Melissa S Xanthopoulos
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Co-Leader of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Quality Improvement Initiative, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Director, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Adherence Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Department: Psychiatry
Contact information
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
The Hub for Clinical Collaboration, Office 14542
3500 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
The Hub for Clinical Collaboration, Office 14542
3500 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Links
6 Ways for Schools to Promote Student-Athletes’ Well-Being for Education Week
Patient story referencing care provided by Dr. Xanthopoulos
About CHOP Sleep Center
Interview from APSS 2023 on infants and CPAP
Video abstract: Physical Activity in Youth with Down Syndrome and its Relationship with Adiposity for Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
CHOP News
6 Ways for Schools to Promote Student-Athletes’ Well-Being for Education Week
Patient story referencing care provided by Dr. Xanthopoulos
About CHOP Sleep Center
Interview from APSS 2023 on infants and CPAP
Video abstract: Physical Activity in Youth with Down Syndrome and its Relationship with Adiposity for Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
CHOP News
Education
BS (Kinesiology, Minor in Psychology)
Pennsylvania State University , 1998.
MS (Clinical Exercise Physiology)
East Stroudsburg University, 1999.
MS (Clinical Psychology-Health Psychology)
Drexel University , 2003.
PhD (Clinical Psychology)
Drexel University , 2006.
BS (Kinesiology, Minor in Psychology)
Pennsylvania State University , 1998.
MS (Clinical Exercise Physiology)
East Stroudsburg University, 1999.
MS (Clinical Psychology-Health Psychology)
Drexel University , 2003.
PhD (Clinical Psychology)
Drexel University , 2006.
Post-Graduate Training
Clinical Intern, Clinical Psychology Training Consortium, Alpert Medical School of Brown University Child/Pediatric Psychology Specialization , 2005-2006.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Obesity Research and Education and Department of Kinesiology, Temple University, 2006-2007.
Permanent linkClinical Intern, Clinical Psychology Training Consortium, Alpert Medical School of Brown University Child/Pediatric Psychology Specialization , 2005-2006.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Obesity Research and Education and Department of Kinesiology, Temple University, 2006-2007.
Description of Clinical Expertise
adherencepediatric obstructive sleep apnea
positive airway pressure
pediatric obesity assessment and interventions
lifestyle interventions
health behavior change
Description of Other Expertise
quality improvementDescription of Research Expertise
adherencelifestyle interventions
health behavior change
pediatric obstructive sleep apnea
positive airway pressure
pediatric obesity
neurodevelopmental differences
physical activity
sport and performance psychology
Selected Publications
Linares I, Xavier J, Borginho C, Bueno C, Monazzi A, Fagondes S, Rafihi-Ferreira RE, Xanthopoulos M and Soster LA.: Implementation and Feasibility of an Interdisciplinary Pediatric Positive Airway Pressure Adaptation Program in a Brazilian Public Sleep Clinic. Frontiers in Sleep 5(1791640), April 2026 Notes: https://doi.org/10.3389/frsle.2026.1791640.Xanthopoulos MS, Byars KC, Meinzen-Derr J, Esbensen AJ, Xiao R, Heubi CH, Gurbani NS, Ishman SL, Bradford R, Hicks S, Redline S, Tapia IE: Standard medical care versus enhanced interdisciplinary care for implementation of positive airway pressure in youth with Down syndrome: a randomised controlled trial protocol. BMJ Open 15(11): e110990, Nov 2025 Notes: doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110990.
Stefanovski D, Somayaji M, Ward M, Falvo J, Cornaglia, Tapia IE, Roman, Xanthopoulos M, and Cielo CM.: Accuracy and acceptability of home sleep apnea testing with electroencephalography compared to in-lab polysomnography for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in children. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (eds.). 21(8): 1341-1348, August 2025 Notes: doi: 10.5664/jcsm.11654.
Xanthopoulos MS, Byars KC, Gurbani N, Meinzen-Derr J, Heubi C, Esbensen A, Yu Y, Tapia IE.: Adherence to a positive airway pressure trial in youth with Down syndrome: A baseline description. Sleep 48(Supplement_1): A432, May 2025.
Xanthopoulos, M.S., Benton, T., Lewis, J., Case, J.A., Master, C.L.: Mental Health in the Young Athlete. Current Psychiatry Reports 22(11): 63, Sept 2020 Notes: doi: 10.1007/s11920-020-01185-w. Erratum in: Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020 Oct 2;22(12):64. doi: 10.1007/s11920-020-01190-z.
Avitabile CM, O’Brien C, Dureja D, Albizem D, Mota J, Xanthopoulos M, Zemel BS, Cronholm PF: Barriers to and facilitators of physical activity in pediatric pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary Circulation 14(4): e70000, Oct 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1002/pul2.70000.
Davidson S, Milaniak I, Arshad SH, Xanthopoulos M.: Day at the Museum: An Experiential Bias Intervention. Medical Education 58(11): 1382-1383, Nov 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1111/medu.15510. Epub 2024 Aug 30.
Avitabile K, Mota JP, Yeaman KM, Andrieux SJ, Lechtenberg L, Escobar E, Chuo J, Xanthopoulos MS, Faig W, O’Malley S, Ford E, McBride MG, Paridon SM, Mitchell JA, Zemel B.: Creating a digital approach for promoting physical activity in pediatric pulmonary hypertension: A framework for future interventions. Pulmonary Circulation 14(3): e12402, July 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1002/pul2.12402.
Xanthopoulos MS, Williamson AA, Burlingame CC, Afolabi-Brown O, Tapia IE, Cielo C, Moore M, Beck SE.: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) care for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: a long-term quality improvement initiative. Pediatric Pulmonology 57(11): 2629-2637, November 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1002/ppul.26075. Epub 2022 Jul 22.
Isaiah Hayes: 6 Ways for Schools to Promote Student-Athletes’ Well-Being. Education Week August 2024 Notes: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/6-ways-for-schools-to-promote-student-athletes-well-being/2024/08.
CHOP: Finally Breathing Easy: Ava’s Story. https://www.chop.edu/stories/finally-breathing-easy-avas-story June 2025.