Boston, Mass. – Dr. Hortensia Amaro, Distinguished Professor of Health Sciences and Counseling Psychology in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University, Associate Dean for Urban Health Research, and Director of the Institute on Urban Health Research, will participate in two health science conferences this month in Boston: the 5th Annual Quantitative Training for Underrepresented Groups and the 116th Annual American Psychological Association conference.

Dr. Amaro is a prominent figure in the public health sector. Vice Chair on the Board of the Boston Public Health Commission, and a past member of the National Advisory of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, her research and work focuses on improving the connections between public health research and public health practice. She is also founder of substance abuse treatment programs for women in Boston: The MOM’s Project, the Entre Familia Residential Treatment Program, and Moving On to Recovery and Empowerment (MORE), for women with co-occurring disorders.

“I am pleased that the IUHR is hosting this year’s conference on Quantitative Training for Underrepresented Groups at the Northeastern Univeristy campus. It is an important opportunity for junior minority faculty and graduate students throughout the country and within our campus. It is also a great honor to be an invited speaker on the Presidential program at the American Psychological Association conferences this year,” said Dr. Amaro. “Both conferences will address the significant role of public health in the country today and provide the IUHR with the opportunity to share what we are doing to advance the connections between research and practice.”

5th Annual Quantitative Training for Underrepresented Groups, August 11-13

The Institute on Urban Health Research (IUHR) at Northeastern University will be hosting and co-sponsoring the 5th Annual Quantitative Training for Underrepresented Groups (QTUG) conference from August 11-13. QTUG was developed to offer several days of quantitative training in conjunction with the annual American Psychological Association convention. The approach draws on an organizational theory of diversity that emphasizes addressing social isolation through mentoring networks, as well as establishing institutional responsibility for diversity.

Due to the poor visibility of the field of Quantitative Psychology, there are fewer individuals trained in this field than there are positions in need of such skills. The conference will address these issues, as well as the imbalance of role models and mentors that are available to enhance quantitative training for a diverse group of students, with particular under-representation of minorities and women.

Dr. Amaro will present a talk titled “Using quantitative methods to assess the value of treatment for addiction, trauma and mental illness in a real life community setting.”

Location: The Northeastern University Alumni Center, 716 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02120. For directions, please visit http://www.northeastern.edu/campusmap/

116th Annual American Psychological Association, August 15

The 2008 Annual American Psychological Association (APA) conference, which provides a forum for members to present their scientific and scholarly work, facilitates the exchange of experience relating to the applications of psychology, and provides a place where the business of the association can be carried on efficiently. The event will be held August 14-17.

Dr. Amaro will be a featured presenter at two APA sessions on August 15:

Presidential Program – From Practice to Science to Practice: Women, Violence, and Culture

Title: “Integrating a Trauma Intervention into Substance Abuse Treatment: Adapting With Cultural Fidelity”

Time: 10-11:50 a.m.

Location: Boston Convention Center, Meeting Room 253C

Title: “Addressing the Mind, Body, and Spirit in HIV Interventions With Women”

Time: 12-12:50 p.m.

Location: Boston Convention Center, Meeting Room 205C

For more information, please contact Samantha Fodrowski at 617-373-5427 or at s.fodrowski@neu.edu.

About Northeastern

Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university located in the heart of Boston. Northeastern is a leader in interdisciplinary research, urban engagement, and the integration of classroom learning with real-world experience. The university’s distinctive cooperative education program, where students alternate semesters of full-time study with semesters of paid work in fields relevant to their professional interests and major, is one of the largest and most innovative in the world. The University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in six undergraduate colleges, eight graduate schools, and two part-time divisions. For more information, please visit www.northeastern.edu.