ESU Professor Presents Workshops in Costa Rica

Posted by: admin on April 6, 2015, No Comments

Anthony L. Drago, Ed.D., chair of the psychology department at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and a licensed psychologist, recently presented two in-service workshops for students, faculty, and mental health professionals at the Universidad De Iberoamerica (UNIBE) in Costa Rica.

The sessions titled “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5th Edition (DSM-5): A Clinician’s Guide” highlighted the new organizational structure of the DSM-5 and explained the conceptual and practical changes between the DSM-IV and the DSM-5. In addition, Dr. Drago helped participants apply the DSM-5 changes to their clinical work including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.

DSM-5 is a new diagnostic manual for mental health which Dr. Drago utilizes in his ESU classroom.

“Having an opportunity to participate in these international workshops keeps me sharp both in and out of the classroom,” he said. “It’s also a way for our friends in UNIBE to understand the new manual.”

The opportunity to provide training to UNIBE originated when Dr. Drago visited UNIBE in February 2014 to explore international study options for East Stroudsburg University psychology majors. The training helped solidify the relationship between ESU and UNIBE, according to Dr. Drago.

His trip to Costa Rica did not conclude with his presentations. After his trip was delayed by three days because of the eruption of Turrialba volcano, which caused the closure of San Jose airport, Dr. Drago was able to tour the west coast of Costa Rica.

“I enjoy the opportunity to learn from a different culture and bring my experiences back to our university,” he said.

In the department of health studies, UNIBE has been helping ESU bring experiences back to campus for the last two years, as a part of a global health program that has been running for 12 years. UNIBE will be hosting ESU students for 10 days from May 18 to May 27. The students visit hospitals, clinics and community health centers, throughout San Jose. They shadow Costa Rican health care workers in the morning and in the evening they have class with ESU faculty. The trip includes both graduate and undergraduate students. “ This is a great opportunity for United States health science students because Costa Rica is considered to have one of the best health care systems in Latin America, while still facing unique health care challenges of a middle income country,” Alberto Cardelle, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Sciences, said.

For more information contact Dr. Drago at 570-422-3499 or adrago@esu.edu, or Dr. Cardelle at 570-422-3425 or acardelle@esu.edu.