Luz Maria Garcini, PhD., MPH
Postdoctoral Fellow at Rice University
Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
Dr. Garcini is a post-doctoral fellow and Rice Academy affiliate in the Department of Psychology at Rice University. She obtained her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Behavioral Medicine from San Diego State University/University of California San Diego (SDSU/UCSD) along with a Masters of Public Health (MPH) with concentration in epidemiology from SDSU. Broadly, Dr. Garcini’s research focuses on the study of trauma, loss, and grief among hidden and hard-to-reach populations. The primary goal of her research is to inform policy and better practices among providers, as well as to develop and disseminate interventions for individuals and families facing adversity. Her current work with Project o Voces is a combination of community efforts and research studies, which over the past years, has generated scientific evidence to document and address the complex health needs of undocumented Latino immigrants and their families. Her commitment to research aimed at informing better practices and social justice is evident in her track record of publications, presentations, awards received, and funding allocated. Her research has been recognized by numerous awards including three Ford Foundation Fellowships, the American Psychological Association (APA) Distinguished Graduate Student Award in Professional Psychology, the Art Nezu Diversity Dissertation Award from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), and most recently the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the National Latino Psychological Association. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC-MEXUS), the Health Initiative of the Americas/University of California Berkley, and the American Psychological Foundation (APS). settings and contexts. She is originally from Mexico City.