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Melissa Dichter

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Melissa Dichter

  • College of Public Health

    • Social Work

      • Professor

Biography

Melissa Dichter is a professor in the School of Social Work at Temple University and a core investigator at the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. Dr. Dichter earned her PhD in social welfare and MSW in clinical social work from the University of Pennsylvania, and her BA in child development from Tufts University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in health services research at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion.

Dr. Dichter's research focuses on individuals' experiences with and system responses to intimate partner violence (IPV). Her work has examined healthcare system identification of and response to patient experience with IPV; IPV survivor experiences with criminal legal system intervention; health and social impacts of IPV experience; IPV survivor engagement in social services, social relationships, and advocacy; and IPV experiences of women military veterans. Dr. Dichter's work has also focused on identifying and meeting the health and psychosocial needs of women military veterans and of gender and sexual minority populations. Dr. Dichter has methodological expertise in primary data collection, mixed methods and qualitative research methods, and community-engaged research.

Education

  • PhD, Social Welfare, University of Pennsylvania
  • MSW, Clinical Social Work, University of Pennsylvania 
  • BA, Child Development, Tufts University

Curriculum Vitae 

Google Scholar: Melissa Dichter's Google Scholar profile

Courses Taught

Number

Name

Level

SSWG 5003

Foundations in Social Work Research

Graduate

SSWG 8000

Intimate Partner Violence

Graduate

Selected Publications

Recent

  • Chhatre, S., Hoffmire, C.A., Podlogar, M.C., Agha, A.Z., & Dichter, M. (2025). Gender Comparison of Veterans Crisis Line Risk Ratings and Consequent Suicidal Self-Directed Violence Outcomes During the COVID Era. Suicide Life Threat Behav, 55(1), e13162. England. 10.1111/sltb.13162

  • Portnoy, G.A., Relyea, M.R., Dichter, M.E., Iverson, K.M., Presseau, C., Brandt, C.A., Skanderson, M., Bruce, L.E., & Martino, S. (2024). Implementation and Impact of Intimate Partner Violence Screening Expansion in the Veterans Health Administration: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Evaluation. JMIR Res Protoc, 13, e59918. Canada. 10.2196/59918

  • Dichter, M.E., Agha, A.Z., Monteith, L.L., Krishnamurti, L.S., Iverson, K.M., & Montgomery, A.E. (2024). "Something Has to Be Done to Make Women Feel Safe": Women Veterans' Recommendations for Strengthening the Veterans Crisis Line for Women Veterans. Womens Health Issues, 34(2), 180-185. United States. 10.1016/j.whi.2023.12.002

  • Dichter, M.E. (2023). Addressing intimate partner violence in healthcare: Implications for the inpatient setting. J Hosp Med, 18(8), 771-772. United States. 10.1002/jhm.13175

  • Makaroun, L.K., Rosland, A., Mor, M.K., Zhang, H., Lovelace, E., Rosen, T., Dichter, M.E., & Thorpe, C.T. (2023). Frailty predicts referral for elder abuse evaluation in a nationwide healthcare system-Results from a case-control study. J Am Geriatr Soc, 71(6), 1724-1734. United States. 10.1111/jgs.18245

  • Makaroun, L.K., Thorpe, C.T., Mor, M.K., Zhang, H., Lovelace, E., Rosen, T., Dichter, M.E., & Rosland, A. (2022). Medical and Social Factors Associated With Referral for Elder Abuse Services in a National Health Care System. J Gerontol a Biol Sci Med Sci, 77(8), 1706-1714. United States. 10.1093/gerona/glab354

  • Dichter, M.E., Chhatre, S., Hoffmire, C., Bellamy, S., Montgomery, A.E., & McCoy, I. (2022). Variation in call volume to the Veterans Crisis Line by women and men veterans prior to and following onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. J Psychiatr Res, 151, 561-563. England. 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.05.037

  • Dichter, M.E., Chatterjee, A., Protasiuk, E., & Newman, B.S. (2022). "I'd Go from a Mountain Top and Tell My Story": Perspectives of Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence on Storytelling for Social Change. Violence Against Women, 28(6-7), 1708-1720. United States. 10.1177/10778012211024267

  • Ogden, S.N., Dichter, M.E., & Bazzi, A.R. (2022). Intimate partner violence as a predictor of substance use outcomes among women: A systematic review. Addict Behav, 127, 107214. England. 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107214

  • Tuepker, A., Newell, S., Sorrentino, A., Cusack, M., True, G., & Dichter, M.E. (2022). High-Risk Encounters: Primary Care Experiences of Women Living with Intimate Partner Violence, and Implications for the Patient Centered Medical Home. Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2022.2038755.

  • Ketchum, K. & Dichter, M.E. (2022). Evaluation of a Pilot Intimate Partner Violence Screening Program in a Veterans Health Administration HIV Clinic. Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma, 1-10. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2022.2038754.

  • Miller, C.J., Stolzmann, K., Dichter, M.E., Adjognon, O.L., Brady, J.E., Portnoy, G.A., Gerber, M.R., Iqbal, S., & Iverson, K.M. (2022). Intimate Partner Violence Screening for Women in the Veterans Health Administration: Temporal Trends from the Early Years of Implementation 2014-2020. Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma, 1-19. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2021.2019160.

  • Iverson, K.M., Danitz, S.B., Driscoll, M., Vogt, D., Hamilton, A.B., Gerber, M.R., Stirman, S.W., Shayani, D.R., Suvak, M.K., & Dichter, M.E. (2022). Recovering from intimate partner violence through Strengths and Empowerment (RISE): Development, pilot testing, and refinement of a patient-centered brief counseling intervention for women. Psychol Serv, 19(Suppl 2), 102-112. United States. 10.1037/ser0000544

  • Dichter, M.E., Krishnamurti, L.S., Chhatre, S., Hoffmire, C.A., Monteith, L.L., Bellamy, S.L., Iverson, K.M., Montgomery, A.E., Agha, A., & McCoy, I. (2022). Gender differences in veterans' use of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL): Findings from VCL call data. Gen Hosp Psychiatry, 74, 65-70. United States. 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.12.006

  • Dichter, M.E., Iverson, K.M., Montgomery, A.E., & Sorrentino, A. (2021). Clinical Response to Positive Screens for Intimate Partner Violence in the Veterans Health Administration: Findings from Review of Medical Records. Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2021.2013380.

  • Dichter, M.E., Ogden, S.N., Tuepker, A., Iverson, K.M., & True, G. (2021). Survivors' Input on Health Care-Connected Services for Intimate Partner Violence. J Womens Health (Larchmt), 30(12), 1744-1750. United States. 10.1089/jwh.2020.8585

  • Iverson, K.M., Danitz, S.B., Shayani, D.R., Vogt, D., Stirman, S.W., Hamilton, A.B., Mahoney, C.T., Gerber, M.R., & Dichter, M.E. (2021). Recovering From Intimate Partner Violence Through Strengths and Empowerment: Findings From a Randomized Clinical Trial. J Clin Psychiatry, 83(1). United States. 10.4088/JCP.21m14041

  • Sorrentino, A.E., Iverson, K.M., Tuepker, A., True, G., Cusack, M., Newell, S., & Dichter, M.E. (2021). Mental health care in the context of intimate partner violence: Survivor perspectives. Psychol Serv, 18(4), 512-522. United States. 10.1037/ser0000427

  • Creech, S.K., Pulverman, C.S., Kroll-Desrosiers, A., Kinney, R., Dichter, M.E., & Mattocks, K. (2021). Intimate Partner Violence Among Pregnant Veterans: Prevalence, Associated Mental Health Conditions, and Health Care Utilization. J Gen Intern Med, 36(10), 2982-2988. United States. 10.1007/s11606-020-06498-3

  • Grillo, A.R., Danitz, S.B., Dichter, M.E., Driscoll, M.A., Gerber, M.R., Hamilton, A.B., Wiltsey-Stirman, S., & Iverson, K.M. (2021). Strides Toward Recovery From Intimate Partner Violence: Elucidating Patient-Centered Outcomes to Optimize a Brief Counseling Intervention for Women. J Interpers Violence, 36(15-16), NP8431-NP8453. United States. 10.1177/0886260519840408

  • Nadler, L.E., Ogden, S.N., Scheffey, K.L., Cronholm, P.F., & Dichter, M.E. (2021). Provider Practices and Perspectives regarding Collection and Documentation of Gender Identity. J Homosex, 68(6), 901-913. United States. 10.1080/00918369.2019.1667162

  • Denneson, L.M., Hoffmire, C.A., Blosnich, J.R., Dichter, M.E., Fitelson, E., Holliday, R., Monteith, L.L., Smolenski, D.J., & Yano, E.M. (2021). Advancing Knowledge of Suicide Risk and Prevention Among Women: Introduction to the Supplement. Med Care, 59, S1-S3. United States. 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001483

  • Montgomery, A.E., Dichter, M.E., & Blosnich, J.R. (2021). Gender Differences in the Predictors of Suicide-related Morbidity Among Veterans Reporting Current Housing Instability. Med Care, 59, S36-S41. United States. 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001422

  • Hoffmire, C.A., Denneson, L.M., Monteith, L.L., Dichter, M.E., Gradus, J.L., Cappelletti, M.M., Brenner, L.A., & Yano, E.M. (2021). Accelerating Research on Suicide Risk and Prevention in Women Veterans Through Research-Operations Partnerships. Med Care, 59, S11-S16. United States. 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001432

  • Miller, C.J., Adjognon, O.L., Brady, J.E., Dichter, M.E., & Iverson, K.M. (2021). Screening for intimate partner violence in healthcare settings: An implementation-oriented systematic review. Implementation Research and Practice, 2, 26334895211039894. doi: 10.1177/26334895211039894.

  • Blosnich, J.R., Garfin, D.R., Maguen, S., Vogt, D., Dichter, M.E., Hoffmire, C.A., Bernhard, P.A., & Schneiderman, A. (2021). Differences in childhood adversity, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt among veterans and nonveterans. Am Psychol, 76(2), 284-299. United States. 10.1037/amp0000755

  • Adjognon, O.L., Brady, J.E., Gerber, M.R., Dichter, M.E., Grillo, A.R., Hamilton, A.B., Stirman, S.W., & Iverson, K.M. (2021). Getting Routine Intimate Partner Violence Screening Right: Implementation Strategies Used in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Primary Care. J Am Board Fam Med, 34(2), 346-356. United States. 10.3122/jabfm.2021.02.200311

  • Blosnich, J.R., Montgomery, A.E., Taylor, L.D., & Dichter, M.E. (2020). Adverse social factors and all-cause mortality among male and female patients receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration. Prev Med, 141, 106272. United States. 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106272

  • Montgomery, A., Byrne, T., Cusack, M., Chhabra, M., Sorrentino, A., Dichter, M., & True, G. (2020). Patients’ perspectives on elements of stable housing and threats to housing stability. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 11(4), 545-567. doi: 10.1086/712238.

  • Montgomery, A.E., Dichter, M., Byrne, T., & Blosnich, J. (2020). Intervention to address homelessness and all-cause and suicide mortality among unstably housed US Veterans, 2012-2016. J Epidemiol Community Health. England. 10.1136/jech-2020-214664

  • Blosnich, J.R., Dichter, M.E., Gurewich, D., Montgomery, A.E., Kressin, N.R., Lee, R., Hester, C.M., & Hausmann, L.R. (2020). Health Services Research and Social Determinants of Health in the Nation's Largest Integrated Health Care System: Steps and Leaps in the Veterans Health Administration. Mil Med, 185(9-10), e1353-e1356. England. 10.1093/milmed/usaa067

  • Dichter, M.E., Makaroun, L., Tuepker, A., True, G., Montgomery, A.E., & Iverson, K. (2020). Middle-aged Women's Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence Screening and Disclosure: "It's a private matter. It's an embarrassing situation." J Gen Intern Med, 35(9), 2655-2661. United States. 10.1007/s11606-020-05947-3

  • Davis, C.I., Montgomery, A.E., Dichter, M.E., Taylor, L.D., & Blosnich, J.R. (2020). Social determinants and emergency department utilization: Findings from the Veterans Health Administration. Am J Emerg Med, 38(9), 1904-1909. United States. 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.05.078

  • Cusack, M., Montgomery, A.E., Cashy, J., Dichter, M., Byrne, T., & Blosnich, J.R. (2020). Examining veteran housing instability and mortality by homicide, suicide, and unintentional injury. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 30(2), 1-7. doi: 10.1080/10530789.2020.1801020.

  • Blosnich, J.R., Montgomery, A.E., Dichter, M.E., Gordon, A.J., Kavalieratos, D., Taylor, L., Ketterer, B., & Bossarte, R.M. (2020). Social Determinants and Military Veterans' Suicide Ideation and Attempt: a Cross-sectional Analysis of Electronic Health Record Data. J Gen Intern Med, 35(6), 1759-1767. United States. 10.1007/s11606-019-05447-z

  • Iverson, K.M., Dichter, M.E., Stolzmann, K., Adjognon, O.L., Lew, R.A., Bruce, L.E., Gerber, M.R., Portnoy, G.A., & Miller, C.J. (2020). Assessing the Veterans Health Administration's response to intimate partner violence among women: protocol for a randomized hybrid type 2 implementation-effectiveness trial. Implement Sci, 15(1), 29. England. 10.1186/s13012-020-0969-0

  • Makaroun, L.K., Brignone, E., Rosland, A., & Dichter, M.E. (2020). Association of Health Conditions and Health Service Utilization With Intimate Partner Violence Identified via Routine Screening Among Middle-Aged and Older Women. JAMA Netw Open, 3(4), e203138. United States. 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3138

  • Cusack, M., Montgomery, A., Sorrentino, A., Dichter, M., Chhabra, M., & True, G. (2020). Journey to Home: development of a conceptual model to describe Veterans' experiences with resolving housing instability. Housing Studies, 35(2), 310-332. doi: 10.1080/02673037.2019.1598551.

  • Ogden, S.N., Scheffey, K.L., Blosnich, J.R., & Dichter, M.E. (2020). "Do I feel safe revealing this information to you?": Patient perspectives on disclosing sexual orientation and gender identity in healthcare. J Am Coll Health, 68(6), 617-623. United States. 10.1080/07448481.2019.1583663

  • Yu, B., Montgomery, A.E., True, G., Cusack, M., Sorrentino, A., Chhabra, M., & Dichter, M.E. (2020). The intersection of interpersonal violence and housing instability: Perspectives from women veterans. Am J Orthopsychiatry, 90(1), 63-69. United States. 10.1037/ort0000379

  • Dichter, M.E., Ogden, S.N., Clyatt, K.J., & Roberts, C.B. (2020). Missed Opportunity for HIV Prevention Among a High-Risk Population of Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence. J Gen Intern Med, 35(1), 392-393. United States. 10.1007/s11606-019-05372-1