Podcast and Radio Interviews

• NeuroLeadership Institute. Transform Together: Optimizing the Next Era of Work. May, 2023. https://hub.neuroleadership.com/ybaw-s9-e14

• Office Hours Global. Focus on Burnout and Recovery with Alison Szarko. Podcast Episode. February, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhUQhc4fKn0

• Systemic Oppression, Mental Distress, and Capitalism: Why Self-Care Isn't Enough. Community Panel Discussion hosted by The Radical Cat Bookstore. January, 2023. https://www.dropbox.com/s/b9xze3rkon3ekiy/Jan11_MentalHealthPanel_RadCat.mp4?dl=0

• Soft Power Radio. Self Love with Ali Szarko. Radio Interview on KWNK 97.7 FM Community Radio Station. September, 2019. https://kwnkradio.org/soft-power-radio-self-love-with-ali-szarko/

Workshops & Speaking Engagements

• Live Well Workshop (Elysium Wellness Club) (Co-facilitated with Vanessa Willmoth), January 2025

• Finding Balance Between Work and Life Presentation (Northern Nevada Public Health Department), September 2024

• Youth Summer Camp Mental Health Workshop (Girls Rock Reno), June 2024

• Joy in the Workplace Presentation (ZLINE Luxury Kitchen Appliances), May 2024

• Joy in the Workplace Presentation (Northern Nevada Public Health Department), April 2024

• Youth Summer Camp Self Love Workshop (Girls Rock Reno) (Co-facilitated with Vanessa Willmoth), June 2023

• Youth Summer Camp Staff Burnout-Stress Management Training (Girls Rock Reno), June 2023

• Staff Burnout-Stress Management Training (The Eddy House), May 2023

• Staff Burnout-Stress Management Training (Bleach Reno), May 2023

• Self Love Workshop (The Fit Feminine), April 2023

• Staff Burnout-Stress Management Presentation (Northern Nevada Public Health Department), February 2023

• Self Love Workshop (The Holland Project), February 2023

• Youth Summer Camp Self Love Workshop (Girls Rock Reno), June 2022

• Self Love Workshop (The Holland Project), February 2022

• Self Love Workshop (The Holland Project), August 2021

• ACT for Student Well-Being (Nevada Connections Academy) , December 2020

• ACT for Athletic Performance (Nevada Gymnastics), November 2020

• ACT for Student Well-Being (UNR Student Health Center) (Co-facilitated with Jovonnie Esquiredo-Leal) , October 2020

• Self Love Workshop (Twin City Jewfolk, Inc.), October 2020

• Self Love Workshop (Troupe Beauty, LLC.), September 2020

• Youth Summer Camp Self Love Workshop (Girls Rock Reno), July 2020

• Self Love Fall Workshop (The Holland Project), September 2019

• Youth Summer Camp Self-Love Workshop (Girls Rock Reno), July 2019

• Self Love Spring Workshop (The Holland Project), May 2019

• Self-Love Winter Workshop (The Holland Project), January 2019  

• ACT for Student Well-Being (UNR Disabilities Resource Center) (Co-facilitated with Jovonnie Esquiredo-Leal), October 2018

• The Psychology of Self-Love Wellness Workshop (The Holland Project), May 2018

• The Psychology of Self-Love Wellness Workshop (The Holland Project), August 2018

• A Wellness Workshop for the Winter Blues (Bad Apple Vintage), January 2018

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Lombardero, A., Assemi, K.S., Jacobs, N.N., Houmanfar, R.A., Trejo, S., & Szarko, A.J. (2022). An Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) Framework for Teaching Cultural Humility: A Guide for Translating ACT from a Therapeutic Context into a Medical Education Curriculum. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. DOI: 10.1007/s10880-022-09909-1

• Lewis, C., Diaz-Juarez, S., Anbro, S., Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Crosswell, L., Rebaleati, Starmer, L., & Harris, F. (2022). An application for simulating patient handoff using 360 video and eye tracking in virtual reality. EPiC Series in Computing, 82, 141-149. doi: 10.29007/82j6

• Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Smith, G.S., Jacobs, N.N., Smith, B.M., Assemi, K., Piasecki, M., & Baker, T. (2022). Impact of Acceptance and Commitment Training on Psychological Flexibility and Burnout in Medical Education. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. doi: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2022.02.004

• Smith, G.S., Houmanfar, R.A., Jacobs, N.N., Froehlich, M., Szarko, A.J., Smith, B.M., Kemmelmeier, Baker, T.K., Piasecki, M., & Schwenk, T.L. (2022). Assessment of Medical Student Burnout: Toward an Implicit Measure to Address Current Issues. Advances in Health Science Education. doi: 10.1007/s10459-021-10089-0

• Anbro, S.J., Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Maraccini, A.M., Crosswell, L.H., Harris, F.C., Rebaleati, M., & Starmer, L. (2020). Using virtual simulations to assess situational awareness and communication in medical and nursing education: A technical feasibility study. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 40(1-2), 129-139. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2020.1746474

• Maraccini, A.M., Houmanfar, R.A., & Szarko, A.J. (2016). Motivation and complex verbal phenomenon: Implications for organizational research and practice. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 36. DOI: 10.1080/01608061.2016.1211062

Academic Book Chapters

• Houmanfar, R. A., & Szarko, A. J. (2022). Value-based governance in organizations and beyond. In R. A. Houmanfar, M. Fryling, & M. P. Alavosius (Eds.), Applied behavior science in organizations: Consilience of historical and emerging trends in organizational behavior management (pp. 291–315). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

Academic Presentations & Workshops

• Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Etezadi-Amoli, N., Smith, G.S., Piasecki, M.P., & Baker, T. (2024). Effects of Psychological Flexibility and Implicit Bias on Medical Student Clinical Engagement and Academic Performance. Presentation at the 50th Annual Convention for the Association of Behavior Analysis International. Philadelphia, PA. May, 2024. 

• Szarko, A.J. (2024). It’s not You, It’s Your Environment: Understanding the Prevalence of Burnout in Organizations and Utilizing Systems-Level Remediation Strategies. Research Seminar for ProSocial World. Virtual. April, 2024.

• Houmanfar, R.A., Szarko, A.J., Alavosius, M.P. (2023). Behavior Analytic Account of Cultural Change in Organizations and Beyond. Presentation at the 49th Annual Convention for the Association of Behavior Analysis International. Denver, CO. May, 2023.

• Baker, T., Jacobs, N.N., Houmanfar, R.A., Smith, G.S., Lombardero, A., Szarko, A.J., Piasecki, M. (2023). Behavior Science Meets Medical Education: An Innovative Approach to Addressing Burnout and Bias. Presentation at the Association of American Medical Colleges Western Group Collaborative Spring Conference. Honolulu. HI. April, 2023.

• Szarko, A.J. (2023). Managing Burnout in Healthcare Settings. Invited Presentation at the 21st Annual Nursing Excellence Conference for Renown Health. Reno, NV. March, 2023. 

• Szarko, A.J. (2022). Using Behavioral Systems Analysis to Prevent Burnout, Manage Bias, and Promote Psychological Well-Being in Healthcare Systems. Invited Supervision Workshop at the Annual Nevada Association of Behavior Analysis Conference. Reno, NV. October, 2022. 

• Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Alavosius, M.P., & Biglan, A. (2022). Role of Behavior Science in Organizing Our Future. Panel discussion at the 40th Annual Western Regional Conference on Behavior Analysis. Santa Clara, CA. February, 2022. 

• Biglan, A., Meshes, E., DiCocco, J., & Szarko, A.J. Using Actions Circles to Reform the Juvenile Justice System. (2022). Workshop presented at the 40th Annual Western Regional Conference on Behavior Analysis. Santa Clara, CA. February, 2022. 

• Strauss, S. & Szarko, A.J. (2021). Destigmatizing HIV/AIDS. Workshop presented at The Intersection of HIV and Mental Health: Addressing Stigma and Implicit Bias in Healthcare Settings Continuing Medical Education Series. University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Virtual. June, 2021.

• Smith, G.S., Houmanfar, R.A., Jacobs, N.N., Froehlich, M., Szarko, A.J., Smith, B.M., Baker, T., Piasecki, M. (2021). Assessment of Medical Student Burnout: Toward an Implicit Measure to Address Current Issues. Symposium to be presented at the Association for Behavioral Analysis International Annual Convention. Virtual. May, 2021.

• Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Smith, G.S., Jacobs, N.N., Assemi, K., Smith, B.M., Baker, T., Piasecki, M. (2021). The Impact of Acceptance and Commitment Training on Well-Being in Medical Education. Presentation at the Association for Behavioral Analysis International Annual Convention. Virtual. May, 2021.

• Strauss, S., Szarko, A.J., Jacobs, N.N., Houmanfar, R.A. (2021). Dismantling institutionalized “isms”. Workshop presented at the Annual Northern Nevada Diversity Summit. Virtual. April, 2021.

• Anbro, S.J., Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Maraccini, A.M., Crosswell, L., Harris, F., Rebaleati, M., Starmer, L. (2019). Exploring the Technical Feasibility of Virtual Reality with Embedded Eye-Tracking: Assessing Medical and Nursing Students' Situational Awareness Within a Simulated Medical Emergency. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention. Chicago, IL. May 2019.

• Szarko, A.J., Anbro, S.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Maraccini, A.M., Crosswell, L., Baker, T., Jacobs, N., Piasecki, P. (2019). Exploring the Technical Feasibility of Virtual Reality with Embedded Eye-Tracking: Assessing Medical and Nursing Students' Situational Awareness Within a Simulated Medical Emergency. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention. Chicago, IL. May 2019. 

• Smith, G.S., Houmanfar, R.A., Jacobs, N.N., Baker, T., Froehlich, M., Szarko, A.J., Brayko, C., & Piasecki, M. (2019). Assessing Implicit Cognition Related to Burnout and its Relevance for Behavior Analysts. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention. Chicago, IL. May 2019.

• Jacobs, N.N., Szarko, A.J., Froehlich, M., Etezadi-Amoli, N., Mauban, E., Strauss, S., Roohani, D., & Houmanfar, R.A. (2019). Bias and Burnout: A Curricular Training Program to Manage Stigmatization Toward Patients and Self using ACTraining. Workshop presented at the Western Group of Educational for the Association of American Medical Colleges Annual Conference. Reno, NV. March 2019. 

• Houmanfar, R.A., Szarko, A.J., Esquierdo-Leal, J., Jacobs, N.N., Smith, G.S., Piasecki, M.,  & Baker, T. (2019). ACT in Organizations: Burnout, Cooperation, and Client Service. Invited presentation at the ACT for Behavior Analysts Bootcamp. Reno, NV. March 2019.

• Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A. Examining the Effects of Verbal Stimuli on Cooperative Responding Under a Financially Competing Contingency. Presentation at Behavior Analysis Research Fair, UNR. Reno, NV. February, 2019.

• Szarko, A., Anbro, S. Crosswell, L. H., Harris, F., Starmer, L. Rebaleati, M. Maraccini, A., Houmanfar, R. (2018). Examining the effects of TeamSTEPPS training on interprofessional communication during a virtual reality simulation with medical and nursing students." Presentation at the Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Meet-Up. Reno, NV. October, 2018

• Houmanfar, R.A., Esquierdo-Leal, J., Szarko, A.J., Smith, G.S., Jacobs, N.N., Froehlich, M., Baker, T., & Piasecki, M. (2018). ACT in Organizations: The UNR Med Model for Managing Burnout. Invited presentation at the ACT for Behavior Analysts Bootcamp. Reno, NV. March 2018.

• Szarko, A.J., Houmanfar, R.A., Jacobs, N.N., Smith, G.S., Brayko, C., Froehlich, M. A Behavioral Systems Approach Toward Assessing and Alleviating Burnout Among Medical Students. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis Ninth International Conference, Paris, France. November 2017.

• Piasecki, M., Brayko, C., Houmanfar, R.A., Szarko, A.J., Smith, G.S., Jacobs, N.N., & Baker, T. Integrating a Behavior Analytic Framework to Meet the Needs of a Medical School and the Medical Profession. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis Ninth International Conference, Paris, France. November 2017.

• Burleigh, K., Houmanfar, R.A., Ghezzi, E., Szarko, A.J., Smith, G.S. The Implicit Relational Assessment: An Historical Overview. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention. Denver, CO. May 2017.

• Ghezzi, E., Houmanfar, R.A., Szarko, A.J., Burleigh, K., Smith, G.S. Cooperation and Conformity: Exploring the Predictive Utility of the Implicit Behavioral Assessment as a Tool to Guide Organizational Interventions. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention. Denver, CO. May 2017.

• Smith, G.S., Houmanfar, R.A., Szarko, A.J., Esquierdo-Leal, J., Jacobs, N.N., Froehlich, M., Baker, T.K., Piasecki, M. The Role of Implicit Attitude Assessment in Behavior Analytic Interventions of Social Issues. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention. Denver, CO. May 2017.

• Szarko, A.J. & Houmanfar, R.A. ACT Therapy vs ACT Training: A Behavioral Systemic Approach Towards Developing a Balanced View of Wellness in Higher Education. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention. Denver, CO. May 2017.

• Szarko, A.J., Brayko, C., Houmanfar, R.A., Smith, G., Jacobs, N., Baker, T., Kuhls, D., & Piasecki, M. Determining the Effects of ACTraining on Measures of Implicit Attitudes and Burnout: A New Spin on Curriculum Training in Medical Education. Presentation at the Association for Behavior Analysis International Convention, Chicago, IL. May 2016.

• Candido, A., Houmanfar, R.A., Szarko, A.J. Let’s Talk Teams: Examining the Additive Impact of ACTraining on an Interprofessional Communication Curriculum in a Medical and Nursing School. Presentation at the California-Nevada Conference. Sacramento, CA. April, 2016. 

• Candido, A., Houmanfar, R.A., Szarko, A.J. Let’s Talk Teams: Examining the Additive Impact of ACTraining on an Interprofessional Communication Curriculum in a Medical and Nursing School. Presentation at Behavior Analysis Research Fair, UNR. Reno, NV. February, 2016.

• Candido, A., Szarko, A.J. How to “Nudge” Behavior Change in Health Care. Presentation at Upstream Nevada: Building a Culture of Health, Cultural Considerations in Healthcare. Reno, NV.  February, 2015.

Other Important Projects I’m Involved With

• The Holland Project - Self Love Club - Blog Posts

• G.I.R.L.S. Rock Reno (GRR) - An ongoing annual summer camp for youth that aims to support the underrepresentation of marginalized gender identities in music by creating a week long experience centered in inclusivity for young people to explore their interest in the arts.

• Values to Action - a community of scientists, clinicians, and concerned citizens that seeks to leverage behavioral science, effect change, and make the world a better place for everyone.