Psychosocial Outcomes and Supportive Care

Understanding the psychosocial landscape of cancer and developing interventions to improve quality of life for patients and families.

Investigators

Kaitlyn Fladeboe, PhD

Assistant Professor

Bio: Dr. Kaitlyn (Katy) Fladeboe is a developmental psychologist and assistant professor in the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics and the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Research at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Dr. Fladeboe grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara. She then moved to Washington where she completed her PhD in developmental psychology at the University of Washington and  postdoctoral fellowship at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Applying principles of developmental science, Dr. Fladeboe's research aims to identify and address the unique psychological and social needs of youth with cancer and their families.

Research interests: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) psychosocial oncology; social relationships and health;  behavioral intervention design 

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Kristine Karvonen, MD, MS

Acting Instructor

Bio: Dr. Kristine Karvonen is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist and investigator with a research focus on social drivers of racial and ethnic inequities, including racism and social determinants of health. Dr. Karvonen plans to deploy anti-racist, community-engaged interventions to improve the experience of patients and families from marginalized racial and ethnic groups and to correct outcome inequities. Dr. Karvonen received her medical degree at University of Virginia, residency and fellowship at University of Washington, and additional training in health equity at the Child Health Equity Research Program for Postdoctoral Fellows (CHERPP-T) and master in science in epidemiology with a focus on clinical and translational research at the University of Washington. She is an attending physician in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders with a focus in oncology and sickle cell disease.

Research interests: Racism, racial and ethnic inequities, health equity, diversity, equity and inclusion, pediatric oncology

Nancy Lau, PhD

Assistant Professor

Bio: Dr. Nancy Lau is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development. Dr. Lau grew up in the Bay Area in California and completed her BA in psychology at the University of California Berkeley. After that, she moved to Boston and received her MA and PhD in clinical psychology from Harvard University. She then moved back to the west coast (which feels like home) to completed her psychology residency training at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital, followed by an NIH-funded T32 postdoctoral research fellowship in pediatric palliative care at the University of Washington. Dr. Lau’s research focuses on the development, testing, and implementation of digital mental health interventions for teens and young adults with cancer.

Research interests: Psychosocial oncology, mental health interventions, mobile/digital health, implementation science

Emily Merkel, MD

Clinical Fellow

Bio: Dr. Emily Merkel is a fellow in pediatric hematology and oncology at Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington with clinical and research interests at the intersection of bone marrow transplant and palliative care. After studying at Barnard College in New York, Dr. Merkel spent several years in rurual Rwanda working for Partners in Health, a healthcare and social justice NGO. It was there while contributing to what later became Rwanda's national cancer program that she developed a passion for oncology and palliative care . She attended medical school in Seattle at the University of Washington, completed resideny in pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and returned to Seattle for fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology with additional training in epidemiology, currently completing an MS at the University of Washington.

Research interests: Bone marrow transplant (BMT), palliative care, patient reported outcomes, communication 

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Tim Ohlsen, MD, MS

Acting Instructor

Bio: Dr. Ohlsen is a pediatric oncologist and researcher interested in examining and alleviating financial toxicity—the financial challenges that patients and families face as a result of their cancer. He also conducts research related to geographic disparities, economic analysis, and oncology supportive care. Dr. Ohlsen earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine before completing a residency in pediatrics at the University of Utah. He then completed fellowship training in pediatric hematology/oncology at the University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital. Clinically, he cares for children with cancer and blood disorders with a focus on solid tumors.

Research interests: Financial toxicity, geographic disparities, measure development

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