McKenna Walsh

Dr. McKenna Walsh is the Research Lead for the Truitt Institute, where she advances the Institute’s research program at the intersection of the NeuroTriad Model, trauma, neuroscience, suicidality, behavioral health, and public well-being. She also serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, extending her work across research, clinical science, and academic settings.

Dr. Walsh holds a Ph.D. in Medical Family Therapy from Saint Louis University’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, where her doctoral work examined the epidemiological impact of media on behavioral health, with particular attention to trauma, systemic health disparities, and the ways digital narratives shape mental health outcomes. She also earned her M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University, specializing in Trauma Studies and strengthening her clinical and systemic expertise in trauma recovery, relational health, and community-based intervention.

Dr. Walsh’s work reflects a deep commitment to translating research into meaningful, real-world impact. At the Truitt Institute, she helps guide research initiatives focused on applied neuroscience, trauma-informed care, suicidality, resilience, and the clinical and community applications of the NeuroTriad Model. Her background in medical family therapy, public health, media psychology, and systemic intervention allows her to examine mental health through a broad, integrated lens—one that attends to the individual nervous system while also considering relational context, culture, media environments, and larger social systems.

Beyond academia and clinical research, Dr. Walsh has been actively engaged in community-driven initiatives focused on resilience, equity, and public well-being. She has served as an advisory board member for Music for Relief and has been an invited advisor for both the United Nations Brain Trust and the Center for Policing Equity, supporting efforts to integrate mental health awareness, trauma-informed care, and systemic support into broader social change initiatives.

Before entering the fields of therapy and research, Dr. Walsh built a successful career at the intersection of innovation, technology, and media. She has contributed to publications including *Forbes*, *Adweek*, and *Inc.*, offering insights into venture capital, media, and emerging technologies. Her early interest in behavioral health and media led her to executive produce and host *The Failure Project* for Refinery29, a series exploring resilience, growth, and the human experience of navigating adversity. As a sought-after speaker, she has shared her expertise at global events including CES, SXSW, and Cannes Lions.

In her work with the Truitt Institute and Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Dr. Walsh brings these diverse threads together as a clinician, researcher, educator, and advocate. Her work supports the advancement of rigorous research while keeping its real-world implications firmly in view—bridging applied neuroscience, behavioral health, and practical approaches to healing, regulation, resilience, and sustainable change across clinical, academic, organizational, and community settings.