Lori P. Montross Thomas, PhD

Lori P.  Montross Thomas, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in geriatrics, integrative medicine, and palliative care with more than 10 years of experience. She earned her master’s in counseling from Arizona State University and her PhD in counseling psychology at the University of Kentucky before completing a post-doctoral fellowship in geriatric psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

From 2009 to 2013, Dr. Montross Thomas served as the Staff Psychologist and Director of Integrative Medicine at San Diego Hospice, where she provided individual psychotherapy to hospice patients as well as services for patients and families, while conducting mixed-methods research related to hospice and palliative care. Dr. Montross Thomas then joined UCSD as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Family Medicine & Public Health and at the UCSD Cancer Center. During her time at UCSD, she provided a variety of evidence-based psychotherapies, mentored students and supported their professional development, facilitated support groups for patients and staff, and conducted research on the outcomes of psychotherapy for people receiving palliative care and/or people diagnosed with early-stage dementia.

Dr. Montross Thomas has taught at multiple universities including UCSD, the University of San Diego, and California State University (CSU) San Marcos, among others. During her time at CSU San Marcos, Dr. Montross Thomas was named Outstanding Service Learning Faculty of the Year in 2014 and Visionary Leader in Service Learning Faculty of the Year in 2016. She is a member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), American Psychological Association (APA), American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS), and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).