Dr. Lesniak has life-long interest in the relationship of the body, mind, and spirit to health, first pursuing graduate studies during the 1980s in exercise science, health promotion, and psychology. Following many years of working with medical patients, and in the areas of health promotion and health behavior change, she then received her Ph.D. in Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine from the University of North Texas in 2000. Though Dr. Lesniak‘s research is in several areas, she has particular interest in the role of spirituality and religious practices on health outcomes. In addition to her academic career, Dr. Lesniak has worked in major medical centers in Mississippi, Texas, Wisconsin, and southern California where she has engaged in biopsychosocial-spiritually based patient care, clinical training, and clinical program development.