Overview
Chronic pain in youth with sickle cell disease is a complex complication that can have detrimental effects on all aspects of health-related quality of life. Psychological treatments and behavioral approaches are key components of comprehensive chronic pain management. Dr. Sil’s clinical research interest centers on the assessment and treatment of chronic pain in children and adolescents with complex chronic pain conditions, such as sickle cell disease. Her specialization in pediatric pain management focuses on the development and evaluation of behavioral interventions to promote the health and functioning of children and adolescents with chronic sickle cell pain. Dr. Sil's research program works to identify individual and family psychosocial factors that contribute to the onset and maintenance of chronic sickle cell pain and evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions for chronic pain.
- Evaluation of the psychosocial and functional contributors to acute and chronic pain in pediatric sickle cell disease
- Impact of parent and family functioning on child pain, functioning, and quality of life in pediatric sickle cell disease
- Longitudinal changes and trajectories of pain frequency and psychosocial functioning in youth with chronic sickle cell pain
- Qualitative and mixed-method studies on adolescent and parent experiences with chronic sickle cell pain
- Development and evaluation of cognitive-behavioral interventions for chronic sickle cell pain
- Community-engaged research to identify and co-design innovative treatment programs for youth with sickle cell disease and their families
- Development, adaptation, and evaluation of integrative training programs combining mind-body, cognitive-behavioral, and neuromuscular exercise interventions for chronic sickle cell pain
Taylor R Adkins, MSPH, MBA
Education: BS (Biology), University of Georgia; Master’s of Science in Public Health, University of Miami; Master’s of Business Administration, Emory University
tradkin@emory.edu
Jan T. Mooney, PhD
Education: BA (Psychology), University of California at Berkeley; MA (Marriage and Family Therapy), Pfeiffer University; PhD (Clinical Health Psychology), University of North Carolina at Charlotte
jtmoone@emory.edu
Justin L. Williams, PhD
Education: PhD (Clinical Psychology), Georgia State University
Justin.williams@choa.org
Anjanette Nunez, PT, DPT
Education: BA (Urban Studies), Vassar College; Doctor of Physical Therapy, Georgia State University
Anjanette.nunez@emory.edu
Emory Health Service Psychology Post-doctoral Fellows and Current Position:
Alana Goldstein Leever, PsyD, 2016-2017
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Ohio State University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Yelena Johnson, PhD, 2019-2020
Current Position: Attending Psychologist, Ochsner Hospital for Children
Kerri Woodward, PhD, 2019-2020
Current Position: Attending Psychologist, Pain Service, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Alison Manikowski, PsyD, 2020-2021
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Mallory Schneider Hughes, PhD, 2020-2021
Current Position: Licensed Psychologist in Private Practice, Atlanta, GA
Delilah Ellzey, PhD, 2021-2022
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Erin Van Seeters Kelling, PsyD, 2021-2022
Current Position: Senior Instructor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine; Integrated Pediatric Psychologist, Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital Colorado
Lauren Quast, PhD, 2022-2023
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Clinical Psychology PhD and MPH Graduate Students and Current Position:
Meena Khowaja, MS, 2015-2016
Current Position: Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University school of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Laura Cousins Wright, MA, 2015-2017; 2019-2020
Current Position: Adjunct Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Sarah Martin, PhD, 2017-2019
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, University of California Irvine
Natasha Ludwig, MS, 2016-2018
Current Position: Clinical Neuropsychologist, Kennedy Krieger Institute
Sharon Shih, MA, 2018-2019
Current Position: Assistant Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Health, George Washington University and Children’s National Medical Center
Caitlin Shneider, MA, 2020-2023
Current Position: Graduate Student, Georgia State University
Nwanna Ifendu, MPH, 2022
Current Position: Graduate Student, Georgia State University
Shih S, Donati MR, Cohen LL, Shneider C, Sil S. A dyadic analysis of parent and child pain catastrophizing and health-related quality of life in pediatric sickle cell disease. Pain. 2023 Jul 1;164(7):1537-1544. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002848. Epub 2022 Dec 20. PMID: 36645172.
Sil S, Manikowski A, Schneider M, Cohen LL, Dampier C. Identifying Chronic Pain Subgroups in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: A Cluster-Analytic Approach. Clin J Pain. 2022 Oct 1;38(10):601-611. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001065. PMID: 35997659; PMCID: PMC9481686.
Bhandari RP, Harrison LE, Richardson PA, Goya Arce AB, You DS, Rajagopalan A, Birnie KA, Sil S. Clinical Utility of CAT Administered PROMIS Measures to Track Change for Pediatric Chronic Pain. J Pain. 2022 Jan;23(1):55-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.06.009. Epub 2021 Jul 3. PMID: 34229073.
Woodward KE, Johnson YL, Cohen LL, Dampier C, Sil S. Psychosocial risk and health care utilization in pediatric sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2021 Aug;68(8):e29139. doi: 10.1002/pbc.29139. Epub 2021 May 24. PMID: 34031999; PMCID: PMC8931863.
Sil S, Woodward KE, Johnson YL, Dampier C, Cohen LL. Parental Psychosocial Distress in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease and Chronic Pain. J Pediatr Psychol. 2021 Jun 3;46(5):557-569. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa130. PMID: 33484135; PMCID: PMC8502425.
Sil S, Cohen LL, Bakshi N, Watt A, Hathaway M, Abudulai F, Dampier C. Changes in Pain and Psychosocial Functioning and Transition to Chronic Pain in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: A Cohort Follow-up Study. Clin J Pain. 2020 Jun;36(6):463-471. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000827. PMID: 32287106; PMCID: PMC7233325.
NHLBI: R03HL164333
Nonpharmacological Treatment Effects on Proinflammatory Biomarkers among Youth with Chronic Sickle Cell Pain
Goals: This project will begin to identify key proinflammatory biomarkers associated with chronic sickle cell pain that can be targeted and modified through non-pharmacological treatment approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Role: PI
NCCIH/NINDS: R61/R33 R61AT012421
Integrative Training Program for Pediatric Sickle Cell Pain
Goals: This award is part of a phased mechanism (R61/R33). The overall goal of this project is to adapt and tailor an existing evidence-based innovative mind-body, cognitive-behavioral, and neuromuscular movement intervention (termed I-STRONG for SCD) to meet the unique needs of adolescents with chronic sickle cell pain (R61 phase). The adapted intervention will be tested in a multi-center randomized clinical trial (R33 phase).
Role: PI
NINR: R01NR020781-01A1
A Socio-Ecological Approach for Improving Self-Management in Adolescents with SCD
Goals: The goal of this project is to use a virtual telehealth format intervention (SCThrive) to teach adolescents and young adults about SCD, as well as the skills needed to manage their health, increase their communication skills, and utilize action planning.
PI: Crosby
- Health-related quality of life, psychosocial functioning, and coping in children and adolescents with chronic pain
- Psychosocial risk factors for the development of chronic pain in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease
- Therapeutic mechanisms and long-term health outcomes following psychological interventions for chronic pain
“Developing a Culturally Relevant Chronic Sickle Cell Pain Intervention,” Looking Ahead to Healthier Tomorrow, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University 2022 Research Report.
“An Interview with Endiya Sykes, Neshana Harper, and Soumitri Sil, PhD,” NIH Pain Consortium, September 2023.
"Advancing the Future of Pediatric Care," Cover Story in Careforce Chronicle Fall 2023.