Kim Germaine Emiel Smolderen, PhD, MSc

Kim Smolderen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the intersection of mental health and cardiovascular diseases. She focuses on how psychological factors such as depression influence outcomes in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). She emphasizes the importance of mental health and patient-centered care.

A professor in Yale School of Medicine’s departments of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, Smolderen co-directs the Vascular Medicine Outcomes Program, and is a co-founder of the Integrated Cardiovascular Behavioral Health Program at Yale New Haven Health. Her research delves into understanding patient experiences in chronic and acute vascular conditions, exploring pain phenotypes, and the impact of behavioral factors on patient outcomes. She has led numerous international studies, contributing significantly to advancements in patient care models for those with complex vascular conditions.\

Smolderen received her doctoral degree in health and medical psychology at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. She furthered her expertise with a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular outcomes at the Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute. A fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, she has been instrumental in national efforts to integrate mental health with cardiovascular treatment strategies.