Jennifer Kim (plybon) Penberthy MA, PhD, ABPP

J. Kim Penberthy, Ph.D., ABPP, was born in Morgantown, WV, and grew up in Lewisburg, WV. She attended Wake Forest University where she majored in psychology and biology. After graduation, she did the research for a year at the Center for Alcohol Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She then returned to graduate school at Wake Forest University where she obtained a master’s degree in experimental psychology. She worked at the Duke Cancer Center before obtaining her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr. Penberthy completed her internship in clinical psychology in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the Eastern Virginia School of Medicine in Norfolk, VA. She went on to complete her fellowship in behavioral medicine in the Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine from 1998-2000. Dr. Penberthy has also completed her board certification in clinical psychology, as well as a fellowship in humanism in medicine at UVA. She is trained to work with patients who have chronic medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, or HIV. Additionally, she is trained to work with people who suffer from addictions and conducts research exploring effective treatments for people with co-occurring psychological difficulties, addictions, and medical conditions.

She is a founding member of the UVA Contemplative Sciences Center and studies the therapeutic components of contemplative practices like mindfulness and a variety of psychotherapies. She is also the co-director of the Effective Coping and Communication Skills for Physicians program, which is a national CME program helping to improve the interpersonal skills of physicians. She joined UVA’s Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences in 2000 and is currently a professor.

Dr. Penberthy is active at UVA and regionally and is on the UVA cancer committee, the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center patient and caregiver advisory board, The Steward School board of trustees, and the Bryan Innovation Lab in Richmond. She is married to David Penberthy, M.D., a radiation oncologist who practices in Richmond. They have one daughter, Morgan, who attends Wake Forest University. Kim and her family enjoy standup paddleboarding, cycling, and traveling.