Dr. Lisa Fortuna was Chair of the invited Presidential Symposium, “Translating the Evidence for the Next Generation: Addressing the Mental Health of Youth and Emerging Adults of Color,” at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in Atlanta, GA, May 15, 2016. The interdisciplinary panel included Dr. Margarita Alegria and Dr. Kiara Alvarez from the Research Disparities Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, as well as Dr. Michelle Porche and doctoral student Sarah Anais Mejia from Boston University Counseling Psychology and Applied Human Development program at the School of Education. The panelists reported on clinical and epidemiological research on trauma, mental health, substance abuse, educational outcomes, and clinical practice.

In addition to synthesizing contributions of the panelists, Dr. Fortuna presented her research on immigrant youth and emerging adults, highlighting evidence-based treatment approaches including those described in her new manual, “Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Adolescent PTSD and Addictions” co-authored with Zayda Vallejo.