About

Anne E. Kazak, Ph.D., ABPP, is an Emeritus Professor and Chief of Psychology in Pediatrics (Oncology) at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. She is associated with the Department of Pediatrics and the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science at the A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. Dr. Kazak's educational background includes an A.B. in Psychology from Smith College (1977), an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia (1980), and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Virginia (1983). Her professional focus is on pediatric psychology, with particular expertise in oncology, pediatric palliative care, and health outcomes research. She has contributed to the development and validation of health competence beliefs inventories, and her research encompasses psychological outcomes, health beliefs, and quality of life in childhood cancer survivors and their families.

Research topics

• Psychology
• Medicine
• Clinical psychology
• Psychiatry
• Psychotherapist
• Political Science
• Internal medicine
• Cardiology
• Social psychology
• Developmental psychology

Selected publications

• A comparative effectiveness trial for universal psychosocial screening with the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) across 18 childhood cancer programs in the United States: adoption, penetration, and health equity

  Implementation Science · 2026-02-26

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Universal, systematic psychosocial screening in childhood cancer assures care matched to need and achieves a Standard of Psychosocial Care. It is accomplished inconsistently due to barriers at the family, provider, and institution level, potentially contributing to disparities in care and outcomes. We conducted a comparative effectiveness trial of two implementation strategies of an established measure (Psychosocial Assessment Tool; PAT3.0) across 18 children's cancer programs to identify strategies that resulted in higher levels of screening in English and Spanish (penetration, health equity). We also examined uptake at the institution level (adoption). METHODS: Sites were randomized to Strategy I (web-based training curriculum [WebTC] + a written, site-specific Implementation Plan) or Strategy II (Strategy I + Consultation Calls + a Champion) and to one of three year-long cohorts. Randomization was stratified by site size (new patients/year (small [< 50], medium [50-149], large [> 150]). Sites provided data to a central data coordinating site, including eligible and screened patients/families and type of insurance as a proxy for socioeconomic status (SES). ANOVAs compared percentage of eligible patients/families screened, eligible Hispanic patients/families screened, patients/families screened by identified race, patients/families screened by SES, and feedback provided to families across Strategy. Data from a WebTC feedback form and the sites' PAT implementation plans were summarized. RESULTS: There were no differences between Strategy I and II in percentage of patients/families screened for 1) all eligible families; 2) Hispanic families; 3) identified race; 4) SES; and 5) feedback provided. Exploratory analyses examining strategy by size by cohort, identified lower percentages of patients/families screened in the second cohort. The WebTC was rated as clear and helpful in understanding the importance of screening and how to screen as part of workflow. On the PAT Implementation Plan, most sites screened a subsample of their cancer program population (e.g., inpatients, hematologic malignancies) with social workers or psychologists as screeners. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive web-based training + Implementation Plan supported implementation of an established psychosocial screener, inclusive of racial and ethnic minoritized, English and Spanish-speaking, and lower SES patients/families. Implementation planning to address barriers at the patient, providers, and institution levels is indicated for successful screening of all patients and as part of childhood cancer program efforts to meet the Psychosocial Standards. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04446728, registered 23 June 2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04446728 .

  PublisherDOI

• Implementing a behavioural intervention for paediatric type 1 diabetes: Key informant perspectives of multilevel barriers and facilitators

  Diabetic Medicine · 2026-05-20

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  AIMS: A 4-session multiple family group version of Behavioral Family Systems Therapy for Diabetes (bBFST-D) is associated with decreased glycemic levels among adolescents with type 1 diabetes; however, few families receive this care. Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research 2.0, this national qualitative study examined perspectives on barriers and facilitators of implementing bBFST-D across six key informant groups. METHODS: Psychosocial (n = 10) and medical professionals (n = 10), clinical (n = 11) and business leaders (n = 9), and adolescents (n = 8) and caregivers (n = 8) were recruited from 5 children's hospitals across the United States. Professional participants (Mage = 42.2-55.1 years) largely identified as female (55%-100%) and White (67%-100%). Most adolescents (6 females, Mage = 14.0 years; MHbA1c = 10.3) and caregivers (8 females, Mage = 41.3 years) identified as White (62.5%). Each participant completed a qualitative interview, which was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a rapid analysis approach. RESULTS: All groups found bBFST-D content helpful and relevant and all identified evidence that bBFST-D improves health outcomes as the most important factor for implementing bBFST-D. Each group described additional key implementation factors. Healthcare leaders noted the influence of US News and World Report rankings, whereas professionals highlighted buy-in from leadership, staffing, space, and scheduling. Caregivers and adolescents reported critical factors for engaging families in care, including evening/weekend scheduling, referrals from trusted medical professionals, and professional characteristics (empathetic, encouraging). CONCLUSION: Study findings offer foundational knowledge on factors that influence implementation of evidence-based psychosocial type 1 diabetes care, which can be used to develop and test strategies to increase delivery of this care.

  PublisherDOI

• Parental Perspectives on Prenatal Counseling and Communication at the Time of Initial Evaluation and Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease

  American Journal of Perinatology · 2026-05-19

  article

  OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate essential domains of prenatal counseling and communication in the specialized obstetric setting at the time of initial evaluation and diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD), including suggestions to improve parental preparation and support. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative data were collected using crowdsourcing methods. Thirty-two parents of children across the United States with a prenatal diagnosis of CHD responded to 37 open-ended questions over six-months. Responses reflecting experiences with ultrasound evaluation of the fetus or interactions with maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists were coded/analyzed using a thematic analytic approach. RESULTS: Five themes representing domains of prenatal counseling and communication were identified: (1) quality of initial communication including clarity of information, sensitivity/empathy, and opportunities for engagement and questions; (2) laying the foundation for emotional adjustment and coping through validating and normalizing emotional responses and providing multidisciplinary psychosocial support; (3) early provision of trusted resources, including educational resources, guidance on financial planning, and peer/community connections; (4) support for managing referrals and follow-up appointments by guiding parents through scheduling procedures and establishing streamlined provider communication; and (5) support for navigating next steps in diagnostic care, including setting clear expectations regarding provider roles and empowering parents in information-seeking and advocacy. CONCLUSION: By investigating the experiences of parents in the specialized obstetric setting at the time of initial evaluation of CHD, this study highlights critical concepts in prenatal counseling and communication and underscores actionable steps to enhance parental preparation and support. Study results emphasize need for standards of care and training models that apply a person-centered, trauma-informed, socioecological approach to prenatal counseling delivered by MFM specialists. Results underscore the importance of incorporating multiple disciplines into prenatal care, including psychosocial providers and care coordinators, to enhance parental support, understanding, and preparedness and to mitigate stress and trauma during an early and ambiguous time.

  PublisherDOI

• Siblings of young children with congenital heart disease: parent perspectives from a crowdsourcing study

  Journal of Pediatric Psychology · 2025-09-16

  article

  OBJECTIVE: To gather parents' perspectives on the experiences of siblings of young children with congenital heart disease (CHD), the impact of CHD on siblings, and the types of resources and supports they need to adjust to CHD within their family. METHODS: A community advisory council guided the study. Parents of children with CHD, currently 1-7 years old, who had surgery in their first year of life, were eligible for participation if they were fluent in written English and had internet access. Recruitment through several CHD-specific nonprofit organizations produced a national sample of parents (N = 108). Of the 73 who had non-bereaved heart-healthy children, 59 (81%) provided sibling-relevant data for this study. Most parents were non-Hispanic White (n = 54; 91.5%) mothers (n = 41; 69.5%; Mage = 36.10; SDage = 5.0) reporting on siblings older than the child with CHD (n = 44; 74.6%). Data were qualitative, collected through crowdsourcing, and coded to distill themes. RESULTS: Three themes emerged: (1) CHD directly affects siblings' psychosocial functioning and daily activities, (2) CHD alters roles and relationships within the family, with impacts to siblings, and (3) families seek and appreciate support for heart-healthy siblings from extended family and friends, the healthcare team, and the community, but resources are variable. CONCLUSION: Parents described specific ways that CHD impacts their heart-healthy children, including their psychosocial functioning, role in the family, and support from the community. Findings highlight the need for family-centered care in CHD, including screening to identify siblings at risk for psychosocial difficulties and provision of appropriate supports to meet sibling and family needs.

  PublisherDOI

• Topical review: family psychosocial risk screening and social determinants of health assessment

  Journal of Pediatric Psychology · 2025-01-28 · 4 citations

  review1st authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: Social-ecological factors are highly congruent with social determinants of health (SDOH): Economic Stability; Educational Access/Quality; Healthcare Access/Quality; Neighborhood/Built Environment; and Social/Community Context. In this topical review, the correspondence of social-ecological theory with SDOH and assessment approaches is reviewed. The Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) is used to show how existing tools may facilitate SDOH screening. METHODS: SDOH are defined, and their link to pediatric health outcomes is presented, followed by a review of the social-ecological model. Feasible, valid, and actionable approaches to assessment of social ecology and SDOH are presented with a focus on the PAT, a brief caregiver report screener based on social-ecological theory, validated in English, Spanish, and in multiple conditions and adapted/translated internationally. Multidisciplinary healthcare providers (n = 25) completed an online survey, indicating whether each PAT item fit into SDOH categories. RESULTS: Despite different approaches to assessing SDOH, there are few feasible and evidence-based approaches. Most PAT items (78%) were consistent with one of the SDOH categories by the majority of raters. PAT items corresponded to all five SDOH categories. Some items about child behavior and family were not categorized as an SDOH, reflecting the broader context of screening with the PAT. CONCLUSION: The assessment of SDOH is a priority, but approaches to assessment and linking outcomes to intervention remain underdeveloped. As an evidence-based screener in pediatric healthcare, based on social-ecological and public health models, the PAT may provide a means of identifying relevant SDOH in pediatric practice.

  PublisherDOI

• Delivering Care Consistent With the Psychosocial Standards—Provider Report: Implementing the Standards Together—Engaging Parents and Providers in Psychosocial Care (iSTEPPP) Study

  Pediatric Blood & Cancer · 2025-08-19 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Evidence-based Standards for Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and their Families were published in 2015. Determining how often care delivery practices and approaches align with the Standards is important for understanding the reach of the Standards. PROCEDURE: Medical (n = 73) and psychosocial (n = 99) providers from 129 of 197 (65%) Children's Oncology Group (COG) programs in the United States completed an online survey. Participants reported the frequency, timing, and psychosocial care delivery approaches for each Standard. Program size was considered, and the data were compared with those from a similar 2016 survey. RESULTS: Using a 5-point scale, services consistent with the Standards are provided across programs-mean frequencies of 3.29-4.61 (5-point scale). Standards related to screening and monitoring (M = 4.42) are delivered more often than Standards related to intervention and support (M = 4.25), supportive care and bereavement (M = 3.88), and family and community (M = 3.72) (p < 0.001). Ratings of quality of care are near the midpoint of the scale. Findings are consistent with a 2016 report, although care related to family and community support was less frequent in 2023. Program size and provider discipline were not associated with quality or frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Providers report that psychosocial care aligned with the Standards is generally provided and perceive quality of care positively. Variability in types of care, frequency, and quality, and lack of change from when the Standards were first published, highlight the importance of improving the implementation of evidence-based approaches.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Moderating Effect of Coping on Stress and Childhood Obesity-Related Health Behaviors among Non-Hispanic Black Caregivers

  Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities · 2025-04-02

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Child health behaviors and weight status may be affected by caregivers' perception and experience of stress. However, little is known about the influence of caregiver coping strategies on childhood overweight and obesity, particularly among non-Hispanic Black caregivers. This study examined associations among specific caregiver stress types (i.e., general, parenting, race-related), child weight status, and health-related behaviors (i.e., intake of fruits and vegetables, consumption of fast food, engagement in physical activity) as well as the moderating effect of caregiver coping strategies. In addition to general coping, the study examined the role of religious coping. This cross-sectional study included 157 non-Hispanic Black caregiver and child (aged 3-7 years) dyads; all caregivers identified as Christian Protestant. Logistic regression models were fit to explore the associations among caregiver stress and child outcomes and to investigate moderation effects of caregiver coping. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic covariates. Association between parenting stress and child weight status was significantly moderated by acceptance coping while the relationship between general stress and child sugary drink intake was moderated by emotional coping. The combination of three stress types was significantly associated with increased child fast food intake. Future research should examine specific coping strategies to address varying levels and types of stress experienced by caregivers from minoritized backgrounds.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Interpersonal relationships after prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease: Social stressors and supports

  Journal of Perinatology · 2025-03-06 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Clinician and Parent Perspectives on Essential Psychosocial Care in Pediatric Cancer

  JAMA Pediatrics · 2025-10-06

  articleOpen access

  This survey study describes the top 5 standards for psychosocial care identified by clinicians and caregivers of pediatric patients with cancer.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Social Support Related to Menses in Gender-Diverse Adolescents: A Qualitative Study

  Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology · 2025-04-17 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  STUDY OBJECTIVE: Menses in transgender or gender-diverse people can cause dysphoria, which has been linked to various comorbid conditions including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Although social support is thought to be beneficial for adolescents in general, little is known about its effects on gender-diverse adolescents (GDAs) receiving care. Thus, this study sought to document the effects of social support on the menses management experiences for GDAs and highlight how such support influences their access to and satisfaction with gender-affirming care. METHODS: Participants were recruited from a tertiary care children's hospital to participate in semi-structured phone interviews. Eligibility included adolescents who were 12-20 years of age and had undergone menarche. Interviewers asked respondents about the impact of menses on their mental health, relationships, daily activities, and experiences with menses management and suppression. RESULTS: A total of 36 individuals participated, with a mean age of 16.82 (SD 2.02) years. Six major themes were identified related to social support: Types of Support, Support Persons within the Social Network, School Environment, Medical Providers as a Social Support, Resources, and Advice for Others. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the vital role of social support as GDAs navigate gender-affirming care and menses management. The exploration of various sources of support-such as family, peers, and health care providers-emphasizes the importance of safe, affirming environments for GDAs. Clinicians as perceived support have a unique opportunity to foster shared decision-making and health advocacy by using preferred pronouns, recognizing dysphoria triggers, and considering GDAs' perspectives when developing care plans.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01CA063930

  NIH · $2.2M · 2003

• NIH Grant R25CA057917

  NIH · $222k · 1995

• NIH Grant R01CA088828

  NIH · $2.8M · 2009

• NIH Grant R01CA106928

  NIH · $1.8M · 2012

• Psychological Intervention Research in Pediatric Oncology

  NIH · $614k · 2008–2014

Frequent coauthors

• Lamia P. Barakat

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  151 shared

• Melissa A. Alderfer

  121 shared

• Wendy L. Hobbie

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  81 shared

• Erica Sood

  76 shared

• Lisa A. Schwartz

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  70 shared

• Margaret L. Stuber

  University of California, Los Angeles

  69 shared

• Kathleen Meeske

  University of Southern California

  57 shared

• Kimberly S. Canter

  54 shared

Education

• Certificate Digital Photography, Digital Photography

  University of the Arts

  2012

• Ph.D., Psychology

  University of Virginia

  1983

• A.B., Psychology, Education

  Smith College

  1977