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Faculty
Research Interests My areas of research fit within the umbrella of child health psychology/pediatric psychology. I am best known for my programmatic assessment and treatment research on children's pain, coping and distress during painful or frightening medical procedures. In the last few years my team and I have been actively involved in research on factors associated with medical adherence, quality of life, and medical outcomes in children in adolescents who have received an organ transplant, children's and parents' adaptation to chronic health conditions (pediatric GI disorders and cardiac conditions), child and family factors that influence chest pain in children, and post-traumatic growth in families experiencing illness. Medical fear and pain, organ transplantation, pediatric cardiology, and pediatric GI disorders are several major focus areas in the immediate future. Additional areas are possible likely.
Current Research Initiatives 1. Medication adherence and quality of life in adolescent transplant recipients.
Recent Publications Blount, R. L., Devine, K. A., Cheng, P. S., Simons, L. E., & Hayutin, L. (in press). The impact of adult behaviors and vocalizations on infant distress during immunizations. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. Advanced Access. Simons, L. E., Gilleland, J., Blount, R. L., Amaral, S., Berg, A., & Mee, L. L. (in press). Multidimensional Adherence Classification System (MACS): Initial development with adolescent transplant recipients. Pediatric Transplantation. Simons, L. E., McCormick, M. L., Mee, L. L., & Blount, R. L. (in press). Parent and patient perspectives on barriers to medication adherence in adolescent transplant recipients. Pediatric Transplantation. Blount, R. L., Simons, L. E., Devine, K. A., Jaaniste, T., Cohen, L. L., Chambers, C., & Hayutin, L. G. (in press). Evidence-based assessment of coping and stress in pediatric psychology. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. Advanced Access. Cohen, L. L., Lemanek, K., Blount, R. L., Dahlquist, L. M., Lim, C. S., Palermo, T. M., McKenna, K. D., & Weiss, K. E. (in press). Evidence-based assessment of pediatric pain. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. Advanced Access. Cohen, L. L., La Greca, A. M., Blount, R. L., Kazak, A. E., Holmbeck, G. N., & Lemanek, K. L. (in press). Introduction: Evidence-based assessment in pediatric psychology. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. Advanced Access. Blount, R. L., Zempsky, W. T., Jaaniste, T., Evans, S., Cohen, L. L., Devine, K. A., & Zeltzer, L. K. (in press). Management of pain and distress due to medical procedures. In M. C. Roberts & R. Steele (Eds.). Handbook of pediatric psychology (4th ed.). New York: Guilford. Blount, R. L., McCormick, M. L., MacLaren, J. E., & Kain, Z. (in press). Preparing children for invasive procedures and surgery. In G. A. Walco & K. R. Goldschneider (Eds.). Pediatric pain management in primary care: A practical guide. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press. Simons, L. E., Anglin, G., Warshaw, B. L., Mahle, W. T., Vincent, R. N., & Blount, R. L. (2008). Understanding the pathway between the transplant experience and health-related quality of life outcomes in adolescents. Pediatric Transplantation, 12, 187-193. PDF Simons, L. E., Gilleland, J., Hubbard, A. H., Blount, R. L., & Campbell, R. M. (2008). Initial development of the Pediatric Camp Outcome Measure. Children’s Health Care, 37, 158-169. PDF Simons, L. E., Blount, R. L., Campbell, R. M., Hubbard, A., Goodwin, B., Devine, K. A., & Benoit, M. (2007). Decreases in anxiety associated with participation in a camp for children with cardiac defects. Cardiology in the Young, 17, 631-637. PDF Simons, L. E. & Blount, R. L. (2007). Identifying barriers to medication adherence in adolescent transplant recipients. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32, 831-844. PDF Kain, Z. N., Caldwell-Andrews, A. A., Mayes, L. C., Weinberg, M. E., Wang, S., MacLaren, J. E., & Blount, R. L. (2007). Family-centered preparation for surgery improves perioperative outcomes in children: A randomized controlled trial. Anesthesiology, 106, 65-74. PDF
Clinical Interests In my department I supervise a clinical practicum at our Psychology Clinic. My clinical interests include the variety of clinical problems presented by children, adolescents, and their families. In addition, I also arrange and/or supervise pediatric practicum at two externship placements at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. One if these is the Pediatric Transplant Unit at Egelston Children's Hospital. This is available for qualified 3rd year students, or above. I also coordinate students’ participation in a placement in Pediatric Neuropsychology at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital. This is available in student's 2nd year, or above. These placements are for my students and possibly others with interests in pediatric psychology. My students function as scientist-practitioners in that much of our research is conducted in these settings. Additional pediatric research/clinical settings may be added over time.
Mentoring Philosophy I prefer to interact with students as junior colleagues. During their first year graduate students typically work with me and the other members of the team on ongoing research. As students become more independent they initiate research in collaboration with me and the other team members. It is more productive and enjoyable for all involved if students conduct in my general areas of expertise.
Current Advisees Mary Payne (5th year) – mpayne@uga.edu All may be phoned at 706-542-1173
Recent Former Graduate Students Patty Cheng, Ph.D. (2004) – Duke Children’s Primary Care, Dept of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC. Cheng024@mc.duke.edu
Selected Professional Activities and Awards Inaugural recipient of the University of Georgia's Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award. May, 2006.
Courses Regularly Taught
Click on the links below for PDF downloads of the following CAMPIS related materials. Contact me if you have questions about their usage.
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