Dr. Psihogios' research program is centered on improving health outcomes for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer and other chronic medical conditions by targeting a modifiable health behavior — treatment nonadherence. Her research studies use state-of-the-art mobile health approaches to learn how to deliver adherence support in the moment and context that AYA need it the most, and how this information can be leveraged for personalized interventions.

Toward this goal, in 2019, Dr. Psihogios received a Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08) from the National Cancer Institute to translate ecological momentary assessment data into a just-in-time adaptive intervention for promoting oral chemotherapy adherence in AYA with leukemia.

For over 10 years, Dr. Psihogios has worked as a research assistant, interventionist, research coordinator, and PI on numerous NIH, CDC, and foundation-funded research projects – all related to the health and adjustment of children, adolescents, and young adults with chronic health conditions.

In 2017, the American Cancer Society awarded her a postdoctoral grant to conduct a formative, mixed methods study of facilitators and barriers to AYA cancer treatment adherence. In 2018, the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation awarded Dr. Psihogios a pilot grant to test the feasibility and acceptability of using a hospital-based text messaging service to assess daily oral chemotherapy adherence in AYA with leukemia.

Among her notable career accomplishments, Dr. Psihogios:

• Received the Distinguished Research Trainee Award (Postdoctoral Fellow Category) from the Research Institute at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Leads a NIH-funded study to develop the first just-in-time adaptive intervention for promoting oral chemotherapy adherence among AYA with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Co-founded and co-chairs the Society of Pediatric Psychology Digital Health Special Interest Group (American Psychological Association, Division 54)

BA, University of Maryland Baltimore County (Psychology), 2009

MA, Loyola University Chicago (Clinical Psychology), 2012

PhD, Loyola University Chicago (Clinical Psychology), 2016

Pre-Doctoral Clinical Internship, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Pediatric Psychology), 2016

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Behavioral Oncology), 2019 

Psychologist

Assistant Professor of Psychology 

Co-chair of the Society of Pediatric Psychology Digital Health Special Interest Group 

Society of Pediatric Psychology, 2011-

American Psychosocial Oncology Society, 2018- 

Invited Selected Speaker for Student Research Blitz, Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, 2016

National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program, 2017-2020

Illinois Spina Bifida Association Research Award, Second Place, 2018

Journal of Pediatric Psychology Most Cited Paper Award (Psihogios, Murray, Zebracki, Acevedo, and Holmbeck, 2017), 2019

Distinguished Research Trainee (Postdoctoral Fellow Category), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2020

Using Real Time Mobile Health Approaches to Understand and Promote Oral Chemotherapy Adherence in Adolescents and Young Adults with Leukemia

• National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health
• 2019-2024
• This study will use ecological momentary assessment via a gamified mobile app to determine the temporal, contextual factors that relate to AYA oral chemotherapy nonadherence, then develop a just-in-time adaptive mobile intervention for improving their adherence.
• Alexandra M. Psihogios, PhD