I focus on research that sits at the intersection of three areas. First, I examine diversity, including the identification of vulnerable populations within organizational settings and opportunities to increase equity in outcomes. Second, I look at health through two lenses – as it pertains to individual and group well-being, and as it is supported by medical institutions through care delivery. Finally, I develop and evaluate interventions that address disparities in these two areas, including through evidence-based training programs and teamwork-based initiatives.
A major line of research, in collaboration with Texas Medical Center, focuses on using the organizational structures within hospitals to improve engagement between patients and providers. One project focuses on cultural competency among healthcare providers, exploring cultural gaps during clinical encounters and developing training programs to increase clinical skills. Another project looks at how environmental design and human resources management can influence patient-centered performance outcomes. These projects involve mixed methods approaches, field data collection, and measure validation. This line of work has received funding from the National Science Foundation and Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
I also work within other industries to synthesize research and explore under-investigated areas. My team and I are currently working on meta-analytic and systematic reviews of topics, including training effectiveness in various domains and across cultures. I am also dedicated to applying disciplinary expertise to humanitarian and prosocial efforts, including using industrial/organizational psychology to assist non-profit organizations in their human resources management of volunteer workforces.
Additionally, I am interested in a number of other research questions, including:
- Diversity: How can we foster maximal cooperation among diverse group members? What can organizations do to reduce systematic discrimination? How does discrimination impact other aspects related to work and quality of life, including health?
- Interventions: How do organizations respond to crises? How can we prepare and manage volunteer workforces? How can we ensure that members of a team work together smoothly and efficiently? How do teamwork processes differ across disciplines? How can we teach members of an organization effectively?
- Health: How can we structure different levels of the healthcare system (e.g., individuals, teams, and organizations) to improve patient care? What factors increase and decrease stress in work settings? How do individuals and groups cope with acute and chronic stressors?
Julie V. Dinh, Ph.D. 