A graduate of St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN (BA, 1957), and University Of Pittsburgh, (MEd, 1971, Educational Psychology and PhD, 1973, Psychology), Dr. Purifoy worked as a psychologist at Woodville State Hospital from 1975-1989 and at Mayview State Hospital from 1989-1996. Her post graduate study included a year of biochemistry at University of Pittsburgh (1957-1958) and a year of study in clinical psychology at Duquesne University (1973-1974). A student of Bowen family systems theory with Paulina McCullough from 1975-present, Dr. Purifoy has been a frequent presenter and attender of WPFC events since it’s 1985 inception; Dr. Purifoy put Bowen theory into practice as caretaker of her husband from 2007 until his death in 2016.
