Debra S Lefkowitz
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Clinical Director of Psychology Services, Transplant and Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Co-Chief, Section of Pediatric Psychology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Professor of Clinical Psychology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Department: Psychiatry
Contact information
Education:
B.A. (Psychology)
Rutgers University, 1995.
Psy.D. (School Psychology)
Rutgers University, 2002.
B.A. (Psychology)
Rutgers University, 1995.
Psy.D. (School Psychology)
Rutgers University, 2002.
Post-Graduate Training
Intern, Pediatric Psychology, Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 2001-2002.
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Pediatric Psychology, Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA , 2002-2003.
Permanent linkIntern, Pediatric Psychology, Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 2001-2002.
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Pediatric Psychology, Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA , 2002-2003.
Selected Publications
Edelson JB, Huang J, Wang Z, Tam V, Lefktowitz D, O'Connor MJ, White R, Ha L, Wittlieb-Weber CA, Rossano JW, Lin K, Cousino MK, Lane-Fall M, O'Byrne ML.: Identifying the determinants of health-related quality of life in children after heart transplant. JHLT Open 8(100250), April 2025.Chesley, G., & Lefkowitz, D.S. : Building bridges: A pilot to boost engagement among pediatric psychologists. Poster presented at the Society for Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ. April 2025.
Lefkowitz, D.S., Triplett, K., Schneider, L., West,, K., Anton, C., Rea, K., Brosbe, M., Christofferson, E., Christon, L., Kasparian, N., Lamari-Fisher, A., McIntyre,K., Plevinsky, J., Auerbach, S., Bansal, N., Benden, C., Dugan, M., Edelson, J., Gross-Toalson, J., Mayersohn, G., Prufe, J., Wichart, J., Wray, J., & Cousino, M. : ISHLT/ACTION/PHTS/IPTA/Transplant Families Consensus-Based Framework for the Psychosocial Evaluation of Pediatric Candidates for Cardiothoracic Transplant and Ventricular Assist Devices. Paper presented at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Annual Meeting, Boston MA. April 2025.
Lefkowitz DS, Triplett K, Schneider L, West K, Anton C, Rea KE, Brosbe M, Christofferson ES, Christon L, Kasparian N, Lamari-Fisher A, McIntyre K, Plevinsky J, Auerbach S, Bansal N, Benden C, Dugan M, Edelson J, Gross-Toalson J, Mayersohn G, Prufe J, White RM, Wichart J, Wray J, Cousino MK.: A consensus-based framework for the psychosocial evaluation of pediatric candidates for cardiothoracic transplant and ventricular assist devices. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 44(4): 487-502, April 2025.
Campbell, O., Fisher, R., Lefkowitz, D., Plevinsky, J.: Cultural context matters: Enhancing pre-transplant evaluations through integration of the Cultural Formulation Interview. Poster presented at the Society for Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ. April 2025.
Aggarwal Dutta, R., Morrow, L., Lefkowitz, D.S., Chesley, G. : Improving DEI Recruitment Efforts in Academic Medicine: Highlighting the Process, Barriers, and Ongoing Efforts within an Institution. Poster presented at the Society for Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference April 2024.
Strachan, L., Lefkowitz, D., Plevinsky, J. : Self-efficacy and transition readiness in adolescent solid organ transplant recipients. Poster presented at the Society for Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. April 2024.
Gettings, J.M. & Lefkowitz, D.S.: Applications of motivational interviewing in adolescent solid organ transplant Pediatric Transplantation. Wiley, February 2024 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1111/petr.14721.
West, K.B, Plevinsky, J., Amaral, S, Laskin, B., Lefkowitz, D.S.: Predicting psychosocial risk in pediatric kidney transplantation: An exploratory cluster analysis of a revised Pediatric Transplant Rating Instrument. Pediatric Transplantation 27(2): e14454, March 2023 Notes: doi: 10.1111/petr.14454. Epub 2022 Dec 14.
Rea, K. E., West, K. B., Dorste, A., Christofferson, E. S., Lefkowitz, D., Mudd, E., Schneider, L., Smith, C., Triplett, K., McKenna, K.: A Systematic Review of Social Determinants of Health in Pediatric Organ Transplant Outcomes. Pediatric Transplantation 27(1): e14418, February 2023 Notes: doi: 10.1111/petr.14418. Epub 2022 Nov 1.