PAU Alum Monique Cano PhD in Clinical Psychology
Class of 2020, PhD. in Clinical Psychology
Why PAU?
When applying to PhD programs in clinical psychology, one component of my training I felt was absolutely pivotal was exceptional diversity training in cultural competency. I clearly remember my admission interview with Dr. Stanley Sue, because it involved an enriching conversation about the education I would be receiving in diversity, underserved populations, and multicultural education. After the interview weekend, it was obvious Palo Alto University (PAU) was the best fit for my training goals. PAU was ultimately my school of choice because of the university’s dedication to diversity studies, opportunities for clinical practice with monolingual Spanish speakers, and because of the faculty who are groundbreaking researchers within the diversity literature. I also very much appreciated the flexible educational and training opportunities within the Ph.D. program curriculum as it allowed me to tailor my education.
What stood out?
Before joining the Institute for International Internet Interventions for Health (i4Health) lab, I met with Dr. Muñoz to discuss my interest in becoming a student in his lab. The very first question Dr. Muñoz asked me was, “Monique, what are your dreams?” I was initially taken aback because no teacher, no professor, no mentor had ever asked me that question before. I immediately began discussing my career goals of reducing health disparities and creating a clinic that would provide free and low-cost services to those living in poverty. Dr. Muñoz welcomed my ideas and helped me brainstorm avenues to ensure I would meet my goals. Becoming a clinical professor at a university seemed like the perfect route to take.
Dr. Muñoz encouraged me to believe that my ultimate goals and aspirations were possible and not merely dreams. Since that conversation, I have been working towards the goals we discussed in our first meeting and I know that because of his mentorship and my dedication to these goals, they are within close reach. The impact Dr. Muñoz has had on my work and in my life has been momentous in more ways than one. He encouraged me to believe that my dreams are not merely dreams but can become reality through hard work and dedication.
What’s next?
I will begin a Research Postdoctoral Fellowship in Substance Use Disorders Treatment and Services in the Department of Psychiatry and Weil Institute for Neurosciences and work with Dr. David Pennington and Dr. Steven Batki at the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS). My primary research interests include adapting and implementing culturally appropriate health-related interventions for underserved populations suffering from co-occurring disorders. My work at the SFVAHCS will be focused on testing and implementing health-related interventions utilizing technological platforms that are culturally appropriate to address the needs of patients with co-occurring disorders. I will also work with Dr. Pennington on outreach efforts to rural communities with a focus on indigenous populations.