Rena Liz Courtney, PhD

Dr. Rena “Liz” Courtney currently serves as a Licensed Psychologist and Program Director of the PREVAIL Center for Chronic Pain that she founded at the Salem VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) in Salem, Virginia. Dr. Courtney also serves as the Facility Point of Contact for Pain at Salem VAHCS, an Assistant Professor within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Faculty with the Mid-Atlantic MIRECC, Faculty with the National VA PMOP Office’s ADEPT Program, Co-Chair of the Behavioral Medicine Committee for the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM), and recent Fellow with the Mayday Pain and Society Fellowship. Dr. Courtney has served in the VA for the last decade. As a clinician-scientist, her clinical and research interests are focused on developing and testing accessible interdisciplinary and behavioral treatments for chronic pain, particularly in rural Veterans. Outside of work, Dr. Courtney enjoys running, hiking, coaching competitive gymnastics, and spending time with her two young children and Siberian Husky.