Research Interests
My primary professional focus has been in child health psychology, with specific interests in adolescents with cancer, communication, and transition to survivorship; developing interventions to reduce childhood and adolescent obesity and the vulnerable child syndrome. Most recently, I have played an integral role in the establishment of a multidisciplinary clinical research program through the VCU Department of Pediatrics targeting obese adolescents and their families. I also have a strong interest in pursuing my research on an international level. In this context, I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Israel in l994 to conduct research related to my work in the area of prematurity stereotyping and another Fulbright scholarship in 2006 for research on adolescent cancer survivors through the University of Haifa, Israel. I also continue to build international partnerships with colleagues at several of the VCU international partnership universities.
Selected Publications
Stern, M., Krivoy, E., Foster, R. Bitsko, M., Toren, A., & Ben Arush, M. (2010). Psychosocial functioning and career decision-making in Israeli adolescent cancer survivors. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. Published on line, 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mazzeo, S., Gow, R., Stern, M. , & Gerke, C. (2008). Developing an Intervention for parents of overweight children. The International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health, 1(4), 355-363.
Bitsko, M., Stern, M., Dillon, R., & Russell, C., & Laver, J. (2008). Happiness and time perspective as potential mediators of quality of life and depression in adolescent cancer. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 50, 613-619.
Wickham, E. P., Stern, M., Evans, R. K., Bryan, D. L., Clore, J. N., & Laver, J. H. (2009). Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among overweight adolescents enrolled in a multidisciplinary weight management program: Clinical correlates and response to treatment. Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, 7, 179-86.
Porter, J., Stern, M., & Zak-Place, J. (2009). Prematurity stereotyping and perceived vulnerability at 5-months: Relations with mothers and their premature and full-term infants at 9-months. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 27, 168-181.
Recent Courses Taught at VCU
- Health Psychology, graduate level
- Research in Counseling Psychology, graduate level
- Counseling Practicum, graduate level
Recent Grants
NOURISHing Families to Promote Healthy Eating and Exercise in Overweight Children. Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator, S. Mazzeo). April 2011-March 2016. R01HD066216-01A1, $1,859,491.
An Integrative Intervention for Binge Eating among African American Adolescents. Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator, S. Mazzeo). August 2010-July 2013. NIH, R34 MH-086922-01.
Parent Skills Training to Enhance Weight Loss in Overweight Teens. Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator, S. Mazzeo). April 2008-March 2010. NIH, R03 HD-056050-01.
Prematurity Stereotyping: Relations to Mothers' Adaptation to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Hospitalization and Subsequent Infant Interaction. Principal Investigator (K. Karraker, Co-Investigator). June 2005–May 2008, no-cost extension to December 2008. March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, # 12-FY05-60.
Career Planning, Communication and Adolescent Cancer. Principal Investigator (L. Siminoff & K. Godder Co-Investigators). June 2009-May 2010. Massey Cancer Center Pilot Grant Project, #646972.
Understanding the Barriers in Treatment of Obesity in Adolescents 11-18 in Central Virginia. Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator, Laver 2003-20008; Francis 2009-present). July 2003-June 2012 (renewable annually). Contract to the VCU Dept. of Pediatrics of VCU; Virginia Premier Health, Inc.
Recent Awards
- 2005 recipient of the Dorothy Booz Black Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Counseling Health Psychology from Division 17/APA.
- 2009 James C. Hansen Humanitarian Award (Outstanding Alumni), University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education.