The Amazing Teen: From Problem Focus to Positive Youth Development

Dzung Vo, MD is a pediatrician specializing in Adolescent Medicine, and a Clinical Associate Professor and Division Head of the Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, at BC Children’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Vo earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency in Pediatrics and fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. His main clinical and research areas of interest are in stress and health, resilience, care and advocacy for vulnerable and marginalized adolescents; integrative health; and mindfulness-based interventions with youth and health care professionals. In partnership with Dr. Jake Locke, Dr. Vo co-developed MARS-A (Mindful Awareness and Resilience Skills for Adolescents), an eight-week mindfulness training program for adolescents with depressive symptoms, with or without other co-occurring chronic illness(es) or chronic pain. Dr. Vo is the author of The Mindful Teen: Powerful Skills to Help You Handle Stress One Moment at a Time. Dr. Vo serves on the Board of Directors for the Mindfulness in Education Network (MiEN). Dr. Vo is also interested in health disparities, cultural competence, and the health of marginalized youth populations. He is the founding Director of the BC Children’s Hospital Centre for Mindfulness, which has the vision of supporting “Mindful community, compassionate care” throughout BC Children’s Hospital and beyond.

Presentations in the Emeritus College Series at Green College Intergenerational Effects of Psychological Trauma (2021-22) revealed an interest, appetite and need for further conversations related to the development of resiliency among individuals and groups, and how they can cope more effectively and recover from the impact of various traumas.

Building on this foundation, the six-part series Psychological Trauma and Resilience will embark on a journey to consider the many ways in which individuals and groups respond to trauma, possible approaches to coping with trauma and specific strategies for recovery.

Series Conveners: Marv Westwood, Counseling Psychology, with Judith Hall, Pediatrics and Medical Genetics; and Richard Vedan, Social Work