HEART Lab

Heart Lab research logo.

Suffolk University’s HEART Lab seeks to engage in mixed method approach to explore these research topics (mentioned below) to understand health disparities, barriers/access to healthcare, psychosocial correlates of mental health risks and wellbeing, dyadic/systemic relationship dynamics, adversity and adaptation (psychological and technological) pattern of at-risk adults across ethnic groups and women.

  • Health disparities, barriers and access to healthcare issues
  • Eating/Body image issues and psychosocial correlates across ethnic groups
  • Asian mental health risks and alternative healthcare practices
  • Relationship dynamics across family/professional contexts and empowerment
  • Transition from adversity and post-traumatic growth trajectories

Led by Dr. Sukanya Ray, who has supervised multiple Master’s and Doctoral Dissertation projects at Suffolk University as principal and co- investigator. This lab maintains a strong sense of inclusivity, community and teamwork values.

Dr. Sukanya Ray

To learn more about Dr. Sukanya Ray and her work, please visit her faculty page.

Current Availability of Projects for New Graduate Students (year 2023-24)

  • Asian Mental Health Risks and Utilization of Alternative Healthcare Barriers
  • Post-Traumatic Growth and Psychological Wellbeing among BIPOC College Students
  • Interprofessional Collaboration and Positive Impact on Clients/Consumers of Healthcare

Current Graduate Students

I am a second-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at Suffolk University. I received my BA in Psychology and certificates in Asian American Studies and Disability Rights from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My current research interests are focused on barriers to mental health help-seeking among Vietnamese Americans and how these barriers can inform treatment and outreach recommendations. I previously received clinical training at the Baker Center for Children and Families, am currently completing my first practicum at the Suffolk Counseling Center, and will train at Boston University's CARD starting in the fall.

Sophia is currently in her third year of the clinical psychology doctoral program and works in the HEART Lab under Dr. Sukanya Ray. Her research interests include Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), specifically parental substance use disorder, coping, Posttraumatic Growth, and long-term outcomes for adults with histories of ACEs. She completed her undergraduate degree here at Suffolk and completed her first year of clinical training at Suffolk’s Counseling, Health & Wellness Center. She is currently in her second year of clinical training at Boston Medical Center’s RESTORE Center, a subspecialty clinic focused on treating PTSD.