Jenny Tran, PhD

I am a Licensed Psychologist specializing in psychosocial cancer care, with a robust foundation in health psychology. My clinical work supports individuals facing challenges such as anxiety, grief, insomnia, fatigue, and chronic pain often common in the context of serious illness. Beyond symptom management, I take a humanistic and relational approach to support patients through the emotional, practical, and existential challenges of illness. I help patients be intentional in how they navigate their experience, while staying compassionate with themselves and others. My practice integrates each person’s culture, identity, and history to foster insight, meaning, and a sense of continuity or change—whether time feels limited or more certain.

In my role as a Clinical Psychologist at Simms Mann Center, I provide assessment, support, and consultation to patients, loved ones, and other members of the healthcare team. This can take many forms—sitting with a patient during chemotherapy session, being present in the exam room during difficult conversations with their oncologist, facilitating a family meeting, or meeting virtually to provide ongoing support and spare a long drive.

Simms/Mann Center Programming

I am based in the UCLA Health Alhambra Cancer Care clinic and am also available via telehealth to patients receiving their cancer care at other UCLA Health locations.

Every first Wednesday of the month, I facilitate an educational webinar “Navigating GI Cancer: UCLA Resources & Support” for patients who are coping with a gastrointestinal-related cancer; loved ones are always invited & encouraged to attend! Other educational webinars I have created or presented on include coping with: chronic pain, fatigue management, cancer-related anxiety, insomnia. Stay tuned for future health-related topics.

I also enjoy supervising graduate students who intern with us during the academic year. I am licensed to practice psychology in the state of California, PSY 34837.

Training and Professional Experience

I received my Bachelor’s in Psychology at University of California, San Diego, and then went on to earn my Master’s and PhD in Clinical Psychology with a Health emphasis, from California School of Professional Psychology (Los Angeles) at Alliant International University.

My research examined the influence of cultural values and coping styles on the quality of life of family caregivers supporting older adults with chronic illness. Inspired by my own experiences as a caregiver to my late father, my dissertation served as both a scholarly contribution and personal dedication to the challenges and resilience of family caregiving.

My training spanned diverse settings and populations, with one particularly transformative year at the Simms Mann Center, which solidified my professional commitment to cancer care. Other selected clinical practicums included facilitating exposure-based therapies for individuals with severe anxiety, panic disorders, phobias, and OCD at the Renewed Freedom Center; providing individual & group support to older adult Veterans at the West Los Angeles VA, many of whom were living with chronic medical conditions, disabilities, psychiatric disorders, and other trauma-related stressors; and administering cognitive assessments & neuropsychological batteries in the community.

My pre-doctoral training culminated with the completion of my APA-accredited internship at VA St. Louis Healthcare where I reunited with cancer care at Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine. At the VA, I received additional integrated health training through rotations in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including palliative care, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, primary care-mental health integration, health promotion. I then returned to California for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship at Simms Mann Center with UCLA Health/David Geffen School of Medicine, where I focused on establishing psychosocial cancer care within our Asian and Asian American communities, before transitioning into my role here today.

Selected Professional Publications and Presentations

Chow, J. J., Phung, P., Nguyen, B., Wang, C., Tran, J., Nguyen, T., Hales, S., Rodin, G., & Kim, J. H. J. (2025, March). Cultural adaptation of psychotherapy for Mandarin- and Vietnamese-speaking metastatic cancer patients: Perspectives from bicultural healthcare professionals. Poster presented at Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States

Ye, C., Tran, J.B., Cleary, E., & Villaflores, C. (2024, March). Feasibility and Effectiveness of Virtual Worry Workshop. Podium and Poster presented at American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) Conference, Albuquerque, NM.

Hsia, J. F., Tran, J. B., Srivastava, D., & Boyd, B. (2022, August). Creating Community and Belongingness among Women of Color Students and Professionals. Critical Conversation session presented at 130th American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention, Washington D.C.

Hsia, J. F., Tran, J. B., Balolong-Publico, S., Srivastava, D., & Boyd, B. (2021, August). Shifting Our Mindsets as Women of Color Students and Professionals. Critical Conversation session presented at 129th American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention, Minneapolis, MN.

Personal Interests

Being a Los Angeles native, I revel in occasionally escaping the busy county and finding peace in the Eastern Sierra mountains, where I enjoy camping and fishing with my partner and our two dogs. My friends often joke that I have a second job as an event planner—I enjoy crafting, curating themes, creating charcuterie boards, dressing up, and bringing people together to celebrate both ourselves and the ones we love.