Victoria K. Ngo, Ph.D.
RAND Corporation
1776 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401-3208
310-393-0411 x6295
vngo@rand.org
EDUCATION
PhD, Clinical Psychology (Quantitative Methods Emphasis)
Mentor: Bahr Weiss, PhD
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, August 2006
MS, Clinical Psychology
Mentor: Bahr Weiss, PhD
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, December 2002
BA, Psychology (Summa Cum Laude)
University of California, Davis, CA, August 1998
DISSERTATION TITLE
“Contextual Analyses of Bias in Psychopathology for African Americans”
Licensure
PSY22184 in the State of California.
HONORS AND AWARDS
1993-1997
1995-1997
1997
1998
1999
1999-2002
2001
2002-2004
2004
2005
2005-2006
2006-2008
2009-2011
POSITIONS HELD
UC Davis Honor’s Program
Fellow, Ronald McNair Scholars Program
Institute of International Education Travel Award to Hong Kong
Summa Cum Laude, University of California, Davis
Vanderbilt Minority Scholarship
Predoctoral Fellow, American Psychological Association, Minority
Fellowship Program
APA Graduate Society Travel Award for National Convention
Predoctoral Fellow, Life Span Development of Normal and Abnormal
Behavior Traineeship, NIMH T32MH18921
Fellow, American Psychological Association Psychology Summer Institute
American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Dissertation
Grant
NIMH Dissertation Grant, NIMH R36MH072268
Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA Child Intervention Training Program, NIMH
T32MH073517
NIIMH Minority Supplement to Community Partners in Care, NIMH
1R01MH078853-01A1
Research Experience
1995-1997
Research Assistant, National Research Center for Asian American
Mental Health, University of California, Davis, CA. Measurement
development, research design, focus group facilitation, manuscript
preparation for research on Asian American family conflict.
1999-2005
Research Assistant, Center for Psychotherapy Research and Policy,
Vanderbilt Institute of Public Policy Studies, Nashville, TN. Involved in
research design, grant writing, measurement development, data analysis,
and manuscript preparation of NIMH funded intervention studies,
including school-based mental health intervention (RECAP) and multisystemic therapy evaluation studies (MST).
2006-2008
Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA Health Services Research Center, Los
Angeles, CA. Involved in a variety of community-based participatory
research around dissemination of depression and post traumatic stress
disorder CBT treatments for ethnic minority youth and adults in Los
Angeles area. Involved in research design of independent research, grant
writing, intervention implementation, data analysis, and manuscript
preparation.
2001-present
Program Co-director, Vietnam Children Mental Health Research
Program, Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi, Vietnam.
Responsible for development of PhD training program, training program
implementation, conducting needs assessment, community outreach and
collaborations, directing qualitative research project on Vietnamese
perception of mental health concerns, supervision and training of
psychology trainees.
2009-present
Associate Behavior Scientist, RAND, Santa Monica, CA. Principal
Investigator on a number of community-based participatory research
projects focused on implementation and dissemination of evidence based
treatment for depression for ethnic minority youth and adults in Los
Angeles, New Orleans, Vietnam, and Uganda. Areas of expertise include
collaborative care for depression, trauma treatments for
children/adolescents, global mental health, and ethnic cultural issues in
mental health services. Also have significant experience in cross-cultural
research and measurement development/validation.
Teaching Experience
2001-2002
2001-present
Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology and Human
Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Co-facilitated
graduate seminar on Cross-cultural Psychopathology. Assisted in the
development of the course curriculum and provided lectures on various
topics on acculturation theories, cross cultural methods, and minority
mental health issues
Program Co-director, Vietnam Children Mental Health Research
Program, VNU, Hanoi, Vietnam. Responsible for initial development of
PhD training program, training program implementation, conducting
needs assessment, community outreach and collaborations, responsible
for directing qualitative research project on Vietnamese perception of
mental health concerns, supervision and training of psychology trainees.
Also responsible for providing seminars in research methodology.
Last Revised 08/09/11
2004-2005
Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology and Human
Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Provided teaching
assistance for two undergraduate courses: Human Development, and
Adolescent Development. Responsibilities included: facilitating
discussion meetings, exam development, grading, assisting students on
course material, and individual meeting with students on their research
projects.
Clinical Experience
1998-1999
2000-2005
2005-2006
2006-2008
2008-2010
2008-present
Case Manager, Asian Pacific Family Center of Pacific Clinics,
Rosemead, CA. Provided case management for both adult outpatient
mental health unit and school-based intervention program specializing in
Asian populations. Responsible for maintaining monthly progress
updates, medication management, and family contacts for 40 chronic
psychiatric outpatients. Also co-facilitated weekly social support and
socialization groups for adult outpatients with psychotic and mood
disorders.
Child Assessment and Therapy Trainee, Department of Psychology
and Human Behavior, Vanderbilt University. Part-time practicum in
university counseling center, private practice, medical center, and school
based mental health services. Provided outpatient assessments and
evidence based therapy focused on children and adolescents. Each
placement was for one year.
Clinical Psychology Intern, Child/Adolescent Track, UCLA Semel
Institute. Provided evidence based individual, family, and group therapy
for a variety of disorders, including eating disorders, depression, anxiety,
obsessive compulsive, and psychotic disorders in both inpatient and
outpatient setting of the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. Also conducted
intake evaluations and psychological assessments.
Psychological Assistant, Jura Private Practice, Los Angeles, CA.
Provided individual and family therapy to youth and adults with wide
range of psychological disorders. Also provide psychological and
educational assessments for children and adults.
Primary CBT Trainer and Supervisor, REACH NOLA, New Orleans, LA. I
currently am involved in setting up mental health infrastructure to support
delivery of evidence based treatments for depression and PTSD in New
Orleans to address unmet mental health needs for Hurricane Katrina
victims. My role is to provide ongoing CBT training for therapists in New
Orleans, including leading CBT/depression workshops, providing phone
consultations to therapists, and evaluating therapy implementation.
Clinical Intervention Trainer and Supervisor, Community Partners In
Care, Los Angeles, CA. I lead the psychotherapy intervention (CBT) for
depression care in a large-scale collaborative care project in Los Angeles.
The goals of this project are to build a network of providers competent in
evidence based care, such as CBT, for depression in underserved
communities. I have overall responsibility for training clinicians in the
project (over 50 clinicians), management of the implementation and
dissemination plan for CBT resources, and the supervision of the clinical
supervisors. I also lead the evaluation of the clinical intervention.
2009-present
2010-present
Lead Scientific Consultant, Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation,
Hanoi, Vietnam. I serve as a consultant in the development of a
collaborative care for depression project in Khanh Hoa and Danang.
Specifically, I lead the clinical intervention adaptation, implementation,
and evaluation of evidence-based depression care in primary care
settings.
CBT Trainer, Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles and Ventura
County. As part of Prevention and Early Intervention rollouts throughout
California, I have trained over 60 providers in CBT in Los Angeles County
and Ventura County.
Policy Experience
Summer 1994
Summer 2001
2001-2005
2003-2005
Legislative Intern, Office of Congressman Xavier Becerra, 30th District,
Los Angeles, CA. Acted as legislative liaison to the Asian American
community of Los Angeles and was specifically responsible for
immigration issues.
Mental Health Policy Intern, Center for Mental Health Services,
Bethesda, Maryland. Involved in policy review and evaluation regarding
cultural competence of mental health service programs funded by
SAMHSA.
Member, The State of Tennessee Mental Health Planning Council
Cultural Competence Committee, Nashville, TN. This is a committee
responsible for developing a statewide cultural competence initiative for
Tennessee. I was centrally involved in development of committee
strategic plan, which I also presented to the State Mental Health Planning
Council
Chair, Service System Task Group, The State of Tennessee Mental
Health Planning Council Cultural Competence Committee, Nashville,
TN. This is a subcommittee responsible for delineating a specific plan
related to coordination and implementation of cultural competence for the
service system of the statewide cultural competence strategic plan for
Tennessee
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP AND COMMITTEES
1999-Present
1999-Present
2001-2004
2003-2004
2006-Present
2007-2009
2009-Present
2009-Present
Member, American Psychological Association
Member, Asian American Psychological Association
Member, Cultural Competence Committee, State of Tennessee Mental
Health Planning Council
Chair, Service System Task Group (Subcommittee of the Cultural
Competence Committee), State of Tennessee Mental Health Planning
Council
Member, Southern California Regional Group, Asian American
Psychological Association
Member, Asian Pacific American Community Research Roundtable Planning
Committee
Member, California Psychology Association
Member, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
Last Revised 08/09/11
RESEARCH GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS RECEIVED
R01MH077697-01A2 Weiss (PI)
08/1/10-7/31/15
NIMH
Cultural Effects on Stress, Coping, and Symptom Expression
The goal of this study is to examine the cultural effects of stress, coping, and symptom
expression for Vietnamese and Vietnamese American youth.
Total Directs: $2,002,885
Role: Site PI, Co-Investigator
Atlantic Philanthropies
1/2008-12/2012
Development of Stepped Care Model for Depression Management in Vietnam
The goals of the study are to develop a paraprofessional-based psychosocial program for
treating depression in rural Vietnam, and to build capacity for comprehensive depression
management in the community.
Total Cost: $2,476,658
Role: Principal Scientific Consultant
1R01MH078853-01A1 Wells (PI)
NIMH
5/01/09-4/30/12
Implementation of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Ethnic Minorities
This is a minority supplement to support Dr. Ngo’s study to examine how cognitive behavior
therapy is implemented and adapted in community settings for ethnic minorities in a communitypartnered dissemination of collaborative care for depression in Los Angeles.
Total Direct: $302,036
Role: Minority Investigator, Co-PI
Completed Research
D43 TW007769 Weiss (PI)
10/01/06-9/30/11
NIH
Development of a PhD Clinical Sciences Program in Vietnam
The goal of this training program is to develop a research PhD clinical sciences program at
Vietnam National University, focused on child intervention research, with the ultimate goal of
sustainably increasing mental health research capacity in Vietnam.
Direct Costs: $841,653
Role: Program Co-Director
T32MH073517 McCracken (PI)
09/01/06-08/31/08
NIMH
UCLA Child Intervention Training Program
The goal of this training program is to develop researchers in the area of children’s mental
health research, ranging from basic science research, to treatment research to dissemination.
Role: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
D43 TW05805 Garber (PI)
NIMH/Fogarty International Center
Training of Child Intervention Researchers in Vietnam
09/26/01-04/30/04
The goal of this Developmental proposal was to refine and finalize the plan for our International
Clinical, Operational and Health Services Research and Training Program.
Direct Costs: $146,940
Role: Program Co-Director
R36MH072268 Ngo (PI)
03/01/05-04/01/07
NIMH
Psychopathology Assessment for African Americans
This project examined differential functioning of the Child Behavior Checklist for African
Americans compared with Caucasian Americans. Contextual factors, such as neighborhood
context, family environment, and socioeconomic status were related to differential functioning
for African Americans.
Direct Costs: $29,175
Role: PI
T32MH18921 Garber (PI)
09/01/02-08/31/04
NIMH
Life Span Development of Normal and Abnormal Behavior Traineeship
This training program seeks to develop researchers in the field of developmental
psychopathology.
Role: Pre-doctoral Research Fellow
5 T06 SM13833 Jones (PI)
09/01/99 – 08/31/02
SAMHSA
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
This training grant is to encourage ethnic minorities to work in underserved clinical setting
targeting ethnic minority communities with substance abuse issues and mental health issues.
Role: Pre-doctoral Research Fellow
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS & SUBMISSIONS
1. Weiss, B., Ngo, V., Dang, M., Pollack, A. Trung, L. et al. (2012). A Model for Sustainable
Development of Child Mental Health Infrastructure in the LMIC World: Vietnam as a
Case Example. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, and
Consultation, 1(1), 63-77.
2. Ngo, V., Centanni, A., Wong, E., Wennerstrom, A. & Miranda, J. (2011) Capacity for
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Delivery in Resource Poor Disaster Impacted Contexts.
Ethnicity and Disease, 21(3-1), 38-44.
3. Mendel, P., Ngo, V., Dixon, E., Stockdale, S., Jones, F., Chung, B., et al. (2011). Use of
a Community Engagement Conference to Initiate a Community-Partnered, Randomized
Trial for Depression Care Improvement in Underserved Communities. Ethnicity and
Disease, 21(3-1), 78-88.
4. Weiss, B., Dang, H.M., Ngo, V., Pollack, A., Sang, D., Lam. T.T., Nguyen, M.L.T., Le,
H.N., Tran, N., Tran, C. & Do, K. (2011). Development of clinical psychology and mental
health resources in Vietnam. Psychological Studies, 56, 185-191. DOI: 10.1007 /
s12646-011-0078-x.
5. Miranda, J., Hepner, K., Azocar, F., Greenwood, G., Ngo, V., & Burnam, A. (2009).
Development of a Patient-Report Measure of Psychotherapy for Depression.
Administration and Policy in Mental and Mental Health Services Research. Epub
September 2009.
Last Revised 08/09/11
6. Ngo, V., Asarnow, J., Lange, J., Jaycox, L., Rea, M., Landon, C., Tang, L., & Miranda, J.
(2009). Do Quality Improvement Interventions for Depressed Youth Result in Differential
Outcomes for Ethnic Minorities: A Randomized Trial? Psychiatric Services, 60(10),
1357-1364.
7. Ngo, V., Langley, A., Kataoka, S., Nadeen, E., Escudero, P., Stein, B. (2009). Cultural
considerations in applying evidence based treatments for ethnic minority students.
Journal of the American Academy on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 48(9): 955-956
8. Ngo, V., Langley, A., Kataoka, S., Nadeen, E., Escudero, P., Stein, B. (2008). Providing
Evidence Based Practice to Ethnically Diverse Youth: Examples from the Cognitive
Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) Program. Journal of the
American Academy on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47, 858-862.
9. Lee, R., Choe, J., Kim, G., & Ngo, V. The construction of the family acculturation
conflicts and tactics scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology 2000; 47:211-222.
Other Publications and Manuscripts:
1. Okello, E., Ngo, V., Ryan, G., Musisi, S., Akena, D., & Wagner, G. (accepted)
Qualitative Study of the Influence of Antidepressants on the Psychological Health of
Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Uganda. African Journal of AIDS Research.
2. Ngo, V., Wagner, G., Huynh, A., Ryan, G., & Musisi, S. A (under review) Qualitative
Analysis of Depression and ART on Work Functioning in Uganda. AIDS Patient Care &
STD.
3. Ngo, V., Weiss, B. & Raju, N, Stucky, B. Differences in Parents' Perceptions of Child
Psychopathology: African-Americans versus White Americans. Manuscript in preparation
2011.
4. Ngo, V., Weiss, B., Walters, E., Yang, L. Explaining Mental Health Disparities Between
Black and White American Youths: Putting Race in Its Contextual Place. Manuscript in
preparation 2009.
5. Ngo, V., Dang, M., Tran, C., Nguyen, C., Lam, T., & Weiss, B. Vietnamese
Conceptualizations of Children’s Mental Health Problems. Manuscript in preparation
2009.
6. Ngo, V., Tran, N., To, H., & Weiss, B. Defining Abnormality in Childhood Problems.
Manuscript in preparation 2009.
7. Ngo, V., Dang, M., Tran, C., Tran, N., Nguyen, C., To, H. & Weiss, B. Qualitative
Approach to Understanding Mental Ilness in Vietnam. Manuscript in preparation 2009.
8. Ngo, V. Contextual Analysis of Measurement Bias in the CBCL for African Americans.
Dissertation, Graduate School at Vanderbilt University, 2006.
Invited Lectures and Presentations
1. Ngo, V. Asian American Perceptions of Intimate Relationships. Paper presented at the UC
Davis Undergraduate Research Conference, Davis, CA. May 1996.
2. Ngo, V. & Lee, R. The Impact of Immigrant Group Status on Acculturative Stress. Poster
session presented at the National Convention of the Asian American Psychological
Association, San Francisco, CA. August 1998.
3. Lee, R., Choe, J., Kim, G., & Ngo, V. The Construction of the Family Acculturation Conflicts
and Tactics Scale. Poster session presented at the American Psychological Association,
San Francisco, CA. August 1998.
4. Ngo, V. Acculturative Stress Among Asian Americans. Poster session presented at the
National Conference for Undergraduate Research, Rochester, New York. April 1999.
5. Ngo, V. and Reich, S. Providers’ Conceptualization of Cultural Competence. Poster session
presented at the National Multicultural Conference and Summit, Santa Barbara, CA.
January 2001.
6. Ngo, V. Cultural Competence: Challenges and New Direction in Assessment. In Denine
Northrup (chair), Through the Providers’ Eyes: Interagency Coordination, System
Performance, Family Involvement, and Cultural Competence. Symposium conducted at the
14th Annual Research Conference, A System of Care for Children’s Mental Health:
Expanding the Research Base, Tampa, Florida. February 2001.
7. Ngo, V. Developing Cultural Competence as a Graduate Student. In Manuel Riemer (chair),
Cultural Competence: Research, Training, and Practice. Symposium conducted at the
National American Psychological Association Convention, San Francisco, CA. August 2001.
8. Ngo, V. Issues facing Human Service for Ethnic Minorities. In Irene Kim (chair), Cultural
Competence: Creating Social Change Through Teaching, Research, and Action.
Symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association Convention, Chicago, IL.
August 2002.
9. Ngo, V. A Qualitative Approach to Examining Cultural Competency in Human Service
Organizations. Poster session presented at the National Multicultural Conference and
Summit, Hollywood, CA. January 2003.
10. Ngo, V. & Weiss, B. Does the CBCL Measure the Same Construct for Blacks and Whites?
Poster session presented at the Society for Research on Child Development, Tampa, FL.
April 2003.
11. Ngo, V. & Weiss, B. An IRT Analysis of the CBCL. Poster session at the National
Convention of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, HI. August 2004.
12. Ngo, V. Getting Started with Public Policy in Graduate School. In Lawrence Yang (chair),
Integrating Public Policy Advocacy and Research: Views from Young Professionals.
Symposium conducted at the Asian American Association Convention, Chicago, IL. August
2005.
13. Ngo, V. Vietnam Children’s Mental Health Research Training Program: Impacting
communities abroad through public policy, research, and training. Symposium conducted at
the Asian American Association Convention, Chicago, IL. August 2005.
14. Ngo, V. Setting a Research Agenda Using Qualitative Approach. In Victoria Ngo (chair),
Vietnam Children’s Mental Health Research Training Program: Impacting communities
abroad through public policy, research, and training. Symposium conducted at the Asian
American Association Convention, Chicago, IL. August 2005.
15. Ngo, V. Building research infrastructure for mental health research in Vietnam. Paper
presented at WHO-RTCCD-University of Melbourne Workshop on Mental Health Care for
Mothers and Children. Hanoi, Vietnam. June 2006.
16. Ngo, V. Transporting evidence based mental health treatments to Vietnam. Paper
presented at the National Conference on Establishing School Psychology Network in
Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam. October, 2006.
17. Ngo, V. Differential Functioning on the Child Behavior Checklist for African American versus
European American First Graders. Presented at the American Psychological Association
Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. August 2007
18. Ngo, V. Vietnamese Conceptualizations of Children’s Mental Health Concerns. Paper
presented at the Vietnam Children’s Mental Health Conference. Hanoi, Vietnam. December
2007.
19. Ngo, V. & Lee, M. Developing Community Partnerships in Mental Health in the Asian
American Community. Workshop at the Asian Pacific American Community Research
Roundtable Research Summit: Turning Data into Action. Los Angeles, CA. April 2008
20. Ngo, V. Community Perspectives of Childhood Problems in Vietnam. Paper presented at
the International Conference of Community Psychology. Lisbon, Portugal. June 2008.
21. Ngo, V., Mendel, P., Dixon, E., Stockdale, S., Jones, F., Chung, B., et al. Use of a
Community Engagement Conference to Initiate a Community-Partnered, Randomized Trial
for Depression Care Improvement in Underserved Communities. Poster presented at the
Last Revised 08/09/11
Quality of Behavioral Healthcare: A Drive for Change Conference. Clearwater, Florida. May
2010.
22. Ngo, V. Capacity Building for Evidence Based Depression Care in Underserved
Communities. NIH New Investigators Meeting. Bethesda, MA. June 2010.
23. Ngo, V. Improving Care for Depression in Vietnam. Paper presented at the NIMH Building
Research Capacity and Collaboration in Global Mental Health. Bethesda, MA. March 2011.
24. Ngo, V. The Promise of Depression Care in Vietnam. Paper presented to UCLA Harbor
Grand Rounds. Los Angeles, CA April 2011.
AD HOC EDITORIAL JOURNAL REVIEWS
Journal of the American Academy on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry