Women and Gender Studies

Kimberley Zittel-Palamara, associate professor and social work department chair, is a medical social worker who has instructed, researched, and worked clinically in dental medicine, postpartum mood disorders, mental health, and geriatrics. Her primary research focus is improving access to care with particular interest in women, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, mental health, spirituality and the LGBTQ population. She has published nearly 20 peer-reviewed articles; lectured locally, nationally, and internationally; and her book for the NASW Press, Postpartum Mood Disorders: A Guide for Health, Mental Health, and Support Providers, is available at a variety of online book stores.  Zittel has received several national and regional awards for her clinical and research accomplishments including the 2007 NASW Social Worker of the Year Award.

Currently, she is the director of the Postpartum Mood Disorders Initiative at Buffalo State, founder and director of the Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Task Force of WNY, committee member for the Buffalo State Women’s Studies program, and board member of Postpartum Resource Center of New York (PRCNY).