Bio
Dr. Karen Osilla is an Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University’s School of Medicine and a licensed clinical psychologist recognized for her research on families affected by substance use. Her work addresses the unique challenges these often overlooked families face, particularly during the opioid use disorder epidemic. Dr. Osilla received the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research in 2025 and has been involved in over a dozen clinical trials since 2006, focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy, collaborative care, and motivational interviewing for diverse populations, including youth, adults, and military personnel. Her research has garnered funding from organizations such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), resulting in over 130 publications.
Currently, she is conducting clinical trials that examine the effects of family engagement in opioid use recovery programs (INSPIRE), another initiative focused on offering peer support to family members after a drug overdose death (Healing Together), and two studies exploring ways to support partners who are worried about their loved one's drinking (Partners Connect and UPLIFT). In addition to her research, Dr. Osilla teaches substance use disorder treatment in the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, trains psychiatry fellows in motivational interviewing, and supervises psychology postdoctoral fellows. She is also the Advocacy Partner for Division 50 of the American Psychological Association, connecting members with advocacy efforts, and has served on NIH review committees since 2013. Prior to her role at Stanford, she conducted research at the RAND Corporation for 15 years and maintains an Adjunct Behavioral Scientist appointment there.
