Samaritan Welcomes Julie Cunningham, PhD November 10, 2021 Play Video Julie Cunningham, PhD, has joined Samaritan Health Services. She sees patients who are receiving care at Samaritan Cardiology – Corvallis and Samaritan Endocrinology. Dr. Cunningham helps people manage their conditions and incorporate lifestyle changes. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Russell Sage College. She received a master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology at The University of Alabama. She completed residency training and an internship at Geisinger Medical Center. The range of human emotional experiences and how people respond differently to challenges fascinated Dr. Cunningham from a young age. “I’ve always been struck by how resilient people are,” she said. “I wanted to become a psychologist to help them move forward.” Dr. Cunningham addresses the emotional aspects of living with physical conditions. “Whether it’s diabetes, chronic pain or a heart problem, I can work with patients on healthy habits, making lifestyle changes or learning to cope with the stress of their medical conditions,” she said. “It can make a real impact on not just their physical well-being, but also their emotional well-being.” Dr. Cunningham is focused on providing individualized strategies to her patients. “It’s all about meeting a person’s unique needs and making sure their interests are first and foremost,” she said. She was drawn to working at Samaritan because of its reputation for integrating behavioral health services in medical clinics, as well as Samaritan’s values of passion, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence. “I really appreciate Samaritan’s level of community engagement,” she said. In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking, trail running and traveling. “If I’m not at work, you will often find me outside,” she said. Dr. Cunningham is accepting new patients and can be reached at Samaritan Cardiology – Corvallis at 541-768-5205.
