Sumithra Raghavan

Sumithra Raghavan, PhD

Education
Sept 2008–Aug 2013 Fordham University Bronx, NY
Doctorate of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology
Dissertation Topic: Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Brief Symptom Inventory in Survivors of Torture and Severe Trauma
Sept 2006-Sept 2008 Fordham University Bronx, NY
Master of Arts in Psychology
Masters Thesis: Correlates of Symptom Reduction in Treatment Seeking Survivors of Torture
Sept 2000- Jan. 2004 New York University New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Minor in English and American Literature
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
August 2016 – present William Paterson University Wayne, NJ
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Tenure-track assistant professor of psychology teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses
Preparing to implement a research programand mentor research assistants on topics of culture, trauma and mental health
Engaging in service at department and college levels
Consulting in research projects with SAPNA-NYC, a non-profit organization
August 2013 – August 2016 College of Mount Saint Vincent Bronx, NY
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Tenure-track assistant professor of psychology teaching four courses per semester in Abnormal Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Testing &Interviewing and Counseling
Developed courses in Multicultural Issues in Psychology and Trauma and Family Violence
Earned Summer Faculty Research Grant in the amount of $2,650.00 to focus time on research and data analysis
Conducted research on the relationship between acculturative stress and academic performance and managing undergraduate research assistants during data collection and analysis
Consulting in research projects with SAPNA-NYC, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing mental health services to low income South Asian immigrants in the Bronx
Advised and mentored diverse pool of undergradutes including first generation college students, underrepresented minorities and lower income students
Served on the Faculty Senate, Committee for Campus Life as well as search committee for Dean of Enrollment
September 2010 – May 2012 Fordham University Bronx, NY
Teaching Associate
Taught classes in Biopsychology, Aging & Society, Multicultural Issues in Psychology and Research Methodology
Independently developed curriculum and all teaching materials
Supervised graduate teaching assistants
Mentored several undergraduate students in expanding their research projects into theses
January 2010-May 2010 John Tyler Community College Chester, VA
Adjunct Professor
Teaching Psychology of Adjustment course, covering material similar to that of introductory psychology including biological bases of behavior, theories of personality, human development, social behavior and research methodology
Independently developed curriculum and all teaching materials
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
August 2013 – present SAPNA-NYC Bronx, NY
Research Consultant/Collaborator
Working with executive director and research team to design and implement research program on culturally tailored depression treatment for low income South Asian immigrant women
Conducted qualitative and quantitative data analysis and prepared manuscript for publication
Presented findings at 2014 Diversity Challenge at Boston College, a national conference of researchers and clinicians working with multicultural and diverse populations
November 2010-June 2011 Fordham University Adult Aging Lab Bronx, NY
Research Associate/Interviewer
Conducted home visits with centenarian clients and administering quantative and qualititative interviews about their experiences of aging, coping skills, interpersonal relationships and goals
Worked with a team of research assistants to develop and implement study protocol and research procedures
November 2009-December 2010 University of Virginia: CARES Clinic Richmond, VA
Research Assistant/Coder
Utilized motivational interviewing theories and working with team of coders and established psychologists to aid in development of coding manual
Performed qualitative coding of mechanisms of action in transcripts of motivational interviewing session
September 2006-August 2008 Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture New York, NY
Research Assistant
Conducted intake and follow-up assessments with refugees and survivors of torture including eliciting detailed trauma narratives, conducting DSM diagnoses and offering treatment recommendations
Spearheaded and coordinated 6-month follow up evaluation program to assess service use and clinical improvement of program clients
Prepared submissions of grant proposals and active protocols for IRB review
Active involvement in all stages of various cross-cultural research projects including publications
Clinical Experience
Feb 2015-present Downtown Brooklyn Therapy Brooklyn, NY
Primary Psychologist
Sole proprieter of private psychotherapy practice (NYS License # 020970)
Conduting diagnostic evaluations and individual psychotherapy with a range of clients
Managing media presence at
July 2012- July 2013 Elmhurst Hospital/Mt. Sinai Services Queens, NY
Psychology Intern
Conducted individual, family and group psychotherapy with an ethnically diverse population of children, adolescents and adults in both inpatient and outpatient settings
Conducted psychological testing with children, adolescents and adults, including but not limited to cognitive, personality, forensic, neuropsychological and diagnostic testing
Worked with a comprehensive clinical team to develop and implement individualized treatment plansfor patients with serious mental illness
Received supervision and training in a range of theoretical orientations
March 2011-June 2012 Manhattan Center for CBT New York, NY
Therapy Extern
Conducted weekly individual CBT with a caseload of up to 10 clients in a private practice facility
Utilized a CBT framework to treat a range of psychopathology including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, and social anxiety disorder
Completed and presented intake evaluations including psychosocial and treatment history for all clients on personal caseload
March 2011 – Jan 2012 Inwood Community Services New York, NY
Psychology Extern
Worked with comprehensive clinical team to provide mental health services to clients suffering from substance abuse disorders as well as clients with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health conditions
Conducted individual therapy with diverse clientele including a forensic population of parolees and formerly incarcerated individuals
Provided psychological testing including projective and objective assessments to clients to seeking mental health services
June 2011 – August 2011 Ella McQueen Reception Center Brooklyn, NY
Psychology Extern
Conducted cognitive, projective, and clinical assessments of adolescent boys and girls in a secure juvenile forensic facility
Consulted with high risk youths to assess for suicidality, homicidality or self-injury
Worked with team of psychologists to write comphrensive evaluation reports
September 2009-May 2010 Gateway Homes Chesterfield, VA
Psychology Extern
Developed and implemented treatment plans for chronically mentally ill individuals in a residential facility
Conducted weekly individual therapy with residents suffering from illnesses including but not limited to schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder
Co-facilitated psychosocial and skills groups to assist residents with developing skills for independent living
Provided clinical supervision to undergraduate interns
August 2008-May 2009 Polytechnic Institute of NYU Counseling Center New York, NY
Psychology Extern
Conducted weekly individual therapy sessions with diverse university student clientele including immigrants, first generation college students and ethnic minorities
Completed intake interviews for new clients eliciting detailed psychosocial histories
Presented cases for disposition meetings and engaged in triage and treatment planning with team
Performed mental health outreach in the university community
Received direct supervision via videotaped sessions
July 2007-July 2008 Columbia Presbyterian/NYSPI DBT Unit New York, NY
Psychology Extern
Conducted weekly individual dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) with patients with borderline personality disorder including telephone coaching as needed during crisis
Co-led DBT skills group, teaching clients with borderline personality disorder to utilize skills based on DBT principles to regulate emotions, tolerate distress and manage interpersonal conflict
Conducted monthly suicide, self-injury and depression assessments with clients as part of their ongoing evaluation in a prospective research study
Conducted baselines assessments using diagnostic measures such as SCID I and II, HAM-D and the Suicide History Scale in order to determine client eligilibility to participate in research study
Worked closely with sensitive populations including clients with active suicidal ideation, major depressive disorder and personality disorders
OTHER CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
March 2004-July 2006New York University School of Medicine New York, NY
Mental Health and Addictive Disorders Research Clinic
Clinical Research Coordinator/Primary Therapist
Conducted standardized manual-guided cognitive behavioral and motivational enhancement therapy to cocaine dependent patients with focus on relapse prevention
Worked closely with scientists, doctors and members of research team to initiate, organize and follow through with all aspects of several clinical research studies.
Performed biological and psychological assessments including but not limited to phlebotomy, electrocardiograms, SCID and Beck Depression Inventory.
Recruited and worked with sensitive populations including cocaine addicts, heroin addicts and methamphetamine addicts
March 2004-July 2004 Mount Sinai Medical Center New York, NY
Research Assistant at Narcotics Rehabilitation Clinic
Worked with research assistants, psychologists and psychiatrists on both administrative and clinical aspects of smoking cessation protocol.
Worked with sensitive populations administering biological and psychological assessments.
Performed basic clerical duties associated with clinical research including filing and data entry
ACADEMIC presentations and publications
  • Raghavan, S., Rosenfeld, B., & Rasmussen, A. (in press). Measurement Invariance of the Brief Symptom Inventory in survivors of torture and trauma. Journal of Interpersonal Violence
  • Karasz, A., Raghavan, S., & Patel, V. (2014) Using participatory methods to develop an asset-building depression intervention for immigrant women. Paper presented at 14th Annual Diversity Challenge Conference at Boston College, Boston, MA.
  • Karasz, A., Raghavan, S., & Patel, V. (in press). ASHA: Using participatory methods to develop an asset-building mental health intervention for Bangladeshi Immigrant women. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 9(4), 501-512. doi: 10.1353/cpr.2015.0080
  • Raghavan, S.,Rasmussen, A., Rosenfeld, B., & Keller, A. S. (2013). Correlates of Symptom Reduction in Treatment-Seeking Survivors of Torture. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 5(4), 377-383. doi:10.1037/a0028118
  • Jopp, D. S., Park, M.-P., Cavanagh, A., Meschian, Y., DeFeo, M., Paggi, M., Tropea, M. & Raghavan, S.(2012) Predictors of well-being in centenarians: preliminary results from the Fordham Centenarian Study. Paper presented at the 65. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, San Diego, CA.
  • Jopp, D. S., Park, M.-P., Cavanagh, A., Meschian, Y., DeFeo, M., Paggi, M., Raghavan, S. & Weiss, R. (2012). Valuation of life in centenarians: preliminary results from the Fordham Centenarian Study. Paper presented atthe 65. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, San Diego, CA.
  • Rasmussen, A., Nguyen, L., Wilkinson, J., Vundla, S., Raghavan, S., Miller, K., and Keller, A. (2010). Rates and impact of trauma and current stressors among Darfuri refugees in Eastern Chad. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80 (2), 227-236.
  • Raghavan, S., Rasmussen, A., Rosenfeld, B., & Keller, A. Correlates of symptom reduction in treatment seeking survivors of torture. Paper presented at the annual conference meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Chicago, IL, November 2008.
  • Rasmussen, A., Raghavan, S., & Sachs, E. The reliability of definitions of torture. Paper presented at the annual conference of the meeting of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS), Vienna, Austria, July 2008.
  • Sachs, E., Rasmussen, A., Raghavan, S., & Rosenfeld, B. Torture definitions applied: Sequelae in a Punjabi sample. Paper presented at the annual conference of the meeting of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS), Vienna, Austria, July 2008.
  • Reid, M., Palamar, J., Raghavan, S. and Flammino, F. (2007) Effects of Topiramate on Cue Induced Craving and the Response to a Smoked Cigarette in Briefly Abstinent Smokers. Psychopharmacology, 192, 1, 147-158.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
  • Rao, A. and Raghavan, S. (2001) “Asha’s Journey”. North Brunswick, NJ: NAMI-NJ.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
American Psychological Association-Member of Division 2 (Society for Teaching of Psychology) and Member of Division 56 (Society for Trauma Psychology)
Asian American Psychological Association (Division on South Asian Americans)-Member
Ad-hoc reviewer, Journal of Traumatic Stress
Ad-hoc reviewer, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy

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