A $1.3 million grant supporting doctoral psychology students and strengthening behavioral health access in Inland Empire communities through the PIPS initiative
Dr. Kelly R. Morton and Her Leadership in Integrated Behavioral Health
Dr. Kelly R. Morton is a professor of Psychology in the School of Behavioral Health and a professor of Family Medicine in the School of Medicine at Loma Linda University (LLU). Her work at LLU focuses on understanding how stress, adverse childhood experiences, social support, health behaviors, and emotional well-being influence health outcomes. This perspective has shaped her long-standing commitment to integrated care and her efforts to bring Behavioral Health and Family Medicine together in ways that support vulnerable communities.
Dr. Morton also leads interdisciplinary training initiatives that help prepare future providers for team-based, collaborative practice. She has served as the Principal Investigator for the Psychology Integration in Primary Care for Substance Use Disorders project, known as PIPS, since 2019. Through her partnership with the School of Behavioral Health and primary care clinics across the Inland Empire, she supports efforts that prepare doctoral psychology students for integrated behavioral health in primary care to expand behavioral health access in high-need communities.
Understanding the Need for Integrated Behavioral Health in the Inland Empire
In discussing PIPS, Dr. Morton highlights the ongoing rise of the mental health crisis and its impact on vulnerable communities. For many individuals, access to specialty mental health services is limited, which means their primary care provider often becomes the first point of contact when they begin noticing changes in their health and mental health. She explains that medical and behavioral concerns influence one another in ways that affect a person's overall wellbeing.
Because of this, primary care settings need to be equipped to screen for mental health concerns and create collaborative teams of physicians and mental health providers to address these concerns quickly and early. Strengthening integrated behavioral health in these settings helps clinicians recognize concerns early and respond in ways that address both medical and psychological needs.
For example, if a patient managing a chronic medical condition is also experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, it can become more difficult to follow medical recommendations or stay engaged in treatment. When primary care teams notice these patterns early, they can intervene in ways that support long-term stability and health. This reflects Loma Linda University's commitment to whole person care and the importance of addressing health concerns in a connected and coordinated way.
How the PIPS Program Responds to the Gap
The PIPS initiative at LLU was developed to train doctoral psychology students in integrated behavioral health within primary care settings, while also strengthening clinics that serve high-need communities. This is the third HRSA Graduate Psychology Education grant awarded under Dr. Morton's leadership, reflecting an ongoing effort to expand integrated behavioral health training and support across the region.
Through PIPS, students train in primary care and community-based clinics where medical and behavioral needs frequently overlap. These clinical placements include SAC Health Family Medicine, SAC Health Addiction Recovery Clinic, the LLU East Campus Family Medicine in-patient service, the Sierra High School Wellness Center, and the Victorville VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic. These sites serve Inland Empire residents who often face barriers to behavioral health support, including individuals receiving Medi-Cal, continuation high school youth, and veterans.
Students receive training in health psychology, applied behavioral medicine, health discrepancies, substance use screening, trauma-informed care, and team-based practice. Working directly alongside medical providers helps them identify behavioral health concerns earlier and respond in ways that reflect the principles of integrated care.
PIPS also supports clinics by offering tools, training, and guidance that strengthen how behavioral health is incorporated into everyday practice. These efforts help create more coordinated systems where psychology doctoral students, primary care physicians, and residents, as well as supervising psychologists, work side by side to support patients. By connecting student learning with the needs of the Inland Empire, PIPS expands access to integrated behavioral health in places where it is often limited.
The Impact and What This Means Moving Forward
Dr. Morton shares that approximately 53 percent of LLU psychology trainees go on to work with specific populations. She notes that early exposure to integrated behavioral health can help students recognize the value of this work, especially in communities with limited access to support. These training experiences may influence how students view their role and can contribute to the career paths they choose after graduation, and may lead to student loan repayment.
She also emphasizes that strengthening integrated care requires supporting both psychology students and resident physicians. A complementary grant provides Family Medicine residents with training in mental and behavioral health skills, helping primary care teams become better equipped to recognize behavioral health needs earlier and respond in a coordinated and supportive way.
As PIPS continues, the emphasis remains on expanding access, strengthening community wellbeing, and preparing future providers to meet the needs of the Inland Empire and other vulnerable communities through integrated and collaborative practice—whole person, whole team approaches lead to better patient outcomes and provider satisfaction.
Interviewed and written by Audrey I. Perez, AMFT, Systems, Families, & Couples PhD Student