Dzung X. Vo

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital
Adolescent Medicine Specialist, BC Children's Hospital
Program Director, Adolescent Medicine Subspecialty Residency Program, BC Children's Hospital and University of British Columbia

Academic Affiliations

Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Research Theme

Brain, Behaviour & Development

Research Group

Implementing Knowledge for Equity and System Change

Neurodevelopmental and Neurological Disorders

Research Areas

Contact

dvo@cw.bc.ca

Phone

(604) 875-2970

Mailing Address

950 West 28th Ave
Vancouver, BC
V5Z 4H4

Overview: My primary area of research is on mindfulness-based interventions for adolescents with depression, anxiety, and/or pain. I also do research on health equity and social determinants of health, vulnerable child and adolescent populations ("Social Pediatrics"), and somatization and mind-body medicine. I have written a book for teens called "The Mindful Teen: Powerful Skills to Help You Handle Stress One Moment at a Time," and a website, www.mindfulnessforteens.com, to help translate research and innovation into practice and public knowledge.
Publications: Mindful awareness and resilience skills for adolescents (MARS-A): a mixed-methods study of a mindfulness-based intervention for a heterogeneous adolescent clinical population
International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health
Dzung X. Vo and Katarina Tabi and Manreet and Andrea Johnson and Jake Locke and Sophia Wang and S. Evelyn Stewart and Sheila K. Marshall
DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2023-0112
02/2024
Time to act: Early experience suggests stabilization care offers a feasible approach for adolescents after acute life-threatening opioid toxicity
Paediatrics and Child Health (Canada)
Moore, E.M. and Warshawski, T. and Jassemi, S. and Charles, G. and Vo, D.X.
DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxac034
2022
Treatment approaches and outcome trajectories for youth with high-risk opioid use: A narrative review
Early Intervention in Psychiatry
Westenberg, J.N. and Tai, A.M.Y. and Elsner, J. and Kamel, M.M. and Wong, J.S.H. and Azar, P. and Vo, D.X. and Moore, E. and Mathew, N. and Seethapathy, V. and Choi, F. and Vogel, M. and Krausz, R.M.
DOI: 10.1111/eip.13155
2022
Towards an International Consensus on the Prevention, Treatment, and Management of High-Risk Substance Use and Overdose among Youth
Medicina (Lithuania)
Krausz, M. and Westenberg, J.N. and Tsang, V. and Suen, J. and Ignaszewski, M.J. and Mathew, N. and Azar, P. and Cabanis, M. and Elsner, J. and Vogel, M. and Spijkerman, R. and Orsolini, L. and Vo, D. and Moore, E. and Moe, J. and Strasser, J. and Köck, P. and Marian, C. and Dürsteler, K.M. and Backmund, M. and Röhrig, J. and Post, M. and Haltmayer, H. and Wladika, W. and Trabi, T. and Muller, C. and Rechberger, G. and Teesson, M. and Farrell, M. and Christie, G. and Merry, S. and Mamdouh, M. and Alinksy, R. and Levy, S. and Fishman, M. and Rosenthal, R. and Jang, K. and Choi, F.
DOI: 10.3390/medicina58040539
2022
Breathe
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
Vo, D.X.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.01.004
2021
Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Adolescents: Time to Consider Telehealth
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Chadi, N. and Weisbaum, E. and Vo, D.X. and Ahola Kohut, S.
DOI: 10.1089/acm.2019.0302
2020
Social Pediatrics: A Model to Confront Family Poverty, Adversity, and Housing Instability and Foster Healthy Child and Adolescent Development and Resilience
Clinical Care for Homeless, Runaway and Refugee Youth: Intervention Approaches, Education and Research Directions
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-40675-2_7
2020
A Case Report: Rapid Micro-Induction of Buprenorphine/Naloxone to Administer Buprenorphine Extended-Release in an Adolescent With Severe Opioid Use Disorder
American Journal on Addictions
Azar, P. and Wong, J.S.H. and Jassemi, S. and Moore, E. and Vo, D.X. and Nikoo, M. and Young, S.
DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13050
2020
Pediatric somatization in the emergency department: Assessing missed opportunities for early management
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine
Virk, P. and Vo, D.X. and Ellis, J. and Doan, Q.
DOI: 10.1017/cem.2019.477
2020
Secure care can help youth reduce imminent risk of serious harm and prevent unnecessary death
CMAJ
Warshawski, T. and Charles, G. and Vo, D. and Moore, E. and Jassemi, S.
DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.71451
2019
Comparison of an in-Person Vs. Ehealth Mindfulness Meditation-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Chronic Medical Conditions: A Mixed Methods Study
Journal of Adolescent Health
Nicholas Chadi and Miriam Kaufman and Elli Weisbaum and Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise and Sara Ahola Kohut and Jake Locke and Dzung X. Vo
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.11.026
02/2018
In-Person Versus eHealth Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents With Chronic Illness: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
JMIR Research Protocols
Nicholas Chadi and Miriam Kaufman and Elli Weisbaum and Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise and Sara Ahola Kohut and Christine Viner and Jake Locke and Dzung X Vo
DOI: 10.2196/resprot.7700
11/2017
In-Person Versus eHealth Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents With Chronic Illness: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Nicholas Chadi and Miriam Kaufman and Elli Weisbaum and Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise and Sara Ahola Kohut and Christine Viner and Jake Locke and Dzung X Vo
DOI: 10.2196/preprints.7700
03/2017
Mindfulness for adolescent chronic pain: a pilot feasibility study
Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Lovas, D.A. and Pajer, K. and Chorney, J.M. and Vo, D.X. and Howlett, M. and Doyle, A. and Huber, A.
DOI: 10.2989/17280583.2017.1355807
2017
Emergency care of youth with social and environmental vulnerabilities
Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews
Vo, D.X. and Mitchell, K.A. and Moore, E.M.
2015
Mindfulness and adolescents: A clinical review of recent mindfulness-based studies in clinical and nonclinical adolescent populations
Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews
PubMed: 27132325
08/2014
Acculturation, Gender, and Mental Health of Southeast Asian Immigrant Youth in Canada
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Hilario, C.T. and Vo, D.X. and Johnson, J.L. and Saewyc, E.M.
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-9978-x
2014
Mindfulness and adolescence: A clinical review of recent mindfulness-based studies in clinical and nonclinical adolescent populations
Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews
Vo, D.X. and Doyle, J. and Christie, D.
2014
Taking a history with newcomer children and adolescents
Paediatrics and Child Health (Canada)
Vo, D.
DOI: 10.1093/pch/19.2.87
2014
Promoting equity and reducing health disparities among racially/ethnically diverse adolescents: A position paper of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
Journal of Adolescent Health
Barkley, L. and Kodjo, C. and West, K.J. and Vo, D.X. and Chulani, V.L. and Svetaz, M.V. and Sylvester, M.S. and Kaul, P. and Sanchez, M.O.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.03.021
2013
Role of Race/Ethnicity on Adolescents' Perceptions of Sex-Related Risks and Benefits
Journal of Adolescent Health
Dzung X. Vo and Anna V. Song and Bonnie L. Halpern-Felsher
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.10.010
02/2009
Helping young men thrive: Positive youth development and men's health
American Journal of Men's Health
Vo, D.X. and Park, M.J.
DOI: 10.1177/1557988309351954
2009
Racial/Ethnic disparities and culturally competent health care among youth and young men
American Journal of Men's Health
Vo, D.X. and Park, J.M.
DOI: 10.1177/1557988308317758
2008
Stress and stress management among youth and young men
American Journal of Men's Health
Vo, D.X. and Park, M.J.
DOI: 10.1177/1557988308325069
2008
Voices of Asian American youth: Important characteristics of clinicians and clinical sites
Pediatrics
Vo, D.X. and Pate, O.L. and Zhao, H. and Siu, P. and Ginsburg, K.R.
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2007-0351
2007
Important characteristics of clinicians and clinical sites: The voice of immigrant Asian youth
Journal of Adolescent Health
Dzung X. Vo and Olivia C. Lee and Irena Tsui and Huaqing Zhao and Philip Siu and Kenneth Ginsburg
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.11.058
02/2005
Defining subtypes of childhood bipolar illness
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Weller, E.B. and Weller, R.A. and Vo, D.X.
DOI: 10.1097/00004583-200401000-00004
2004
Can the Mindful Awareness and Resilience Skills for Adolescents (MARS-A) program be provided online? Voices from the Youth
Nicholas Chadi and Elli Weisbaum and Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise and Sara Ahola Kohut and Christine Viner and Miriam Kaufman and Jake Locke and Dzung X. Vo
DOI: 10.20944/preprints201807.0545.v1
Research: Current Projects
My current primary research interests focus on stress and stress management interventions with adolescents. I am currently implementing a clinical trial of MARS-A (Mindful Awareness and Resilience in Adolescents), for adolescents with psychological distress, with or without co-occurring chronic pain or chronic illness.

Grants

2011
"Investigating Mindful Awareness and Resilience Skills for Adolescents." Children’s and Women’s Mental Health Programs, BC Mental Health and Addictions Services.

Honours & Awards

Society for Adolescent Medicine, Finalist, New Investigator Award. 2009.

Research Group Members

Charlene Black, Senior Project Manager - Health Promotion & Health Literacy
Stephanie Kemp, Nurse Clinician Adolescent Health Medicine
Daisy Yin, Fellowship Program Coordinator

Stories See all

Planting the seed for lifelong resilience in teens through mindfulness

The importance of self-care has become more and more evident, especially during these pandemic times. Yet, practicing self-care is highly personal and can look very different from one person to the next. For International Self-Care Day, we talked with Dr. Dzung Vo about self-care and his clinical work with teenagers on mindfulness-based interventions.

Continue reading Planting the seed for lifelong resilience in teens through mindfulness

Congratulations CIHR Spring 2024 Project Grant recipients

Congratulations to the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) and Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI) investigators and their teams who were awarded $5 million in funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Spring 2024 Project Grant competition.

Continue reading Congratulations CIHR Spring 2024 Project Grant recipients

National study on the social and economic costs of eating disorders in children and youth during COVID-19 a 'vast underestimate'

A new pan-Canadian analysis showed a sharp increase in the cost of eating disorders in children and youth, comparing the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study resulted from a collaboration between more than 40 health-care and academic partners, including BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Continue reading National study on the social and economic costs of eating disorders in children and youth during COVID-19 a 'vast underestimate'

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Achievement Awards and the Clinical & Translational Research Seed Grant

BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute is pleased to congratulate the recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Achievement Awards and the Clinical & Translational Research Seed Grant. These programs, generously funded by the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, play a pivotal role in acknowledging and nurturing excellence within our research community.

Continue reading Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Achievement Awards and the Clinical & Translational Research Seed Grant

First-of-its-kind research unveils Autistic individuals' perspectives on genetic testing

For the first time, Autistic individuals have been asked to share with researchers what they think and feel about genetic testing in the context of autism. Previous research has instead focused on the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of Autistic individuals' parents, caregivers, and health-care providers.

Continue reading First-of-its-kind research unveils Autistic individuals' perspectives on genetic testing

Videos

Just Breathe! Mindfulness for Adolescent Stress and Anxiety Management

Let's talk about stress and anxiety management from a youth development and resilience perspective, and explore the science and practice of mindfulness-based interventions. Presented by Dr. Dzung X. Vo, Investigator & Program Director, Adolescent Medicine Subspecialist, Residency Program, BC Children's Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UBC. (2018)

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