Dr. Flori received graduate training in geropsychology at the University of Notre Dame and earned her doctorate in marital and family therapy from Purdue University. She taught behavioral medicine and conducted family medicine research at the University of Oklahoma's Department of Family and Preventive Medicine from 1990 to 1995.

For many years she has taught family-oriented geriatrics and behavioral medicine to medical students and residents in nursing homes, acute care hospitals and outpatient primary care settings.  Dr. Flori regularly consults with families about advance care planning and end of life decision-making. 

"I am blessed to work with people of immense integrity, strong work ethic, terrific sense of humor and a profound sense of what is important. Everyone puts their principles into practice on a daily basis. Being open to mutual influence and synergy makes for a successful work environment that continuously attracts and retains the best students, staff and faculty."

Special Interests: Physician behaviors predicting patient engagement in self-management of chronic illness; mindfulness-based stress reduction and Acceptance Commitment therapy (ACT); practice redesign to improve chronic illness care; end of life issues; promoting resident engagement in learning; evidence-based research.

Career Highlights: Authored the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy's (AAMFT) Clinical Update and consumer brochure on caregiving for the elderly. Served on the editorial board of the Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy and is a reviewer for family medicine, gerontology and family therapy journals.

Hobbies: Cooking technique a la Cooks Illustrated/America's Test Kitchen; Habitat creation for butterflies/hummingbirds; art and landscape of the Southwest; understanding how children learn best; travel to mountain and shore habitats.

Favorite Quote: "When we become aware that we do not have to escape our pains, but that we can mobilize them into a common search for life, those very pains are transformed from expressions of despair into signs of hope." - Henri Nowen