Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference

New Frontiers in Pediatric Psychology: From Innovation to Application
April 16-18, 2015
Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa
San Diego, Calif.

If you have questions or are interested volunteer, sponsorship and speaking opportunities, please contact the following:
   
2015 Conference Co-Chairs
Emily M. Fredericks, PhD
Anna Maria Patiño-Fernandez, PhD
   
Div. 54 (Society of Pediatric Psychology) is approved by APA to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Society of Pediatric Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Mission of the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference

The SPPAC aims to advance SPP's mission to promote the health and psychological well-being of children, youth and their families through science and an evidence-based approach to practice, education, training, advocacy and consultation by:

• Advancing the science of pediatric psychology and related fields through dissemination of cutting edge research; promotion of research that is culturally, ethically and developmentally sensitive and includes diverse populations; and education on evidence-based assessment, intervention, and emerging areas of research, clinical care and policy.
• Providing a forum for individuals at all levels, from students to established investigators and clinicians, to facilitate consultation, collaboration and mentorship.
• Promoting the role and value of pediatric psychology in a changing healthcare environment nationally and internationally. 

SPPAC Conference Objectives

• To provide up-to-date information on evidence-based practice in pediatric psychology services for children and families.
• To provide a forum for presentation and discussion of current research in pediatric psychology, and how such research informs clinical practice, service delivery, and policy decisions.
• To provide opportunities for productive interaction between and among researchers, practitioners, and trainees. 

Registration for the Society for Pediatric Psychology Conference is now open. There are two registration options:

1. Register online.
2. Print and fill out the registration form (PDF, 105KB) and mail it along with a check payable to "Division 54, Society of Pediatric Psychology." Please write "SPPAC 2015 Registration" on the memo line. Payment must arrive by March 23, 2015, at the following address:

2015 SPPAC, c/o Veronica Allen, CMP
American Psychological Association
Division Services Office
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002

Friday, April 17

Keynote Address

Ken Resnicow, PhD
Irwin Rosenstock Professor
Health Behavior & Health Education
University of Michigan School of Public Health
Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine

Ken Resnicow, PhD's research interests include use of motivational interviewing and tailored e-health intervention to address prevention and management of chronic diseases, organ donation, medical adherence and screening behaviors. Much of his work focuses on African-Americans and other ethnic/racial minorities, addressing the relationship between ethnicity and health behaviors. He has trained more than 1,000 health professionals in motivational interviewing in both academic and health care delivery settings. His work is informed by chaos theory, complexity science and self-determination theory.

His current studies include an NIH-funded project to test the impact of ethnic and novel motivational tailoring of colorectal screening materials for African-Americans; two Department of Transplantation studies to increase organ donation rates among African-Americans working in Michigan “Greek” organizations, churches and dialysis centers; and an NIH-funded study to reduce obesity using motivational interviewing working with the American Academy of Pediatrics PROS practices. He has published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has served on numerous advisory panels and review groups.

Resnicow also is president of Academic Assistance, a health care consulting and motivational interviewing training firm. Recent and current corporate and health care delivery clients include Aetna, AmeriHealth Caritas, Principal Financial, Nationwide, the Veterans Administration, numerous universities and the National Health Group of Singapore. This work has focused on designing and implementing health coaching and disease management programs for health care delivery systems using motivational interviewing and novel behavioral interventions. 

International Keynote Speaker

Vicki Anderson, PhD
Director, Clinical Sciences Research
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute 
Melbourne, Australia

Vicki Anderson, PhD, is a pediatric neuropsychologist who has 30 years' experience. Anderson is the director, Clinical Sciences Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and a professorial fellow in the Departments of Psychology & Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne.

Her research and clinical interests are in disorders of childhood that impact on the central nervous system, including both developmental and acquired disorders. Her research team has contributed to this field by establishing the vulnerability of the young brain to injury and the importance of the family in maximizing recovery from childhood injury and illness. Her recent work has established an evidence base for e-health approaches to parent-focused psychosocial treatments as a means of maximizing child outcomes and improving family function. Anderson has published more than 250 papers and five books in this field and has over $20 million in competitive research funds. Anderson is an associate editor of Neuropsychology and Journal of Neuropsychology . She has served on the Board of Governors of the International Neuropsychological Society. She is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences of Australia and of the Australian Psychological Society.

Saturday, April 18

Diversity Keynote Speaker

Amy C. Tishelman, PhD 
Director of Clinical Research
Disorders of Sexual Development
Gender Management Service (DSD-GeMS)
Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Amy C. Tishelman, PhD, is a clinical psychologist with an abiding interest in clinical work with vulnerable children and families, as well as in scholarship designed to enhance clinical care. She has worked extensively in the areas of gender and sexual development of children and youth, trauma and child maltreatment, and pediatric psychology, and speaks frequently on issues related to her areas of expertise. She is currently the director of clinical research and a senior staff psychologist for the Disorders of Sexual Development-Gender Management Service (DSD-GeMS) at Boston Children's Hospital (BCH), the first clinic to care for transgender youth housed in an academic pediatric medical center in North America. In this role, she has been invited to lead the effort to build a research program related to the health and well-being of transgender and gender nonconforming youth, as well as youth with DSD. She is also director of psychological services for the BCH Department of Urology and holds a faculty position at Harvard Medical School. In addition, Tishelman is employed as research director and senior staff psychologist for the Child Protection Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Prior to her current appointments, she was the BCH director of research and training for the Child Protection Program, and earlier, BCH director of Child Protection Clinical Services . Tishelman is on the editorial boards of several journals, and recently co-edited special double issues of the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse and the Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma . Additionally, Tishelman is a sought after expert in the forensic realm.

The 2015 SPPAC will be hosted at the Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa, located in beautiful Mission Bay in San Diego. Take a leisure walk to the Mission Bay Boardwalk and enjoy a vast array of restaurants and shopping.

The Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa is located at 1775 E. Mission Bay Dr., San Diego, CA 92109. A block of rooms has been reserved for participants to the 2015 SPPAC conference at the discounted rate of $195 plus applicable taxes. This discounted rate is available until March 23, 2015. Please make your reservations early, as the block may fill up prior to the March 23 deadline. Room rates and availability is not guaranteed after the March 23 deadline.

To make your reservations, please contact the hotel at (877) 313-6645 and identify yourself as a member of the 2015 Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference or select one of the links below: 

• Student Hotel Reservations 
• Regular Hotel Reservations

• Discover San Diego: Details San Diego's regions, including the downtown Gaslight Quarter, Coronado, La Jolla, Mission Bay, and more. 
• What to Do: Arts and culture, attractions, beaches, casinos, cruises from San Diego, dining and nightlife, parks and gardens, shopping, spans and salons, sports and recreation, and tours and sightseeing. 
• Planning your trip: Getting around, information for international travelers, travel guides, visitor information and services. 
• Events: A searchable database of scheduled activities in and around San Diego. 
• Offers: Special packages, coupons and money-saving offers from local businesses, hotels and attractions.