Lissette M. Saavedra

Dr. Lissette Saavedra is a Fellow in Developmental Psychopathology. Her research aims to improve mental health services through community-informed approaches and data-driven strategies. She has expertise in trauma-informed care for specialty populations, including victims of crime, people who use drugs, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness. Her work spans the assessment and treatment of anxiety, depression, and substance use, as well as the prevention of suicide-related behaviors.
Grounded in a developmental psychopathology perspective, Dr. Saavedra focuses on mental health care across the lifespan, particularly in under-resourced settings. She specializes in scalable, fit-for-purpose measurement and data systems that support service delivery, program improvement, and research infrastructure. She leads multi-site coordination efforts, promotes data harmonization across behavioral health, legal, and harm reduction systems, and contributes to national initiatives in measurement modernization.

Dr. Saavedra currently serves as Principal Investigator for a data coordinating center focused on identifying risk and protective factors for preteen suicide. She also co-leads a study with Dr. Tami Mark on the development of a pediatric anxiety quality measure. Both projects are funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Her portfolio includes applied research to support providers affected by secondary stress and vicarious trauma, supported by The Duke Endowment and other funders.

Across all projects, Dr. Saavedra emphasizes developmental sensitivity, methodological rigor, and practical usability. She advances data solutions that are community-informed, designed for modernization, and aimed at improving outcomes for individuals, families, and systems of care. Her work integrates a developmental lens to ensure that data reflect the complex pathways through which adversity and recovery unfold over time, with a focus on interoperability and AI-readiness.