Rufina J. Lee is a Research Scientist with the Division of Mental Health Services and Policy Research and the Center for Practice Innovations at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.  

She has worked as a case worker and psychiatric social worker for over 10 years with adults with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) in community, inpatient, and emergency settings.  Her research focuses on two distinct but interconnected areas that arise directly from and are informed by her direct practice experience with this population.  First, she conducts psychosocial intervention research that focuses on improving service delivery and clinical and functional outcomes for adults with SPMI.  Second, because of the heterogeneity of symptoms and capabilities of individuals who are labeled as having SPMI, she conducts research that critically examines the conceptual foundations that underlie the construct of seriousness, or severity, of mental disorders.

Dr. Lee received her BA (English Literature) from Barnard College; her MSW from UC Berkeley; and PhD from the Columbia University School of Social Work where she was the recipient of an NIMH pre-doctoral fellowship in mental health services research.  She also completed an NIMH post-doctoral fellowship in psychiatric epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University.

Last updated December 07, 2011.