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St. Jude Family of Websites
Explore our cutting edge research, world-class patient care, career opportunities and more.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Home
- Fundraising
About the Department
The Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences sets the standard for psychological care and research that fosters optimal health potential and quality of life for patients and families affected by pediatric catastrophic diseases. Through an integrated academic focus across clinical, research, and training efforts in pediatric psychology and neuropsychology, the department advances discovery and care across St. Jude.
An experienced, growing team of faculty leads the department’s cohesive strategy. Department Faculty contribute to innovative research and clinical care initiatives that shape our approach to a patient’s life-long care. We enforce our commitment to this high standard of care through the implementation of novel methodologies and technologies and the ongoing contribution to innovative program initiatives and individualized training experiences for faculty and staff.
Our approach inspires a spirit of collaboration in which all faculty and staff fulfill a vital role in the standard of care for all patients and share a common vision to realize the St. Jude mission.
Departmental priorities
Faculty
To support the integrated academic focus of the Department, Faculty members work across two tracks, Clinician and Clinician Scientist. The track to which Faculty are assigned align with their individual institutional roles, duties, and interests, and all Faculty across the Department contribute to specific clinical and research roles regardless of their track designation.
Faculty on the Clinician track commit seventy-five to ninety percent of their time to clinical care and the remainder to research and institutional stewardship activities. Each member serves as a clinical liaison to primary medical or other speciality services, promoting integration of psychological care across diagnostic populations. Research endeavors for this track are typically collaborative in nature, where Faculty members often serve as co-investigators on departmental and institutional protocols.
Faculty on the Clinician Scientist track commit sixty to seventy-five percent of their time to research activities and the rest to the provision of clinical care. These members serve as Principal Investigators (PIs) on one or more clinical research protocols, and they may be co-investigators or site investigators on other institutional protocols, collaborative studies coordinated by external sites, and/or consortia protocols.
Our investigators contribute to institutional programs across St. Jude, and while Faculty may identify a primary association with one program, many are involved with research initiatives from multiple programs.
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Heather Conklin, PhD
Member, Clinician Scientist Track
Chief, NeuropsychologyClinical liaison: Neuro-Oncology Service
Institutional program affiliation: Neurobiology & Brain Tumor
Research collaborations: Neuro-Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Cancer Control & Survivorship
Research interests: Improving cognitive outcomes of childhood cancer treatment
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Valerie Crabtree, PhD
Member, Hybrid Track
Chief, Psychosocial ServicesClinical liaison: Psychosocial Services
Clinical interests: Sleep needs in children with chronic medical conditions, adjustment to chronic medical conditions in children
Research interests: Sleep disruption and fatigue in children and youth with cancer
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R. Elyse Heidelberg, PsyD
Assistant Member, Clinician Track
Clinical liaison: Neuro-Oncology Service; New Oncology Program in Psychology
Clinical interests: Promotion of coping and adjustment in pediatric oncology, adolescent and young adult oncology, pediatric palliative care
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Andrew Heitzer, PhD, ABPP-CN
Instructor, Clinician Scientist Track
Institutional program affiliation: Hematology, Sickle Cell
Research interests: Neurocognitive outcomes in sickle cell disease
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Lisa Jacola, PhD, ABPP-CN
Associate Member, Research Faculty
Board Certified in Clinical NeuropsychologyInstitutional program affiliation: Cancer Control and Survivorship
Research interests: Improving neurobehavioral and quality of life outcomes in survivors of childhood cancer
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Anna Jones, PhD
Assistant Member, Clinician Track
Clinical liaison: Transition Oncology Program (TOP), Leukemia/Lymphooma Program
Clinical interests: Transition off therapy for oncology patients and families, anxiety, adherence
Research interests: Facilitating successful transition across the pediatric cancer care continuum, coping and adjustment in early survivorship, pediatric anxiety and emotion regulation
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Niki Jurbergs, PhD
Member, Clinician Track
Director, Psychology ClinicClinical interests: Psychological adaptation to pediatric illness, procedural distress
Research interests: Cognitive and psychological impact of pediatric cancer
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Jennifer Longoria, PhD, ABPP-CN
Assistant Member, Clinician Track
Board Certified in Clinical NeuropsychologyClinical liaison: Hematology Service
Clinical interests: Cognitive outcomes in childhood cancer and genetic disorders
Research collaborations: Sickle Cell Research and Intervention Program (SCCRIP)
Research interests: Neurocognitive outcomes in sickle cell disease
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Kendra Parris, PhD
Associate Member, Clinician Track
Clinical liaison: Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy
Clinical interests: Coping and adjustment of parents and caregivers, clinical training in pediatric psychology
Research interests: Coping and adjustment in youth with cancer
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Jerlym Porter, PhD
Associate Member, Clinician Scientist Track
Clinical liaison: Hematology Service
Institutional program affiliation: Hematology, Sickle Cell
Research interests: Health management and transition to adult care in sickle cell disease
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Brian Potter, PsyD, ABPP-CN
Assistant Member, Clinician Track
Clinical liaison: Transition Oncology Program (TOP)
Clinical interests: Neurocognitive outcomes in children with cancer
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Katianne Sharp, PhD
Assistant Member, Clinician Scientist Track
Clinical liaison: Cancer Predisposition
Institutional program affiliation: Cancer Predisposition Program
Research interests: Cancer predisposition and adjustment in families of children with cancer
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Rachel Tillery Webster, PhD
Assistant Member, Clinician Scientist Track
Clinical liaison: After Completion of Therapy (ACT) Clinic
Institutional program affiliation: Cancer Control & Survivorship
Research interests: Promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors in children with cancer and survivors of childhood cancer
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Megan Wilkins, PhD
Associate Member, Clinician Track
Clinical liaison: HIV Clinic
Clinical interests: Psychological adjustment in youth with HIV
Research collaborations: PHACS and IMPAACT Consortium Studies
Research interests: Medication adherence and cognitive functioning in youth with HIV/AIDS
Division of Neuropsychology
The Division of Neuropsychology is focused on provision of clinical care for patients most neurologically impacted by their disease and treatment, collaborative clinical investigation that seeks to mitigate the impact of neurobehavioral change on quality of life, and the training of future neuropsychologists. The Division is the home to all clinician and clinician-scientist neuropsychologists and neuropsychology clinical fellows.
Contact us
Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Services
MS 740, Room R4000
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
Email: kevin.krull@stjude.org
Phone: (901) 595-4128
Fax: (901) 595-4701
Preferred contact method: email