Erica E. Coates, Ph.D. is a Psychologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) and an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC). Dr. Coates received her doctoral degree in clinical child psychology from the University of South Florida and received specialized training in trauma-informed family treatment at the APA-accredited VA Maryland Health Care System/University of Maryland School of Medicine Consortium. Dr. Coates completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland –College Park as a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Coates directs the Black Early Stages of Social Emotional Development (BLESSED) Research Group, which collaborates with Black families with young children to gain an understanding of the numerous culturally specific protective factors families use to support their children's development. Dr. Coates has published several articles on Black family mental health, and her research has been supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation, American Psychological Association, Foundation for Child Development, American Psychological Foundation, Life Course Intervention Research Network, and the William T. Grant Foundation.