Dr. Gabriel Cartagena

Biography

Gabriel Cartagena serves as the Clinical Director of the Yale Psycho-Oncology Program at Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer Hospital, where he specializes as a clinical psychologist for cancer survivors. In this role, he oversees program development, psycho-oncology clinical training, and a predoctoral clinical/community psychology training program at Yale New Haven Hospital. Dr. Cartagena earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florida, focusing on Health Psychology and psychosocial treatment of chronic medical conditions, particularly cancer and HIV in young adults. He completed his predoctoral fellowship at Yale School of Medicine’s Clinical/Community Psychology Internship Program in Behavioral Medicine, enhancing his expertise in cancer care, sleep medicine, and sexual/reproductive health. Subsequently, he pursued a postdoctoral residency in Health Psychology at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, specializing in women's health and chronic pain. His commitment to providing patient-centered care emphasizes understanding the individual needs and values of patients and their families. Dr. Cartagena's personal experiences, steeped in a military family background from Puerto Rico, inform his advocacy and support for accessible and affirming cancer care.

Research Interests