From 1983 to 2006 she served on the faculty of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, rising from Instructor to Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Medalia has been instrumental in raising awareness about the need to address cognition as a central aspect of health related to functional outcomes.
[3][4] Medalia has primary research interests in treating cognition, motivation, and facilitating recovery among people with mental illness.
This is important because computerized cognitive training activities started to proliferate in the 21st century, and consumers and clinicians needed tools to evaluate the products.
The NEAR model has been used with people diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and mild cognitive impairment and implemented in psychiatric, educational, forensic and supportive housing settings.