Staci Martin Peron, Ph.D.
- Center for Cancer Research
- National Cancer Institute
- Building 82, Room 107
- Bethesda, MD 20814
- 240-760-6025
- martins@mail.nih.gov
RESEARCH SUMMARY
Dr. Martin Peron is a licensed psychologist who specializes in using acceptance and mindfulness-based interventions for coping with physical and psychological effects of illness, and in the neuropsychological assessment of individuals with medical conditions. She serves on the board of several psychology organizations and special interest groups. As clinical and training director of the Pediatric Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program at POB, Dr. Martin Peron developed a treatment manual for helping adolescents cope with chronic pain and an internet support group for parents of chronically ill youth.
Areas of Expertise
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Staci Martin Peron, Ph.D.
Clinical Trials
Research
Dr. Martin Peron's research has involved collaborative investigations of neuropsychological aspects of chronic illness; the use of acceptance-based therapy for pain coping; medication adherence in children with chronic conditions; and emotional, behavioral, and family functioning among children and adolescents with cancer, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), and HIV disease. Currently, she is the principal investigator of studies examining the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for adolescents with NF1 and chronic pain, validation of patient-reported outcome measures of pain intensity and pain interference in individuals with cancer, NF1, and sickle cell disease, and use of an internet support group for parents of children with NF1.
Publications
The relationship between heart rate variability, psychological flexibility, and pain in adolescents and young adults with neurofibromatosis type 1 and chronic pain
A contextual-behavioral perspective on chronic pain during the COVID-19 pandemic and future times of mandated physical distancing.
Neurocognitive functioning in symptomatic adults with sickle cell disease: A description and comparison with unaffected siblings.
Biography
Staci Martin Peron, Ph.D.
Staci Martin Peron, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and serves as the clinical director and training director of the Pediatric Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program. Dr. Martin Peron earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of South Florida, and completed a competitive internship and postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric psychology at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She then joined the NCI Pediatric Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program, where she has worked since 2000.
Dr. Martin has extensive training in the psychological assessment of patients with medical illnesses ranging from infancy to adulthood. She has evaluated a wide range of patient populations including cancer, HIV, neurofibromatosis type 1, sickle cell disease, pervasive developmental disorders, and various other genetic syndromes. She is highly trained in the clinical management of individuals with medical conditions. With respect to research, Dr. Martin’s specific work has involved collaborative investigations of neuropsychological aspects of HIV disease; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for adolescents and young adults with chronic pain; medication adherence in children with chronic conditions; and emotional, behavioral, and family functioning among children and adolescents with cancer, HIV, and genetic syndromes. Dr. Martin has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, co-written several book chapters, and presented at national conferences on her research in health psychology. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) and the Pain Special Interest Group of ACBS. As clinical director and taining director of the Pediatric Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program, Dr. Martin oversees the work of Master’s level psychometricians, postdoctoral fellows, graduate student externs, and undergraduate volunteers. In addition, she instituted a monthly journal club, co-leads case conferences, and directs various other didactic activities. In addition, she serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Psychology Department at the George Washington University.
