Evaluation and Quality Improvement Lab
The Evaluation & Quality Improvement (EQI) Lab is a psychology research lab dedicated to advancing the implementation of evidence based practices within Kaiser Permanente medical centers. Our work focuses on understanding what drives effective clinical care in real world healthcare settings—and how to make high quality, evidence based treatment available to more patients.
Trainees and licensed clinicians work side by side to evaluate patient outcomes, identify gaps in service delivery, and test strategies to improve the effectiveness and reach of evidence based psychological treatments. Through rigorous evaluation and continuous quality improvement, the lab aims to enhance care delivery, strengthen clinical systems, and increase access to equitable, effective healthcare.
Every year, new projects are chosen as a means to support innovation and learning. For the 2025-2026 training year, psychology trainees and clinical researchers are examining the following topics.
Cognitive training group program for patients with mild cognitive impairment
This program evaluation project evaluates the outcomes of the CogSMART group at KP Diablo Service Area, a structured virtual 6 week cognitive rehabilitation program aimed at improving daily functioning in individuals with subjective memory issues. By gathering baseline cognitive and functional measures alongside post group feedback, we aim to assess the program’s effectiveness and identify the resources, workflows, and supports required for consistent, high quality delivery. The goal is to inform sustainable implementation and facilitate broader adoption of CogSMART groups across additional service areas.
Incorporating AI into clinical training
The AI Project is starting the process of evaluating if AI-Enhanced Training is helpful for pre-master’s students. The current study is mainly qualitative in nature, but is laying the groundwork for future work on evaluating if there are clinically significant changes in pt outcomes with or without the AI-Enhanced training.
Pediatric ADHD treatment utilization
The Pediatric ADHD Treatment Utilization team is conducting a study that examines the factors that predict the increased treatment utilization of patients and their caregivers in the year following a new ADHD diagnosis. In examining these factors, we hope to better support Kaiser Northern California’s clinical practice of diagnosing patients with ADHD as well as the connection of care to appropriate services.
Outcomes of prolonged exposure treatment
Prolonged exposure therapy is a first-line, evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the majority of existing research has been conducted under controlled conditions in research settings and less is known about prolonged exposure effectiveness and dropout rates when implemented in real-world practice. This study will examine the effectiveness of prolonged exposure and identify predictors of dropout within the Napa-Solano PTSD program in order to optimize the delivery of trauma-focused care.
Come join us!
MHTP staff and trainees are often presenting at local and national conferences. Please come find us on site to share your interest, network, and build collaborations for future projects!
American Psychological Association Annual Convention, 2026 in Washington DC: Bridging Trauma-Informed Care and Training: Advancing Integrative Practice Oral Presentation by Joanne Lam, PsyD, Amanda Devane, PhD, Kayleigh Watters, PhD, May Au Myat, Tara Kyaw, Ahsan Rathore, Dea Nair, Karan Dilawari, Lindsay Jamieson, and Sachita Pokhrel
American Psychological Association Annual Convention, 2026 in Washington DC: Building Maternal–Infant Resilience: Evidence, Implementation, and Training Oral Presentation by Joanne Lam, PsyD, Margot Green, PhD, Jackie Shiels, PsyD, Ali Ozmeral, and Chinna Annamalai
American Psychological Association Annual Convention, 2026 in Washington DC: Pediatric Psychology: Kids Are Hurting—Can We Meet the Need? Building Workforce Capacity with Integrated Behavioral Health Training and Policy Oral Presentation by Michael Changaris, PsyD; Kelly Morton; Ana Zdravkovic, PhD, ABPP; Temre Uzuncan, PsyD; Christy Boesch
World Confederation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Annual Congress, 2026 in San Francisco, CA: Transforming CBT Supervision: Real-Time Feedback and Deliberate Practice Using the CTRS-R Oral Presentation by Scott Charlton, MFT and Amy M. Bingamon
World Confederation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Annual Congress, 2026 in San Francisco, CA: Responsible Innovation: Using AI Resources to Advance Therapist Training and Parenting Interventions Oral Presentation by Eduardo Bunge, PhD, Daniella Vaclavik, PhD, Christina Desage, Ren Hong, PhD, Ana Zdravkovic, PhD, and Robert Friedberg, PhD
World Confederation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Annual Congress, 2026 in San Francisco, CA: CBT Implementation in Action: Training for Fidelity and Flexibility in Large Health Systems Oral Presentation by Ana Zdravkovic, PhD, Scott Charlton, MFT, Joanne Lam, PsyD; Grayson Lewis, PsyD, Ren Hong, PhD, and Mark Pommer
World Confederation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Annual Congress, 2026 in San Francisco, CA: Outcomes and Predictors of Dropout in Prolonged Exposure Therapy Within a Managed Healthcare Trauma Program Poster Presentation by Sarah Munguia, MA, Amanda Devane, PhD, Adriana Weyandt, PsyD, Erica Elgin, LMFT, Matthew Holve, MD, and Ana Zdravkovic, PhD
World Confederation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Annual Congress, 2026 in San Francisco, CA: Trainee and Supervisor Reception to AI Enhanced Training: A Call for Implementation Poster Presentation by Nicholas Lackey, PhD, Sung H. Choi, DO, Ren Hong, PhD and Ana Zdravkovic, PhD
World Confederation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Annual Congress, 2026 in San Francisco, CA: Cognitive Symptom Management and Rehabilitation Training Quality Improvement Survey Study Poster Presentation by Kamini Yadav PhD, Ashli Perkins MA, Zhongxiaohe Hu PhD, Alana Stark PsyD and Ana Zdravkovic PhD
Convention of Asian Pacific American Feminist Psychology Annual Convention, 2026 in San Diego, CA: Amplifying AAPI Voices Across Trainees, Supervisors, and Leaders: A Systems Approach to Supervision and Training Oral Presentation by Joanne Lam, PsyD, Supria Gill, PhD, Hayley Ho, Yaqui Huang, Tara Kyaw, Au Myat May, and Dea Nair
Association for Behavioral And Cognitive Therapy Annual Convention, 2025 in New Orleans, LA: Application of the Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale-Revised in a Telehealth Training Environment Poster Presentation by Scott Charlton, MFT, Shay T. Loftus, PhD, Ana Zdravkovic, PhD, and Galina Kovaleva, PhD
California Psychological Association Annual Convention, 2025 in Long Beach, CA: Enhancing Hybrid Models for Psychology Training, Oral Presentation by Ana Zdravkovic, PhD, Supria Gill, PhD, Jennifer Thom, PhD, and Ren Hong, PhD.
