Lamia P. Barakat, PhD

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Professor of Clinical Psychology in Pediatrics (Oncology) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Member, Academic Affairs Committee, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Member, Psychology Training Advisory Committee, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Director, Behavioral Oncology Program, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, CHOP Research Institute
Member, CRISSP Faculty Advisory Committee, CHOP Research Institute
Member, Executive Committee, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Co-Division Chief, Division of Integrated Psychiatry, Psychology, and Behavioral Health, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Department: Pediatrics

Contact information
The Hub for Clinical Collaboration
Division of Oncology/3rd floor, 3567
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
3500 Civic Center Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 267-426-8135
Fax: 215-590-3020
Education:
BA (Psychology)
Villanova University, 1985.
PhD (Clinical-Community Psychology)
University of South Carolina, 1991.
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Description of Clinical Expertise

evidence-based interventions to improve disease management and adaptation among children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and their caregivers during active treatment and through the survivorship phase; evidence-based psychosocial screening and assessment in pediatric oncology to improve cancer outcomes and decrease disparities in care; setting and implementing the standards for psychosocial care in pediatric oncology

Description of Other Expertise

training and mentorship in pediatric psychology and pediatric psycho-oncology

Description of Research Expertise

My federally-funded research program is focused examining risk-and-resistance models of adaptation to pediatric chronic conditions particularly sociodemographic and family factors in quality of life and disease management in pediatric hematology and oncology. Another focus is on translating risk-and-resistance models into empirically supported interventions to improve disease management, school functioning, quality of life in pediatric samples. Within oncology, at present, I have an active research program examining evidenced based assessment in clinical care and posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth in survivors of childhood cancer and their caregivers. Future projects involve understanding perceived benefits and barriers to participation in clinical trials and examining engagement of adolescents and young adults with cancer in this decision-making and implications for adherence to treatment and quality of life.

Selected Publications

Perez, M. N., Vargo, S., Anil, A. Reilly, A., Phillips, C., Burns-Lynch, P., Schwartz, L. A., Barakat, L. P.: Implementation of a Universal Longitudinal Psychosocial Screening Program in a Pediatric Cancer Center: Quantitative and Qualitative Findings. Presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ April 2025.

Ramaswamy, N., Alston, K., Hammer, S., Barakat, L. : Multilevel Factors on Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Adolescents and Young Adults Newly Diagnosed with Cancer. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference. Phoenix, AZ. April 2025.

Jan, S., Steinway, C., Belton, T. . . . Barakat, L.P., Schwartz, L., Crosby, L, Griffis, H., Bennett, L, Schulz, J., & Smith-Whitley, K.: Community Health Worker and Mobile Health Programs to Help Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease Transition to Using Adult Healthcare Services -- The COMETS Study; Results at 6 Months. Presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii. April 2025.

Vargo, S., Perez, M. N., Hammer, S., Ramaswamy, N., Barakat, L. P. : Enhancing Pediatric Cancer Care through Universal Psychosocial Screening: the role of social work in collaborative program implementation. Breakout Session at the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA. March 2025.

Hammer, S.N., Deatrick, J.A., Stevens, E., Hobbie, W., Minturn, J., Knafl, K.A., Knafl, G., & Barakat, L.P. : Evaluating a Self- and Family Management Framework for Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors. Journal of Family Nursing 2025 Notes: DOI: 10.1177/10748407251314865.

Kazak, A.E., Zubler, C., Scialla, M., Arasteh, A., Lewis, A., & Barakat, L.P. : Family Psychosocial Risk, Neighborhood Opportunity, and Language in Pediatric Cancer. Pediatric Blood and Cancer 2025.

Golfenshtein, N., Barakat, L.P., Lisanti, A., & Ash, S. : Profiles of Parental Coping with Pediatric Cancer and their associations to parental illness-adaptation. Journal of Advanced Nursing 81: 1376–1387, 2025 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16341.

Kazak, A.E., Scialla, M., Ramaswamy, N., Deatrick, J.A., & Barakat, L.P.: Implementation of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT): Proportion of families screened in a multisite randomized clinical trial comparing two strategies. Poster Session: Clinical Care Settings: System-Level Interventions" at the 17th Annual D&I Conference, Washinton, DC December 2024.

Kazak, A.E., Scialla, M., Ramaswamy, N., Hammer, S., Deatrick, J.A., & Barakat, L.P.: Mixed methods refine assessment of implementation barriers and facilitators. Poster Session: Clinical Care Settings: System-Level Interventions" at the 17th Annual D&I Conference, Washinton, DC. December 2024.

Anil, A., Hammer, S.H., Hobbie, W.L. Daly, B.P., Deatrick, J.A., & Barakat, L.P. : The moderating role of social vulnerability in the relationship of maternal caregiver condition management ability and transition readiness of their young adult survivors of pediatric brain tumors. Poster presentation at the 21st International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Philadelphia, PA July 2024.

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Last updated: 05/03/2025
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