Education, Research, & Teaching

Education

Degrees

Counseling Psychology Ph.D.

Master's of Science: Educational Psychology -Community Counseling

Bachelor's of Arts: Psychology

New Mexico State University

Graduate Minor - Integrative Behavioral Health

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Graduate Certifications:

- Trauma Counseling

- Multicultural Knowledge Bases of Mental Health Practice

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

2014

2021

2011

Professional history

Postdoctoral Fellowship - Rehabilitation Psychology

(2021-2024)

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Rehabilitation Psychology Research Fellow - Multiple Sclerosis

Publications:

Opelt, B.L., Lewis, C., & Hughes, A.J. (2023). Discrepancies between self-reported and objective sleep outcomes are associated with cognitive impairment and fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis and insomnia. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 71. DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104588.
1. Contributions: Statistical analysis, manuscript draft, and revision
Bhattarai, J., Patel, K., Dunn, K., Brown, A., Opelt, B., & Hughes, A.J. (2023). Sleep disturbance and fatigue in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal: Experimental, Translational, and Clinical. DOI: 10.1177/20552173231194352
1. Contributions: Manuscript draft and revision
Bhattiprolu, K., Opelt, B.L., Jones, M.R., Hughes, A.J., Beier, M., Mowry, E.M., Pollack Porter, K.M., Cooper, L.A., & Bhattarai, J. (2025). Race- and place-based disparities in Multiple Sclerosis care: A qualitative study of patient experiences.
1. Contributions: Data analysis, manuscript draft, and revision

Oral Presentations:

Opelt, B.L.* Lewis, C.R., & Hughes, A.J. (2022). Measuring sleep in multiple sclerosis patients: A comparison of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and actigraphy. Poster Presentation at the Society for Behavioral Sleep Medicine Conference, Washington, D.C.
Hughes, A.J.*, Opelt, B.L., & Smith, M.T. (2022). iSLEEPms: An Internet-Delivered Intervention for Sleep Disturbance in Multiple Sclerosis. Poster presented at the 3rd annual SBSM Scientific Conference, Washington, MD.
Opelt, B.L.* & Hughes, A.J. (2023). Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in multiple sclerosis: Non-specific predictors and moderators. Poster presented at the 4th annual SBSM Scientific Conference, San Diego, CA.
Hughes, A.J.*, Opelt, B.L., Smith, M.T. (2023). Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in multiple sclerosis: Phenotypic differences in treatment response and remission rates. Poster presented at the 5th annual SBSM Scientific Conference, San Diego, CA.
Hughes A.J.*, Opelt B.L., Kalb R., Costello K. (2024). Satisfaction and engagement outcomes of a community-based BSM education program for people with multiple sclerosis. Poster presented at the 6th annual SBSM Scientific Conference, Chicago, IL.
Hughes A.J.*, Opelt B.L. (2025). Improvements in sleep mediate reductions in fatigue impact following cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in multiple sclerosis. Poster presented at the 7th annual SBSM Scientific Conference, Kansas City, MO.

Research Poster Presentation

Opelt, B.L.*, Botanov, Y, Beier, M., & Hughes, A.J. (2021). DBT skills training for individuals with MS and their support partners: Satisfaction and perceived benefits outcomes. Poster session at the American Psychology Association Division 22: Rehabilitation Psychology Conference, Virtual Conference.
Opelt, B.L.*, Lewis, C.R., & Hughes, A.J. (2022). Measuring sleep in multiple sclerosis patients: A comparison of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and actigraphy. Poster Presentation at the Tykeson Fellow Conference by the National MS Society, Dallas, TX
Opelt, B.L.*, Lewis, C.R., & Hughes, A.J. (2022). Measuring sleep in multiple sclerosis patients: A comparison of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and actigraphy. Poster Presentation at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Expo, Baltimore, MD.
Opelt, B.L.*, Lewis, C.R., & Hughes, A.J. (2023). Pre-treatment depressive symptomatology, but not types of sleep disturbance, moderates response to CBT-I in individuals with multiple sclerosis and insomnia. Poster Presentation at Rehabilitation Psychology Conference, Austin, TX.
Costello, K.*, Allen, L., Henry, J., Kalb, R., Opelt, B., and Hughes, A. (2023). Can do MS take charge program: An opportunity for learning, connection, & participation. Poster at Paralyzed Veterans of America Healthcare Summit, Orlando, FL.
Opelt, B.*, Kalb, R., Costello, K., Hughes, A. (2024). Improvements in self-efficacy for MS symptom management: Results of the Can Do MS take charge program for young adults and newly diagnosed. Poster at Rehabilitation Psychology Conference, Austin, TX.
Hughes A.J.*, Opelt B.L., Kalb R, & Costello K. (2024). Satisfaction and engagement outcomes. Poster session presented at: Annual Johns Hopkins Sleep & Circadian Research Day; June 10, 2024; Baltimore, MD.

(2024-2025)

Rehabilitation & Pain Psychology Clinical Fellow

MedStar Health: National Rehabilitation Hospital & The Burn Center at Washington Hospital Center

Research Poster:

Opelt, B.L.*, Oh, J.G., Travis, T.E., Tejiram, S., Carney, B.C., & Schupp, J.W. (2026). A retrospective review of suicide by self-immolation pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 date. Poster session presented at American Burn Association Conference, Orlando, FL.

Oral Presentation:

Opelt, B.L.* (2025). Vicarious trauma and burnout. Oral presentation at the Northeastern Regional Burn Conference. Washington, D.C.
Opelt, B.L.* (2025). From scars to strength: A trauma-informed cognitive processing therapy model for burn survivors. Oral presentation at the Northeastern Regional Burn Conference. Washington, D.C.

Teaching & Invited Talks

Teaching

The Chicago School - Washington DC Campus

As an Assistant Adjunct Professor, I have taught doctoral coursework in Lifespan Development and an elective course that I created in Critical Care Psychology. In the Fall 2026 semester, I will be teaching on Sleep Psychology.

University of Maryland - Global Campus

As an Associate Adjunct Professor, I taught undergraduate courses in psychology of stress, psychology of gender, personality theory, lifespan development, and research methods

As an instructor on record, I taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in human relationships, introduction to counseling theory, sex roles in education, and lifespan development.

Invited Talks

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Psychology. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Psychology. The Chicago School, District of Columbia, Washington.

Rehabilitation Psychology and Multiple Sclerosis, Internship Didactic Series, Department of Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program, El Paso Veteran Healthcare System Internship, El Paso, TX.