faculty photo

Melissa S Xanthopoulos

Associate 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
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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.
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 link
 
> Perelman School of Medicine   > Faculty   > Details

Description of Clinical Expertise

adherence
pediatric obstructive sleep apnea
positive airway pressure
pediatric obesity assessment and interventions
lifestyle interventions
health behavior change

Description of Other Expertise

quality improvement

Description of Research Expertise

adherence
lifestyle interventions
health behavior change
pediatric obstructive sleep apnea
positive airway pressure
pediatric obesity
neurodevelopmental differences
physical activity

Selected Publications

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 Accepted 2025 Notes: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Davidson S, Milaniak I, Arshad SH, Xanthopoulos M.: Day at the Museum: An Experiential Bias Intervention. Medical Education 58(11): 1382-1383, Nov 2024.

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.

Linares I, Borginho C, Sardano1 B, Xavier1 J, Luvizotto AC, Bueno C, Xanthopoulos M, Soster L: Descriptive results of a pilot protocol for PAP adherence in a Brazilian pediatric service. Journal of Sleep Research 33(S1): 143, Sept 2024.

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.

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.

Canella R, Feld L, Balmer D, Franklin M, Cielo C, Xanthopoulos MS.: Using a longitudinal qualitative approach to understand the lived experiences of caregivers of infants with obstructive sleep apnea who require chronic non-invasive respiratory support. Pediatric Pulmonology 59(10): 2621-2634, July 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1002/ppul.27107. Epub 2024 Jul 3.

Marquis KS, Beck SE, Ku H, Afolabi-Brown O, Brown C, Glenn W, Monroe T, Xanthopoulos MS. : A quality improvement initiative to increase follow up for pediatric patients discharged with noninvasive ventilation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 209: A4110, May 2024 Notes: doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2024.209.1_MeetingAbstracts.A4110.

Cielo C, Kelly A, Xanthopoulos M, Pipan M, Arputhan A, Walega W, Ward M, Falvo J, Roman Y, Xiao R, Tapia I.: Feasibility and performance of home sleep apnea testing in youth with Down syndrome. Journal Clinical Sleep Medicine 19(9): 1605-1613, Sept 2023 Notes: doi: 10.5664/jcsm.10610.

Dickinson TM, Stairiker B, Xanthopoulos MS, Farrell C, Dorian B, McAllister S, Cagande C, Mautone J, Boldizar L, Stewart M, Benton T, Davidson S. : Improving integrated primary care behavioral health clinician well-being during the pandemic. Poster to be presented at Developing and Researching Advanced Models of Integrated Primary Care (DREAM IPC) Conference, September 21-22, Wilmington, Delaware. DREAM IPC September 2023.

back to top
Last updated: 03/18/2025
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
 
Back to Top