Research in the Division of Pediatric Psychology is focused on achieving the best psychosocial, neurocognitive and medical outcomes for children living with chronic health conditions and their families. We conduct clinical research on multidisciplinary teams with our colleagues in neurology, endocrinology, pulmonology, oncology and cardiology.
Faculty members and trainees share their expertise and research findings at local, national and international professional meetings, including Vanderbilt Diabetes Day, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, the Society of Pediatric Psychology and the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology.
See below to learn more about our investigators and their research efforts.
Our Investigators
Jenna Chiang, PsyD, ABPP-CN
Dr. Chiang is a pediatric neuropsychologist who specializes in brain-behavior relationships and neuropsychological evaluation of children and adolescents with CNS-related conditions. Her research focuses on understanding how factors beyond medical/cognitive characteristics interact with and impact functional outcomes in pediatric epilepsy, cancer, and other neurological conditions. Domains thus far have included sleep and napping behavior, neighborhood disadvantage, Spanish/dual language exposure and other socioeconomic metrics. She has also investigated cognitive and behavioral outcomes in pediatric epilepsy related to laser interstitial thermal therapy and response to off-label anti-seizure medication. At VUMC, she serves as the principal investigator examining long-term neuropsychological sequelae of various pediatric heart conditions and their associated treatments and is a collaborator in a multicenter study examining neurocognition in youth diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Learn more about Dr. Chiang's research.
Sara Francis, PhD
Dr. Francis is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in psychosocial interventions for youth with emotional and behavioral challenges, chronic health conditions, and neurodevelopmental differences. Her research includes quality improvement (QI) initiatives to improve access to mental healthcare for youth with chronic illnesses. Previous initiatives include assessing barriers to local mental health services for pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and surveying CF caregivers’ interest in mental health service expansions through the Pediatric CF Center at VUMC. Data help guide program development for youth and families served by the CF Center. Dr. Francis plans for similar QI assessment and program development across other medical specialty clinics at VUMC.
Learn more about Dr. Francis' research.
Sarah Jaser, PhD
Dr. Jaser studies risk and protective factors in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. She has demonstrated the effects of adolescent coping, maternal adjustment, and parenting on adolescents' glycemic control and quality of life. She is currently developing and testing interventions to improve outcomes in youth with diabetes and their families. These include a program to help mothers cope effectively with the stress of parenting adolescents with type 1 diabetes, a positive psychology intervention to improve adolescents adherence, and sleep-promoting programs for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. In addition, she is interested in neurocognitive complications in pediatric type 1 diabetes.
Learn more about Dr. Jaser’s research.
Michelle Reising, PhD
Dr. Reising is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in psychosocial intervention for youth with serious health conditions and their families. Her research is clinical intervention based with a focus on stress, trauma, coping, and quality improvement regarding patient-centered care. In collaboration with clinical psychologist, Dr. Shari Neul, Dr. Reising co-created the Behavioral Hematology-Oncology Program (BHOP).
Learn more about Dr. Reising’s research.
Allie P. Wroblewski, MEd, PhD
Dr. Wroblewski’s research interests focus on improving neuroprotective, trauma-informed care for infants and children with complex congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly in the pediatric cardiac ICU and longitudinal cardiac specialty clinics. Current efforts are aimed at developing and implementing collaborative screening and care pathways for pediatric delirium and medical traumatic stress (including PTSD symptoms) using digital tools and multidisciplinary rounding models that integrate psychology/psychiatry with cardiac critical care. Ongoing and future projects include expanding delirium, pain-management and caregiver support initiatives; embedding medical trauma screening in the Fontan clinic; and refining early developmental evaluation workflows during the interstage period to better identify risk and connect families to timely supports. Future efforts will extend these approaches to the adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population by identifying and addressing evolving developmental, cognitive and psychosocial needs across adolescence and adulthood.