Demy Kamboukos, PhD is an assistant professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine and the Assistant Director of the Institute for Prevention Science at the NYU Child Study Center. Her research in the Institute focuses on the development, evaluation and dissemination of family- and school-based preventive interventions. Dr. Kamboukos directs and manages all data for projects focused on the prevention of conduct problems, school failure and obesity in children from low-income urban neighborhoods. She is also the Co-Investigator on a study funded by the Center for Disease Control on the long-term effects of a prevention program, Building Blocks, on children at familial risk for conduct problems.
Dr. Kamboukos earned a BS in psychology and sociology from the University of La Verne, Athens, and an MA in developmental psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She received her MA and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of South Florida. As a graduate student, she completed a research fellowship as part of the Putting Children First Public Policy Fellowship at Columbia University and the William T. Grant Foundation. Dr. Kamboukos completed an internship in clinical child psychology at Schneider Children's Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
Dr. Kamboukos was the Director of Research of the Families Forward Program in the Institute for Trauma and Resilience at the NYU Child Study Center, where she developed, implemented and directed the program’s research projects on risk and resilience in traumatically bereaved families. Prior to joining the NYU Child Study Center, Dr. Kamboukos worked on research projects in developmental psychopathology at the New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University (NYSPI/CU). While at NYSPI/CU, she served as Project Director for a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded preventive intervention with preschool-aged siblings of juvenile delinquents. At the University of South Florida, Dr. Kamboukos conducted research on resilience and father-adolescent relationships. In addition to her research experiences, she has extensive clinical training with children and families, and specializes in parent training and the assessment and treatment of behavioral problems and mood disorders. Dr. Kamboukos has also taught undergraduate classes in developmental psychology at Barnard College as well as research methods and developmental psychology at the University of South Florida.
Dr. Kamboukos has presented at national conferences and has published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Archives of General Psychiatry, Child Development, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, American Psychologist, Journal of Early Adolescence, Journal of Community Psychology, and Child and Family Behavior Therapy.
In the News
Resilience in the Face of Disaster
Demy Kamboukos, PhD, spoke to the Los Angeles Times discussing how individuals can vary in the way they cope with traumatic events such as the Southern California wildfires. (November 24, 2008)
The First Big Step in Letting Go
Dr. Demy Kamboukos spoke to The Times Tribune about the normal reactions parents feel when their children make the transition to college. (July 14, 2007)
Schools, Parents Urged to Heed Threats
Dr. Demy Kamboukos spoke to Newsday about the risk factors, which can possibly lead to teenage violent behavior, parents and school officials should be aware of. (July 14, 2007)
Learning to Care
Dr. Demy Kamboukos spoke to Parents Magazine about how toddlers learn compassion, empathy, and to decode other people's emotions. (June 2007)
Talking to Children About School Violence
Dr. Demy Kamboukos, Director of Research for the Families Forward Program in the Institute for Trauma and Resilience, appeared LIVE on "Healthy Life" on ABC News Now, ABC's 24-hour digital cable news network. Dr. Kamboukos provided tips to parents for talking to children about school violence. (April 18, 2007)
What’s A Dad For?
Dr. Demy Kamboukos answers questions about the role dads play in teens' lives for New Youth Connections (PDF). (November 2006)
9/11 Children's Workbook: Offensive or Respectful?
Dr. Demy Kamboukos talks to ABC News about a September 11th-themed activity workbook designed for kids ages 4 and up. (August 10, 2006)
