Has there ever been a more inspiring or terrifying time to be a mental health provider? As a recent PAU graduate and current postdoctoral fellow in Clinical Psychology, I am on the “front lines” of mental health care. The more I read about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19; from reputable sources, not Aunt Karen on Facebook), the more concerned I become. We have likely not seen the worst of this pandemic, and the psychological effects of the virus and associated social isolation could be devastating.   There are many reasons as a provider to worry.

Palo Alto University graduate and clinical psychologist Ronald Del Castillo, Ph.D. was recently interviewed on CNN Philippines about the coronavirus and how to deal with fear in the face of a public health crisis. Del Castillo graduated from PAU’s PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium program, before continuing with his education at UCLA, where he received a master’s degree in public health.

Mark Elliott graduated from PAU in 2017 with an M.A. in Counseling and soon after, started working as a mental health clinician with Humboldt County's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Children's Mental Health Division. He was recently instrumental in developing a side project intended for fellow employees in the building where he works. His ‘Serenity Room’ project is aimed at mitigating the impact of Secondary Traumatic Stress, which can be challenging for mental health providers.

Zeno Franco, Ph.D., a 2009 graduate of PAU’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program, has been named a co-principal investigator for the All of Us Research Program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one of 10 cities participating in the program. All of Us is the largest NIH-funded biomedical research project currently underway.   Dr. Franco is a former student of PAU emeriti professors Larry Beutler, Ph.D. and Phil Zimbardo Ph.D. Dr.

PAU student Kellylynn Zuni, M.S., is one of only a handful of students selected by the Udall Foundation to participate in the 2019 Native American Congressional Internship. An independent review committee from the Foundation and the Native Nations Institute selected 12 students from 10 tribes and 10 different universities based on outstanding academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to careers in Tribal public policy.   Kellylynn (Diné) of the Black Streak Wood People clan and born of the Two Who Came to Water clan, is currently a Ph.D.