Pediatric health psychology concentration

Fellows in the Pediatric Health Psychology concentration work with a variety of patients with chronic and acute medical diagnoses. Fellows participate in consult rounds and collaborate on patient care with psychiatry fellows and attendings, play therapists, other psychology trainees, and psychologists. They evaluate how a child is functioning in the context of a medical condition, conduct both short-term and long-term interventions, and consult with other staff and the medical team.

A total of three positions are available within the Pediatric Health Psychology Concentration, with two traditional Pediatric Health Psychology positions and one Integrated Primary Care/Foster Care position.

Pediatric health psychology positions

These positions provide a specialized training experience in pediatric health psychology tailored to fellows’ interests and career goals. Flexible rotation selection offers opportunities for breadth of experience through the inpatient medical consultation/liaison (C/L) service, as well as specialization with populations of interest through major rotations (e.g., Oncology, Solid Organ Transplant, Gastroenterology, and others as determined by fellows’ interests and availability). Clinical experience focuses on assessment, intervention, and C/L services on inpatient medical floors and in ambulatory medical clinics with numerous rotation options, including:

  • Cardiology

  • Child Maltreatment Clinic

  • Craniofacial/Plastic Surgery

  • Cystic Fibrosis

  • Endocrinology

  • Epilepsy

  • Gastroenterology

  • Hematology/Sickle Cell

  • Nephrology

  • NICU

  • NICU Follow-Up Primary Care Clinic

  • Oncology

  • Pain Management

  • Pulmonary Medicine

  • Sleep Medicine

  • Solid Organ Transplant

  • Weight Management/Bariatric Surgery

Opportunities may also be available for specialized experience with at-risk populations.

For more information about the Pediatric Health Psychology positions, please contact:

Foster Care Position

This position is based in the Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence at Children’s, which serves as the primary care provider for children in the foster care system. Clinical opportunities within this role include:

  • Specialization in trauma-informed integrated primary care, with opportunities for multidisciplinary assessment, intervention, consultation, and psychoeducation services

  • Focused intervention experience in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

  • Trauma-informed psychological and developmental assessment

Fellows in this position may also have opportunities to collaborate on and receive mentorship related to mental health policy, research, and community outreach initiatives.

For more information about the Foster Care position, please contact: Kristin Scott, Ph.D.

Concentration Objectives

In addition to the general objectives shared by the training program for all postdoctoral fellows, fellows in the pediatric health psychology specialization do the following:

  • Utilize a biopsychosocial framework to guide a thorough clinical interview and to develop a clear case conceptualization of each patient and family.

  • Demonstrate understanding of evidence-based interventions in pediatric psychology, and use that knowledge to develop and implement effective treatment plans.

  • Collaborate and communicate effectively with various members of the multidisciplinary team within a medical setting to positively impact patient care.

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of ethical and cultural issues in pediatric psychology and child health issues.

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the impact of various pediatric health conditions on patient and family adjustment and quality of life.

Concentration Faculty

  • Juliana Alba-Suarez, Ph.D. – Cystic Fibrosis and Pulmonary Medicine

  • Ranya Alnatour, Psy.D. – Hematology and Oncology

  • Adrienne Anderson, Ph.D. – Nephrology

  • Corinne Anton, Ph.D., ABPP – Cardiology

  • Bethelhem Belachew, Ph.D.

  • Emily Bernstein, Ph.D.

  • W. David Brown, Ph.D. – Sleep Medicine

  • Randi Cheatham-Johnson, Ph.D. – Cardiology

  • Julie Germann, Ph.D., ABPP – Oncology

  • Celia Heppner, Psy.D., ABPP – Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery

  • Abby Hodges, Ph.D.

  • Suzanne Holm, Ph.D. – Oncology

  • Hillary Kimbley, Ph.D. – Epilepsy

  • Katherine Magnuson, Psy.D.

  • Jenna Oppenheim, Psy.D., ABPP – Hematology and Oncology

  • Jyotsna Panthee, Psy.D.

  • Sarah Pennant, Ph.D. – Pain Management

  • Stevie Puckett-Perez, Ph.D., ABPP – Gastroenterology

  • Eileen Santa-Sosa, Ph.D., ABPP – Thrive (NICU Follow-Up) Clinic

  • Lisa Schuster, Ph.D. – REACH (Child Maltreatment) Clinic

  • Kristin Scott, Ph.D. – Foster Care

  • Clinton Smith, Psy.D.

  • Megan Tierney, Psy.D., ABPP – Consult-Liaison

  • Kelli Triplett, Ph.D., ABPP – Solid Organ Transplant

  • Alicia Wheelington, Ph.D. – Weight Management