Dr. Lent received her PhD in clinical psychology (health emphasis) from Yeshiva University and completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship in behavioral medicine at Temple University Hospital and the Temple University Center for Obesity Research and Education (CORE). Her research and clinical interests include the cognitive-behavioral treatment of opioid use disorder, obesity and binge eating disorder, as well as psychosocial outcomes in individuals using medical marijuana.
Dr. Lent's ongoing program of research focuses on obesity treatment and prevention in children and adults. In 2012, she received the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA F32 post-doctoral grant) from the National Institutes of Health to study the impact of social support on weight loss outcomes in bariatric surgery patients. Currently, her research interests span pediatric obesity treatment, psychosocial factors in bariatric surgery, school and community-based obesity prevention and treatment initiatives, “food addiction,” urban consumer food purchasing behaviors and cognitive-behavioral interventions for adult obesity.
Through the Medical Marijuana Research Program at PCOM, Dr. Lent is studying the use of medical marijuana in individuals with opioid use disorder and chronic pain, as well how health-related quality of life changes with the initiation of medical marijuana use for any of the qualifying conditions in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Dr. Lent is leading a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating different psychosocial treatments for opioid use disorder.
Organic Remedies, Inc.
July 2021 – June 2025
Lead Institution: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Examining the Incremental Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Reducing Chronic Pain,
Program Attrition, and Impaired Functioning Among Individuals in Treatment for Opioid
Use Disorder”
Role: Co-PI
Organic Remedies, Inc.
July 2020 – June 2024
Lead Institution: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Determinants of Psychosocial and Clinical Outcomes in Medical Cannabis Users”
Role: PI
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
September 2019 – October 2024 (#OBOT-2018C2-13158; Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04257214);
Lead Institution: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Identifying Optimal Psychosocial Interventions for Patients Receiving Office-Based
Buprenorphine”
Role: PI; November 2021- present
Co-I; September 2019 – October 2021
Role: PI
Title: "The role of social support in bariatric surgery weight and behavioral outcomes”
Funding Source: NIH
Duration: July 2012 – June 2014
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