Dhara Thakar Meghani

Dhara Thakar Meghani

Associate Professor

Full-Time Faculty

(415) 422-4246

Biography

Dr. Meghani is a licensed psychologist teaching in the School of Nursing and Health Professions Clinical Psychology PsyD program, and she currently serves as the faculty advisor for its peer mentoring program. Her research concerns the promotion of both infant and perinatal mental health and family relationships through the design and implementation of accessible, evidence-based interventions aimed to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression during the transition to parenthood. 

Dr. Meghani is the founder of Parentline, a free telehealth service that provides psychological support to parents of children from birth to three years of age. Parentline also partners with several community agencies and non-profits across the San Francisco Bay Area to provide free parenting support groups and psychoeducational workshops. Additionally, Dr. Meghani co-hosts the podcast "Professor Dhara and Nurse Judy," which provides seasoned psychological and medical advice for parents with young children.

Appointments
Member, Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health (Research Committee 2013-14) 2012 - 2014
Member, Asian American Psychological Association 2007 - Present
Member, American Psychological Association 2005 – Present
12/2013 – Present: Board of Director, South Asian Public Health Association
Member, Academic Integrity Committee, University of San Francisco, 2018–Present
Member, Academic Standards Committee, USF School of Nursing and Health Professions, 2018–Present
Member, Simulation Committee, USF School of Nursing and Health Professions, 2018–Present
Faculty Advisor, USF PsyD Program Peer Mentoring Program, 2018–Present
Chair, USF Clinical Psychology PsyD Program Standardized Patient Evaluation Exam, 2016, 2017, 2019
Education
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
M.S., Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
B.A., Psychology (Anthropology minor), University of California Berkeley
Research
Trauma and developmental psychopathology
Parenting styles and culture
Education and training in the health professions
Selected Publications

Meghani, D. & Harvey, E. (2016). Asian Indian international students’ trajectories of depression, acculturation, and enculturation. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 7(1), 1-14.

Thakar, D. & Tummala-Narra, P. Asian American Psychological Association (2014). Trauma and violence exposure among Asian American and Pacific Islander children [Fact sheet produced for American Psychological Association, Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs, Resources and Publications website].

Thakar, D. (2014). Raising digital natives: Screen time recommendations for children. South Asian Parent: Borrowed Knowledge [web log]. http://www.southasianparent.com/discover/raising-digital-natives/

Thakar, D., Coffino, B., & Lieberman, A. (2013). Maternal symptomatology and parentchild relationship functioning in a diverse sample of young children exposed to trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26(2), 217-224.

Errazuriz, P., Harvey, E., & Thakar, D. (2012). A longitudinal study of the relation between depressive symptomatology and parenting. Family Relations, 61, 271-282.

Thakar, D. (2012). Why teens revel in risk: Adolescent development and thinking errors. South Asian Parent: Borrowed Knowledge [web log]. http://www.southasianparent.com/inspire/why-teens-revel-in-risk/

Gilbert, P., Herzig, K., Thakar, D., Viloria, J., Bogetz, A., Danley, D., et al. (2007). How health care setting affects prenatal providers’ risk reduction practices: A qualitative comparison of settings. Women and Health, 45, 41-57.

Meghani, D. (2018). Promoting resilience through early parenting challenges. Profiles in Community-Engaged Learning, University of San Francisco, 2017-18

Meghani, D.T. & Harvey, E. (2016). Asian Indian international students’ trajectories of depression, acculturation, and enculturation. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 7(1), 1-14

Thakar, D., Coffino, B., & Lieberman, A. (2013). Maternal symptomatology and parent-child relationship functioning in a diverse sample of young children exposed to trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26, 217-224

Errazuriz, P., Harvey, E., & Thakar, D. (2012). A longitudinal study of the relation between depressive symptomatology and parenting. Family Relations, 61, 271-282

Awards & Distinctions

$4,590: University of San Francisco Jesuit Foundation Grant (April 2016): Awarded to support training of PsyD students to work with stressed and underserved families during the transition to parenthood.

 Leadership Fellow, Asian American Psychological Association, 2013–2014

Recipient of American Psychological Association Early Career Grant for Community Workshops, 2019

Recipient of American Psychological Association Division 37 Mark Chaffin Early Career Research Grant, 2018

Mentor of the Year, University of San Francisco Office of the Provost Merit Award, 2018

First Author of Feature Article in Asian American Journal of Psychology March 2016 Issue, 2016