EQI Lab Researchers Shine at SCOPE Symposium
Trainee researchers in the Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) Evaluation and Quality Improvement (EQI) Lab recently made their debut at Kaiser Permanente’s esteemed annual Scholarly Cross-residency Output & Presentation Extravaganza (SCOPE). Partnering with the Graduate Medical Education program, they showcased investigative efforts aimed at enhancing mental health care delivery.
Organized by Brooke Harris and Shannon McDermott, SCOPE provides a platform for medical residents to present works in progress, case studies, and completed projects, alongside physician-led skills-building sessions. Joining this distinguished collection of presentations was an honor for the EQI Lab trainees.
Read more information about the EQI Lab presentations below:
Breaking Down Barriers in Mental Health Access
EQI Lab researchers Veselka Budimir, Clare Engel, Rattan Sharma, and Karen Ann Horr presented a work-in-progress study examining mental health service utilization and therapy outcomes among ethnic and racial groups. Under the leadership of Aubyn Fulton, PhD, and with consultation from MHTP Data Scientist, Galina Kovaleva, PhD, they shared their ambitious sampling method incorporating data across Northern California—analyzing a staggering 38,000 patients. Their research could pave the way for initiatives to improve patient engagement and outreach efforts for diverse populations.
Exploring Therapy Dropout Trends
In another compelling presentation, researchers Danielle Gonzalez, Caleb Sin, Hillary Kingman, Aleksandra Melnikova, Cassandra Gergely, Lydia McGaffee, and Xiawei Lu examined reasons for patient dropout from a Cognitive Processing Therapy treatment program in the Napa Solano Service Area. Led by Principal Investigator Amanda Devane, PhD, their study evaluates whether dropout rates correlate with patient demographics, Lucet scores, and number of treatment sessions, broadening the current understanding of PTSD treatment beyond a VA sample.
Evaluating a Pain Coping Skills Training Program for Cancer Survivors
Researchers Madison Beloff, Kathrin Braeuninger-Weimer, and Erica Rush presented a study assessing the effectiveness of a 4-week group therapy program for oncology patients experiencing chronic pain at the San Jose Medical Center. Under the leadership of Colin Goodwin, PsyD, they detailed their patient recruitment process and administration of pre- and post-treatment measures. Their investigation underscores how outcomes research can enhance integrated mental health care while reducing the over-utilization of medical services.
Please take a moment to review the outstanding posters that were submitted.
EQI Lab-Trauma SCOPE Poster 2025
EQI Lab-JEDI SCOPE Poster 2025
EQI Lab-Chronic Pain SCOPE Poster 2025
The EQI Lab is proud to collaborate with the Graduate Medical Education program in initiatives like SCOPE, where groundbreaking trainee research takes center stage. Their commitment to advancing health care sets a high standard for our own growing research training program. As we continue to build on this momentum, we look forward to sharing more accomplishments throughout the training year!
Contributed by: Ana Zdravkovic, Phd
