National Cancer Institute - Cancer.gov

Melissa Alderfer

Primary Position
Center Director (Delaware Valley) & Principal Research Scientist, Nemours Center for Healthcare Delivery Science Professor of Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Job Responsibilities
Research
Other Job Responsibilities
Mentoring
Education/Training
Psychology
Short Synopsis of Professional Interests
My primary research goals are to understand and improve the psychosocial adjustment of families of children with cancer. I have undertaken these goals with a unique focus on all members of the family, including siblings of the children with cancer.
Training Opportunities at Location
Yes
Address
Nemours/A. I. duPont Hospital for Children
1600 Rockland Road
Wilmington, DE 19805
eMAIL
melissa.alderfer@nemours.org
Phone(s)
302-651-6522
Keywords
Childhood cancer;
families
siblings
adjustment;
intervention
Publications of Interest

Alderfer, M.A., Logan, B.A., DiDonato, S., Jackson, L., Hayes, M., Sigmon, S. (2019). Change across time in cancer-related traumatic stress symptoms of siblings of children with cancer: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. doi: 10.1007/s10880-019-09618-2. [Epub ahead of print]

Long, K.A., Lehmann, V., Carpenter, A.L., Gerhardt, C., Marsland, A., & Alderfer, M.A. (2018). Psychosocial functioning and risk factors among siblings of children with cancer: An updated systematic review. Psycho-Oncology, 27(6), 1467-1479. doi:10.1002/pon.4669. PMID: 29441699.

Van Schoors. M., Caes, L., Knoble, N., Verhofstadt, L.L., Goubert, L. & Alderfer, M.A. (2017). Associations between family functioning and child adjustment after pediatric cancer diagnosis: A meta-analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 42, 6-18. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsw070. PMID: 28173163.

Van Schoors. M., Caes, L., Verhofstadt, L.L., Goubert, L. & Alderfer, M.A. (2015). Systematic Review: Family resilience after pediatric cancer diagnosis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 40, 856-868. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsr005. PMID: 26092948.

Weiner, L.S., Pao, M., Van Schoors, M., & Alderfer, M.A. (in press). Psychosocial support for the child and family. In P. A. Pizzo & D. G. Poplack (Eds.) Principles and Practice in Pediatric Oncology, Eighth Edition. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.