Current Environment: Production

Medical Services

Programs & Services

Education

Undergraduate School

BA, Psychology

Williams College

2002, Williamstown, MA

Graduate School

Loyola University Chicago

2012, Chicago, IL

Residency

Rush University Medical Center

2012, Chicago, IL

Fellowship

Boston Children's Hospital

Boston, MA

Professional History

After receiving a BA in psychology at Williams College and gaining several years of clinical and research experience, I knew that a career in psychology, working as a scientist and practitioner with children and adolescents, was my ultimate goal.  Excited to pursue my passion, I earned a doctorate in clinical psychology at Loyola University Chicago, with a subspecialty in children and families.  Next, I completed my pre-doctoral residency in pediatric psychology at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC). At RUMC, I developed a strong interest in working at the intersection of psychology and medicine. Aiming to specialize in pediatric (health) psychology, I then completed a post-doctoral psychology fellowship with the Psychiatry Consultation Service (PCS) at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). It was during my fellowship with the PCS that I became interested, more specifically, in understanding and treating pediatric chronic pain. I feel fortunate to now have the opportunity to work as a clinician and researcher on the interdisciplinary team at BCH’s Mayo Family Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center.

Publications

  1. Phenotyping Pain in Patients With Fibrous Dysplasia/McCune-Albright Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Feb 20; 109(3):771-782. View Abstract

  2. Centering Patient and Clinician Voices in Developing Tools to Address Pain Related School Impairment: A Phase I Study of a Virtual Reality School Simulation for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pain. Children (Basel). 2023 Oct 01; 10(10). View Abstract

  3. The Telehealth Tradeoff: A Multimethod Study of the Benefits and Challenges Associated With Maintaining Treatment Outcomes Using a Hybrid Model of Pediatric Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment. Clin J Pain. 2023 07 01; 39(7):307-318. View Abstract

  4. Development and Validation of the Scale for Pain Self-Efficacy (SPaSE) in German and English Languages for Children and Adolescents. J Pain. 2023 06; 24(6):1069-1079. View Abstract

  5. Clinical Assessment of Mechanical Allodynia in Youth With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Development and Preliminary Validation of the Pediatric Tactile Sensitivity Test of Allodynia (Pedi-Sense). J Pain. 2023 04; 24(4):706-715. View Abstract

  6. Will This Treatment Help My Child?: How Parent/Caregiver Treatment Expectations Relate to Intensive Pain Rehabilitation Outcomes for Youth With Chronic Pain. Clin J Pain. 2022 11 01; 38(11):651-658. View Abstract

  7. Perfectly Tired: Perfectionism and Sleep in Adolescents With Chronic Pain. J Pediatr Psychol. 2021 06 03; 46(5):570-577. View Abstract

  8. Understanding How Perfectionism Impacts Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment Outcomes: A Nonrandomized Trial. J Pediatr Psychol. 2021 03 18; 46(3):351-362. View Abstract

  9. Prevalence, Patterns, and Correlates of Pain in Medically Hospitalized Pediatric Patients With Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders. J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry. 2021 Jan-Feb; 62(1):46-55. View Abstract

  10. Under Pressure to Perform: Impact of Academic Goal Orientation, School Motivational Climate, and School Engagement on Pain and Somatic Symptoms in Adolescents. Clin J Pain. 2019 12; 35(12):967-974. View Abstract

  11. Back to Living: Long-term Functional Status of Pediatric Patients Who Completed Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment. Clin J Pain. 2018 10; 34(10):890-899. View Abstract

  12. Topical Review: Perfectionism and Pediatric Chronic Pain: Theoretical Underpinnings, Assessment, and Treatment. J Pediatr Psychol. 2018 04 01; 43(3):326-330. View Abstract

  13. Feeling the Pressure to Be Perfect: Effect on Pain-Related Distress and Dysfunction in Youth With Chronic Pain. J Pain. 2018 04; 19(4):418-429. View Abstract

  14. Children With Chronic Pain: Response Trajectories After Intensive Pain Rehabilitation Treatment. J Pain. 2018 02; 19(2):207-218. View Abstract

  15. Looking good and making it seem easy: A prospective study of effortless perfectionism, body image, and BMI in unhealthy weight-control behaviors among female adolescents and young adults. Emerging Adulthood. 2017; 6(5):327-335.

  16. A Single-Arm Feasibility Trial of Problem-Solving Skills Training for Parents of Children with Idiopathic Chronic Pain Conditions Receiving Intensive Pain Rehabilitation. J Pediatr Psychol. 2017 05 01; 42(4):422-433. View Abstract

  17. Reasons for the after-school pressure cooker in affluent communities: It's not how much time, but why. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2016; 25(5):1559-1569.

  18. Bullying Victimization in Medically Hospitalized Patients With Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders: Prevalence and Associated Factors. Hosp Pediatr. 2016 May; 6(5):290-6. View Abstract

  19. Living Life With My Child's Pain: The Parent Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (PPAQ). Clin J Pain. 2015 Jul; 31(7):633-41. View Abstract

  20. The cost of perfection with apparent ease: Theoretical foundations and development of the Effortless Perfectionism Scale. Psychol Assess. 2015 Dec; 27(4):1147-59. View Abstract

  21. Understanding affluent adolescent adjustment: The interplay of parental perfectionism, perceived parental pressure, and organized activity involvement. J Adolesc. 2015 Jun; 41:56-66. View Abstract

  22. Characteristics of medically hospitalized pediatric patients with somatoform diagnoses. Hosp Pediatr. 2014 Sep; 4(5):283-90. View Abstract

  23. Somatoform disorders and trauma in medically-admitted children, adolescents, and young adults: prevalence rates and psychosocial characteristics. Psychosomatics. 2014 Nov-Dec; 55(6):630-9. View Abstract

  24. Multimethod analyses of discretionary time use and health behaviors among urban low-income African-American adolescents: a pilot study. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2013 Oct; 34(8):589-98. View Abstract

  25. Brief report: adolescent adjustment in affluent communities: the role of motivational climate and goal orientation. J Adolesc. 2013 Apr; 36(2):423-8. View Abstract

  26. Understanding threshold effects of organized activity involvement in adolescents: sex and family income as moderators. J Adolesc. 2012 Feb; 35(1):107-18. View Abstract

  27. The development and evaluation of a portion plate for youth: a pilot study. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2011 Jul-Aug; 43(4):268-73. View Abstract

  28. Capturing unique dimensions of youth's organized activity involvement: Theoretical and methodological considerations. Review of Educational Research. 2010; 80:576-610.

  29. Organized activity involvement, depressive symptoms, and social adjustment in adolescents: ethnicity and socioeconomic status as moderators. J Youth Adolesc. 2009 Oct; 38(9):1187-98. View Abstract

  30. Relationships between discretionary time activities, emotional experiences, delinquency and depressive symptoms among urban African American adolescents. J Youth Adolesc. 2009 Apr; 38(4):587-601. View Abstract

  31. Mania, glutamate/glutamine and risperidone in pediatric bipolar disorder: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the anterior cingulate cortex. J Affect Disord. 2007 Apr; 99(1-3):19-25. View Abstract

  32. Association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bulimia nervosa: analysis of 4 case-control studies. J Clin Psychiatry. 2006 Mar; 67(3):351-4. View Abstract

  33. Differences in brain chemistry in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with and without comorbid bipolar disorder: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Feb; 163(2):316-8. View Abstract

  34. Differences in brain chemistry in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with and without comorbid bipolar disorder: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2006; 163:316-318.

As a pediatric psychologist specializing in chronic pain, I have gained a deep appreciation for a holistic and integrated approach to care. I rely on developing strong therapeutic relationships so that patients and families feel comfortable letting me join them as they navigate the daunting journey from disability to health and wellness. My aim is to provide patients with the tools to ultimately help themselves so that they take back control and enjoy a sense of self-efficacy. I feel privileged to be able to work with such a skilled and passionate interdisciplinary team at BCH’s Mayo Family Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center – I enjoy smiles inside and out when I hear parents share with the team that “I have my child back!” and when I witness my patients getting back to what they love.

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