Lisa de Saxe Zerden Ph.D.

Lisa de Saxe Zerden is a Professor at the UNC School of Social Work and the Deputy Director of the UNC Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center and the Editor-in-Chief for Social Work. She received her MSW from the University of California at Los Angeles and her PhD in Sociology and Social Work from Boston University. Dr Zerden is a nationally recognized expert in workforce research, integrated care, and behavioral health policy. Her research focuses on strengthening the behavioral health workforce and advancing models of interprofessional collaboration to improve access and quality of care. Dr. Zerden has led numerous initiatives examining how training, regulation, and payment systems can better align to support behavioral health service delivery. She has contributed to efforts integrating social work and oral health and primary care settings, emphasizing the role of social workers and other allied professionals in whole-person care. Through her work, Dr. Zerden promotes innovative strategies that bridge gaps between medical, dental, and behavioral health systems, ensuring comprehensive care for underserved populations. Her research includes federal and state-funded projects, policy analyses, and technical assistance to expand workforce capacity and implement integrated care models.