30th Anniversary Symposium

For over 30 years, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester, has provided leadership in demonstrating the importance of integrating basic and applied research, prevention and intervention, and training in order to advance an integrated conceptualization of development and developmental psychopathology.

In order to improve the health and well-being of individuals, it has become increasingly clear that scientific discoveries must be translated into practical applications (Insel & Fernald, 2004). Historically, such discoveries, particularly in the health sciences, have begun “at the bench”, with basic research at the molecular or cellular level progressing to the “bedside”, or clinical level. Increasingly, both basic researchers and those who are involved directly in patient care recognize that the bench-to-bedside approach to translational research is best conceptualized as reciprocal in nature (Cicchetti & Hinshaw, 2002; lalongo et. al., 2006). That is, basic scientists can develop new tools for utilization with patients, and clinical researchers and clinicians can make novel assessments about the nature and progression of disease that can stimulate further basic research investigations (Serhouni, 2005).

Frontiers in Translational Research on Trauma

Frontiers in Translational Research on Trauma offers a unique opportunity for six eminent scientists to present their work to an audience of academicians, practitioners and policymakers, bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and its application to problems of clinical import for populations that have experienced trauma. The work presented will be published in a special section of Development and Psychopathology.

Trauma has consistently emerged as an etiological factor that contributes significantly to the burden of mental illness in society (Cicchetti & Toth, 1997). As such, encouraging scientists to think about the implications of their work for practitioners and facilitating dialogue are particularly important. The traumatized individuals represented in the collective work of the presenters are predominantly from impoverished communities with diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. Therefore, understanding trauma with a contextual lens is essential, particularly when translating findings to the prevention and intervention areas.

Children in Trauma: Restoring Hope

On Friday, join a roundtable lunch discussion with symposium attendees, and community participants from the legal, public policy, academic, private and public practice and not-for-profit arenas to discuss practical solutions for helping individuals who have experienced trauma.

For more information, please contact The Center at 585-275-2991.

Student Scholarships Available

Thanks to the generosity of the Lisa Flanagan Grossman Memorial Scholarship Fund, a limited number of full symposium scholarships are available for undergraduate and graduate students.

Lisa Flanagan Grossman was a graduate student in clinical psychology and deeply involved in the work of Mt. Hope Family Center. Her family established The Fund to honor Lisa as a scholar, therapist, and a warm and caring mother, wife and friend. It recognizes the scholastic accomplishments and potential of exceptional graduate and undergraduate students and the advancement of knowledge in the field of child abuse and its prevention.

For more information and to apply for scholarship funds, contact Liz Gosian at Mt. Hope Family Center, 585-275-2991 or elizabeth.gosian@rochester.edu.