Division of Health Psychology | Our Staff

Lawrence C. Haber, Ph.D.

Director of Ambulatory, Young Adult, and Health Psychology Services

Lawrence Haber is responsible for a wide range of programs for both adults and children. Dr. Haber holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee with his undergraduate work being completed at the University of Florida. In addition to his responsibilities at the IOL he teaches Psychology courses at Central Connecticut State University, and maintains a private psychological practice at the Institute. Dr. Haber has been a speaker for numerous organizations on mental illness including presentations to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the American Psychiatric Association at their annual conventions. Dr. Haber is on the Board of Directors for Mental Health Connecticut, where he chairs their public policy committee.

Prior to his joining the staff of the Institute of Living, Dr. Haber was the CEO of a community mental health center in Pennsylvania where he received an award as the community’s “Finest” professional. He also served on the board of directors of the local chamber of commerce and helped established a community First Night celebration.


Jennifer L. Ferrand, Psy.D.

Dr. Ferrand completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Hartford. She completed a predoctoral clinical internship at the Institute of Living and a postdoctoral fellowship in Preventive Cardiology at Hartford Hospital. She has been employed by Hartford Hospital/The Institute of Living since 2005. Her clinical interests include weight management, behavior change, and pain management.


Tessa Kramer, Psy.D.

Dr. Kramer received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Greater Hartford Clinical Psychology Internship Consortium (VA), and her post-doctoral fellowship in Clinical Health Psychology at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. She joined the Division of Health Psychology in 2015 and works in the Hartford Hospital Transplant Program and Comprehensive Liver Center. Her primary interests include: solid organ transplant, smoking cessation, substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, and issues related to Latino mental health care, culture, and diversity.


Danielle Koby, Ph.D.

Dr. Koby joined the Division of Health Psychology in October 2011 and performs clinical work and research in the Department of Neurosurgery at Hartford Hospital. She earned a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut following a predoctoral internship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She has completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Psychology at Mayo Clinic. Previously, she worked in the Division of Behavioral Medicine at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI and was appointed a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Medical School. Her current clinical and research interests center on diagnosis and treatment of complex physical symptoms including seizures, spells and various movement disorders.


Jessica Sierra, Ph.D.

Dr. Sierra received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Connecticut. She completed her predoctoral training at the Greater Hartford Clinical Psychology Internship Consortium (VA) and her postdoctoral fellowship at the Yale University School of Medicine. She has been employed by Hartford Hospital/The Institute of Living since 2009 and provides psychological assessment of adults, with a focus on bariatric surgery and transplant candidates.


Ila Sabino, Ph.D.

Dr. Sabino completed her doctoral degree in clinical health psychology at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. She completed both her predoctoral clinical internship and post-doctoral work at Coler Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility in New York City. She went on to work as a clinical psychologist at the Institute for Advanced Medicine at Mt. Sinai Roosevelt Hospital in New York City (formerly the Center for Comprehensive Care at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital). She was also a psychologist and Intern Training Coordinator at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, MA. She has been employed by Hartford Hospital/The Institute of Living since 2015. Her clinical interests include integrated mental health and primary care, behavior change, and weight management.


Also in this Section:

Division of Health Psychology

The Division of Health Psychology at Hartford Hospital is part of the Department of Psychology and employs licensed psychologists with expertise in evaluating and treating individuals with a variety of medical conditions.

Our Services

Professional clinical services include psychological evaluations prior to procedures such as bariatric surgery, transplant surgery, epilepsy surgery and the implantation of spinal column stimulators.

Referral Contact

  • The Institute of Living/
    Hartford Hospital
    Division of Health Psychology
    Research Building, 6th Floor
    200 Retreat Avenue
    Hartford, CT 06106

  • Phone: 860.545.7940

    Fax: 860.545.7950