News - Rutgers - School of Health Professions

Our Faculty

Meet SHP's noted researchers, scholars, and practioners.

Our esteemed faculty are making groundbreaking discoveries in cancer treatments, aging, addiction, mental health, and nutrition's impact on overall health.

Sort by Departments

Sort by Last Name

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ni Gao,PHD

Department : Psychiatric Rehabilitation And Counseling Professions
Program/Division : Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Academic Title: Professor
Administrative Title(s): Director

Office Address:
40 East Laurel Road
UEC, S-EUC-2105
Stratford , NJ 08084
Phone: (856) 566-2770

Email: ni.gao.phd@rutgers.edu

Education
Degree	Degree Source	Year Awarded
MSW	Syracuse University	1991
PHD	UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions	2008

Publications
Title	Authors	Where and When
Leveraging big electronic data to identify oral care disparities in individuals with serious mental illness	Singhal, V., Jia, Y., Gao, N., York, J., Gold-Rosenbach, M., Ginu, N., Arya, R., & Patel, J. S.	General dentistry, 73(4), 68–77. . (2025)
Educational Expectations Matter in College Application and STEM Major Choices for Students with Disabilities	Jia, Y., Eissenstat, S. J., & Gao, N.	Journal of Disability Policy Studies. https://doi.org/10.1177/10442073251368339 (2025)
Need for Interprofessional Collaboration for Depression Interventions: From Research to Future	Eissenstat, S. J., Gao, N., Brody, R., & Modak, R.	American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 28(5), 1176-1184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i5.580 (2025)
Explaining Traumatic Stress Experienced by International Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic	Eissenstat, S. J., Gao, N., Wacha-Montes, A., Wang, Y., Lee, Y., Oh, S. & Castanos, V.	Journal of International Students. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2472183 Online ahead of print (2025)
Interprofessional Training for Opioid Disorder Treatment: A Pilot Study of Student Outcome Analysis of Interprofessional Training	Minor, T., Back, A., Lu, W., Gao, N., Oursler, J., Beninato, J., Choi, J., Srijeyanthan, J., Demasi, M., & Robinson, M.	Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services. 0(0), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20250313-02 (2025)
Using EPIS to Improve and Sustain Career Services Within Community Behavioral Health Settings	Dolce, J., Banko, A., Valiant, J., Nuhu-Sulemana, M., Gao, N., Salzman, A., & Rodriguez, M.	The Rehabilitation Professional, 33(2). https://doi.org/10.70385/001c.143989 (2025)
Employment-related soft skills for young adults with disabilities	Lu, W., Oursler, J., Gao, N., Beninato, J., Herrick, S. J., Durante, A., Bazan, C., Socha, C., Gbadamosi, S., Meyers, E., & Hill, K.	Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1177/10522263251337587 (2025)
The Experiences and Impact on wellness among International Students in the United States during COVID-19 Pandemic	Gao, N., Eissenstat, S. J., Wacha-Montes, A., & Wang, Y.	Journal of American College Health. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2052077 (2024)
Effectiveness of acupuncture and brief telehealth intervention for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder	Lu, W., Chen, Y., Gao, N., Wang, K., Srijeyanthan, J., Beninato, J., Oursler, J., Lin, K. W.-R., Ben-Ari, T. Z., Ray, S., & Caldwell, B.	Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20240612-02 (2024)
Telehealth non-inferior to in-person for vocational counseling: A comparison study of “Asking for Help” group intervention to improve soft skills.	Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S.J., Gao, N., Harosh, A.S., Wang, K., Beninato, J., Morales, M., Diviney, J., & Mevawala, J.	Journal of Employment Counseling 61(4), 237-256. https://doi.org/10.1002/joec.12234 (2024)
Behavioral interventions of dietary changes to reduce depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis	Eissenstat, S., Gao, N., Kim, B., Brody, R., & Hauck, E.	Journal of Public Health. Published online first. doi:10.1007/s10389-023-02157-z (2023)
Healing trauma while staying at home: Using telehealth to conduct a brief treatment program for posttraumatic stress disorder	Lu, W., Caldwell, B., Gao, N., Oursler, J., Wang, K., Beninato, J., Srijeyanthan, J., Kumi, C., Sawyer, J., Giacobbe, G., Chen, Y., Lin, K. W., & Mueser, K. T.	Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 1–11. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20231205-01 (2023)
Focus groups on employment related soft skills for transition age youth with disabilities	Lu, W., Oursler, J., Gao, N., Herrick, S., Mariani, J., Diviney, J., Socha, C., & Beninato, J.	Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 59(2), 123-137. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-230033 (2023)
Comparing telehealth-based vs. in-person soft skills training for persons with disabilities during COVID-19: A pilot study	Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S. J., Gao, N., Diviney, J., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Wang, K., Santiago, G., & Parrott, J. S.	The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 48(1), 57-77. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2022.2158973 (2023)
Conversational skills at work: Teaching small talk via telehealth to individuals with disabilities	Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S. J., Gao, N., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Eissenstat, S., Harosh, A. S., Wang, K., Diviney, J., Schultz, E., Silva, J., & Lee, D.	Journal of Employment Counseling, 60(4), 260–281. https://doi.org/10.1002/joec.12217 (2023)
Responding to feedback: Employment-related soft skills for persons with disabilities	Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S. J., Gao, N., Wang, K., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Franco, S., & Jackson, S.	Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 54(3), 229-247. https://doi.org/10.1891/JARC-2022-0017 (2023)
A One-Year Follow-up Study of Changes in Social Media Use among College Students with Disabilities	Gao, N., Eissenstat, S. J., & DeMasi, M.	Journal of American College Health. 10.1080/07448481.2022.2047707 (2022)
A Rapid Response to Training Needs for Rehabilitation Practitioners: An Exploratory Study	Dolce, J., Gao, N., Bates, F., Banko, A., Stone, B., & Akhtar, I.	The Rehabilitation Professional, 30 (1), 37-48. (2022)
The Association Between Food Insecurity and Psychological Distress Among Graduate Health Professions Students	Sullivan, J., Gao, N., Byham-Gray, L., & Sackey, J.	Current Developments in Nutrition, 6(Suppl 1), 179. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzac051.095. (2022)
Anxiety, Depression and Food Insecurity Among Health Professions Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic	Sackey, J., Sullivan, J., Brody, R., Gao, N., Touger-Decker, R., & Byham-Gray, L.	Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 122 (9). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.06.046. (2022)
The relationship between hope and symptoms	Waynor, W. R., Gao, N., Dolce, J. N., Haytas, L., & Reilly, A.	Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. Vol. 35 (4): 345-348 (2012 )
Building Human Capital to Increase Earning Power among People Living with Mental Illnesses	Gao, N., Schmidt, L. T., Gill, K., & Pratt, C. W.	Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. Vol. 35(2): 117-124 (2011 )
The application of human capital theory in vocational rehabilitation for individuals with mental illness	Gao, N, Gill, K. J., Schmidt, L. T., & Pratt, C. W.	Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, . Vol. 32 (1): 25-33 (2010 )
A case illustration of strategies to improve employment outcomes among individuals receiving ACT services	Gao, N. & Dolce, J. N.	American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Vol. 13 (2): 75-88 (2010 )
One-Stop Career Center customer satisfaction questionnaire: Psychometric properties of an instrument that can be used by individuals with and without disabilities	Gervey, R., & Gao, N.	Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. Vol. 30 (1): 21-29 (2009 )
Creating organizational commitment to change: Key to consumer employment success in a supportive housing agency.	Gao, N., Waynor, W. R., O Donnell, S.	Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. Vol. 31(1): 45-50 (2009 )
Person-centered employment planning teams: a demonstration project to enhance employment and training outcomes for persons with disabilities accessing the One-Stop Career Center system.	Gervey, R., Gao, N., Tillman, D., Dickel, K., & Kneubuehl, J.	Journal of Rehabilitation, 75(2), 43-49.. Vol. 75(2): 43-49 (2009 )
Gloucester County One-Stop Project: Results of staff training on customer satisfaction and employment outcomes for person with disabilities	Gervey, R., Costello, L. & Gao, N	Journal of Rehabilitation. Vol. 73 (3): 10-17 (2007 )
Diversity and Cultural Competence. In M.S. Salzer (Ed.), Psychiatric rehabilitation skills in practice: A CPRP preparation and skills workbook	Rogers, J., Restrepo-Toro, M. E. & Gao, N.	Vol. : 387-440 (2006 )
Gloucester County One Stop Project: Baseline level of Access and Satisfaction of One Stop Center Customers with Disability	Gervey, R., Gao, N. & Rizzo, D.	Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. Vol. 21: 103-115 (2004 )

Awards
Award	Year
Editorial Board Member, The Journal of Specialists in Group Work	2024-2027
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation	2018-2026
Editorial Advisory Board Member, Behavioral Medicine	2021-2024
Excellence in Research of SHRP	2011
Distinguished Service Award	1997
Doctoral Student Scholarship Award	2004-2005

Research
Research Interests
Factors such as education attainment associated with employment success among individuals with psychiatric disability; Cultural issues in psychiatric services

Research Grants
Title	Sponsor	Effective Dates	Role
Navigating Higher Education: Telehealth Transdiagnostic CBT and Supported Education for Post-Secondary Students with Mental Health Conditions	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated Grant	September 2025-August 2028	Co-Investigator
My CTE Journey: A Digital Toolkit for Navigating Career and Technical Education	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated Grant	September 2024-August 2027	Prrinciple Investigator
Developing A Career Services Toolkit for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness Pursuing Career & Technical Education	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated Grant	September 2020-August 2024	Principle Investigator
Evaluating the Impact of Employment Services in Supportive Housing	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated Grant	September 2013-August 2017	Principle Investigator
Internet Assisted Career-Oriented Soft-skills Training (iCareer) for Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial”)	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated Grant	September 2022-September 2025	Co-Investigator
Evaluating the Impact of Employment Services in Supportive Housing	NIDRR, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services	2013 - Ongoing	PI
The Impact of Self-Help Center Characteristics on the Satisfaction and Empowerment of People with Serious Mental Illness	UMDNJ Foundation	2009 - Present	principle investgator

BioSketch
Title	Details
Associate Professor	Ni Gao, Ph.D., LCSW is an assistant professor at the Integrated Employment Institute in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at UMDNJ, where she provides consultation and technical assistance related to the development and delivery of evidence-based practice employment services. Previously Ms. Gao worked in the community mental health field in New York and New Jersey. She has worked in case management, partial care and outpatient programs and held management positions for over ten years. She has presented workshops and trainings in New Jersey and at national conferences. Her research interests include enhancing employment services and outcomes among people with mental illness and improving mental health services for ethnic minority groups. Ms. Gao is a co-author of several articles on employment issues for people with psychiatric disabilities

Click here to edit profile