Advisory Board

Lamia P. Barakat, Ph.D., is the director of psychosocial services in the oncology department at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She coordinates comprehensive psychosocial services for patients and families and leads an expert staff in psychosocial research, assessment, and intervention. Dr. Barakat’s expertise lies in understanding how families and children can support each other to meet the challenges of childhood cancer. Dr. Barakat’s research and clinical practice focus on improving access to the best possible medical and psychosocial treatment for all pediatric cancer patients and families, from diagnosis through survivorship.

In addition to her clinical practice and research in psycho-oncology, Dr. Barakat sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology and serves as a mentor to predoctoral psychology students, fellows and junior faculty through the DCAPBS Psychology Training Advisory Committee, the Department of Pediatrics Advisement Program.

More information on Dr. Barakat can be found here:
https://www.chop.edu/doctors/barakat-lamia-p

Joan Kearney, Ph.D, PMHCNS, APRN-BC is a faculty memory of Yale University with years of education and experience in the field of psychiatric nursing and high-risk developmental research. Dr. Kearny’s doctoral research focused on developmental psychology and human development at Cornell University and the University of Connecticut. Dr. Kearney’s current research focuses on the intersections of attachment, trauma and coping in high-risk attachment/caregiving systems across the psychiatric and pediatric spectrum.

In addition to serving on the faculties of several universities and belonging to numerous professional organizations, Dr. Kearney is also on the national committees for APNA Council for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, APNA Council of Graduate Educators, and the APNA Research Council. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.

More information on Dr. Kearney can be found here:
https://nursing.yale.edu/faculty-research/faculty-directory/joan-kearney-phd-pmhcns-aprn-bc

Logan G. Spector’s research focuses on the causes of childhood leukemia, hepatoblastoma, and osteosarcoma. He works in collaboration with colleagues and trainees locally, nationally and internationally through the University of Minnesota, Children’s Oncology Group and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In addition, Dr. Spector collaborates with departmental colleagues in endocrinology, cardiology, and neonatology to study other pediatric outcomes. Dr. Spector is Chair of the Children’s Oncology Group Epidemiology Committee; a standing member of the NIH Cancer, Cardiovascular, and Sleep Epidemiology Study Section; and an ad hoc reviewer for several journals, including the American Journal of Epidemiology; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention; and Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.

Training and experience: Dr. Spector received his Ph.D. in Epidemiology in 2002 from Emory University, where he conducted his dissertation research on childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After a year as a National Cancer Institute-funded postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota, he joined the faculty as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Epidemiology/Clinical Research at the University of Minnesota.

More information on Dr. Spector can be found here:
https://www.cancer.umn.edu/bio/osteosarcoma-staff/logan-spector

Miriam Matz, Psy.D. is a clinical neuropsychologist in private practice in New Jersey, working with pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric populations. Dr. Matz has certifications in school psychology and neuropsychology, and her training included internships at the Pathway School focusing on assessment and treatment of developmental disabilities and at Einstein Hospital, focusing on medical, psychiatric, and geriatric neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Matz’s doctoral research involved development of a research instrument which was then used in a pilot study of reading disabilities at the college level.

Dr. Matz is also the mother of a pediatric cancer survivor. Her middle daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014 and completed treatment in 2017. During that treatment, Dr. Matz found comfort and inspiration through her connection with Momcology, and realized the incredible power of peer support following a childhood cancer diagnosis. Dr. Matz is currently on the Board of Momcology, as well a being a member of the Professional Advisory Board. She works extensively on various Momcology initiatives, including Momcology Retreats and Momcology Hospital Peer Support Program.

Gregory Hedler, MSW, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he is a Social Work Supervisor in the Department of Patient and Family Services. Mr. Hedler’s previous years of clinical experience include working at The Children’s Cancer Institute at HackensackUMC (formerly The Tomorrows Children’s Institute), and focusing on high risk and relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma at CHOP. While supporting patients and families through all stages of cancer treatment, Mr. Hedler personalizes and augments his care by incorporating integrative health practices such as yoga, mindfulness, reiki, and pediatric/infant massage and Applied Positive Psychology.

Mr. Hedler has presented in various forums including The Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Work (APOSW) Conference, The Association of Pediatric Oncology Hematology Nursing (APHON) Conference and at the International Congress of Integrative Medicine. He has received awards from Hackensack UMC for Social Worker of the Year in 2013 and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as the first recipient of the Sister Alice Spirit of Generosity Award in 2016.

More information on Mr. Hedler can be found here:
https://www.chop.edu/clinical-staff/hedler-gregory-c

Dr. Skeens has been a pediatric oncology nurse for over 20 years, much of that career has been spent caring for children and families undergoing bone marrow transplant. She is currently a Principal Investigator and Nurse Scientist at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She continues to practice clinically as a nurse practitioner with the Embryonal Tumor Team. Dr. Skeens completed her master’s degree and advanced practice degree from Wright State University in 2003 and her PhD from Vanderbilt University in 2018. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at NCH in the Center of Biobehavioral Health.

Dr. Kazak is co-Director of the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science at Nemours Children’s Health System, based at A. I. du Pont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. She is also the co-Director of the Center for Pediatric Traumatic Stress, Treatment and Services Adaptation Center in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the Editor-in-Chief of Health Psychology. Dr. Kazak is a licensed psychologist (DE, PA) and Professor of Pediatrics at Jefferson Medical School of Thomas Jefferson University and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the University of Delaware. Dr. Kazak’s experience as a clinician, researcher and administrator have helped to advance integrated (medical, behavioral) care for children and families from a systems perspective. She is a frequent consultant and reviewer on national and international projects related to pediatric psychology. Dr. Kazak received her Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of Virginia and completed her internship training at Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Her undergraduate degree was awarded by Smith College.

Dr. Sencer attended medical school at the University of Minnesota where she also completed her pediatric residency and pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training. She joined the Cancer and Blood Disorders program at Children’s Minnesota in 1991 and was medical director of that program from 2001 through 2016. Her areas of interest include supportive care of children with cancer and integrative oncology. She also has specialty clinics for children with melanoma, hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes and Ehlers Danlos syndrome. She is a “founding mother” of the Integrative Medicine program and was instrumental in helping start the Pain and Palliative Care Program. She is currently Chief and VP of Specialty Pediatrics at Children’s Minnesota.