psychologist in private practice.