Note: Current elected and appointed Society of Pediatric Psychology Board of Directors members are not eligible for any of the SPP awards or the SPP grants.
The Society of Pediatric Psychology offers a number of opportunities for recognition for outstanding achievement across a range of professional activities.
Awards
There are awards available for students and trainees as well as for psychologists in various stages of their careers. Please visit the following links for application deadlines and instructions.
Student Poster Awards
This award honors certain students who are the first author of a poster to be presented at the SPP Annual Conference (in the spring), and other students who are first author of a poster presented during the Division 54 poster session at the APA Annual Convention (in the summer).
Details: Deadline: typically mid-March for SPPAC and mid-June for APA, Apply by: Email. For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardees (SPPAC):
- Gabriela Barnas - Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
- Frances Cooke - Catholic University of America
- Mikaela de Lemos - Boston University
- Taylor Harris - University of Kansas
- L. Sophia Rintell - Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
- Mary Yockel - The Catholic University of America
- Lubna Barakat - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Gabe Cochran - Oklahoma State University
- Ella Kuffour - Nationwide Children's Hospital
- Katherine Shircliff - Palo Alto University
- Elizabeth Gunder - Texas Tech University
- Lindsay Richey Groh - Children's Mercy
2025 Awardees (APA):
- Emma Lecarie - Children's Hospital Colorado
- Kaelynn Knestrick Bruemmer - Bowling Green University
- Natalie Finn - Children's Hospital Colorado
- Kylie Hill - University of Florida
Diversity Student Poster Awards
This award honors the first author of a pediatric psychology research poster whose research features diversity-related variables, such as race/ethnicity, gender, culture, sexual orientation, language differences, socioeconomic status and/or religiosity.
Details: Deadline: typically mid-March for SPPAC and mid-June for APA, Apply by: Email. For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardees (SPPAC):
- Maria Hands Ruz - The University of Texas at Austin
- Motunrola Adebogun - Boston University
- River Weiss - Oregon Health & Science University
- Johanna Michlig - Marquette University
- Tara Weixel - Lurie Children's Hospital
2025 Awardees (APA):
- Tanvi Karkare - Nationwide Children's Hospital
Student Travel Awards
This award is designed to help the first author of a poster or paper to be presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference.
Details: Deadline: October, Apply by: with poster submission. For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardees:
- Madeleine Suhs - Virginia Commonwealth University
- Julia Lejeune - University of Illinois at Chicago
- Sean McHugh - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Christina Korth - Kent University
- Polina Poliakova - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Yvonne Ochieng - Duke University
- Meghan O'Brien - University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- Carlos Sanchez - Texas Tech University
- Angel Chua - Nationwide Children's
- River Weiss - Oregon Health & Science University
- Katelyn Gomez - Nova Southeastern University
- Jaya Mallela - University of Florida
C. Eugene Walker Education Award in Pediatric Psychology
This award is available to any postdoctoral fellow to facilitate their ability to attend professional meetings that will enhance their educational pursuits.
Details: Deadline: October, Apply by: with poster submission. For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardee:
Nina Anderson, University of Minnesota Medical School
International Collaboration Award
The purpose of the International Collaboration Award is to facilitate Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP) members to visit an international research or clinical program for a minimum of one week and up to one month, although longer stays are possible with a compelling rationale. Eligible applicants include current postgraduate students (i.e., who graduated with an undergraduate degree) in clinical/pediatric psychology training programs, PhD trainees or international equivalency, postdoctoral fellows, or early career faculty (within 5 years of first appointment).
Details: Deadline: October, Apply by: Email. For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardee:
Caroline Mason Roberts, PhD, Scottish Rite for Children
International Travel Award
The Pediatric Psychology International Travel Award is available to SPP members who reside and are affiliated with institutions outside the US to attend the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference (SPPAC). One Award of $2000 (USD) plus free registration are given each year.
Details: Deadline: February 10, Apply by: Email. For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardee:
Sukhpreet Tamana, PhD, Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg
APA Scholar Award
This award supports a post-bac, graduate student, or intern to attend the APA annual convention. The award supports travel and also includes mentorship from a current Division 54 Board Member.
Details: Deadline: mid-June, Apply by: Email. For more details, please click on READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2025 Awardee:
Kaelynn Knestrick Bruemmer: Bowling Green State University
SPP Diverse Scholar Award
This award is for underrepresented undergraduate and post baccalaureate students who have an interest in graduate training. It was developed in order to support the goal of a more diverse pediatric psychology workforce.
Details: Deadline: December. Apply by: Email. For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardee:
Ella Kuffour, Nationwide Children's
Carolyn S. Schroeder Award for Outstanding Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology
This award recognizes outstanding commitment and significant contributions to pediatric psychology by a provider of direct clinical services in the field.
Details: Deadline: January 12th; For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardee:
Karen Wohlheiter, PhD
Dennis Drotar Distinguished Research Award in Pediatric Psychology
This award recognizes excellence and significant contributions in establishing the scientific base of pediatric psychology.
Details: Deadline: January 12th; For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardee:
Melissa Cousino, PhD
Donald K. Routh Early Career Award
This award recognizes significant contributions of a member of SPP to the field of pediatric psychology in research, clinical training and service.
Details: Deadline: January 12th; For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardees:
Jaclyn Papadakis, PhD
Michael C. Roberts Award for Outstanding Mentorship
This award originally started with the generous support of the Levin Foundation to honor faculty in pediatric psychology who mentor students in an exemplary way, providing professional advice and guidance through various training phases.
Details: Deadline: January 12th; For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardee:
Eleanor Mackey, PhD, MS
SPP Award for Distinguished Contributions to Diversity in Pediatric Psychology
This award honors a pediatric psychologist who professionally promotes understanding and respect for diversity in research, policy or practice within the field of pediatric psychology.
Details: Deadline: January 12th; For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardee:
Jerlym Porter, PhD, MPH
Wright Ross Salk Award for Distinguished Service in Pediatric Psychology
In recognition of the early founders of pediatric psychology, this award honors outstanding service contributions to the Society of Pediatric Psychology or to the field of pediatric psychology generally.
Details: Deadline: January 12th; For more details, please click READ MORE to review description, eligibility, and how to apply.
2026 Awardee:
Wendy Ward, PhD, ACC, ABPP, FAPA, FNAP
Grants
Society of Pediatric Psychology sponsors a number of grants that are intended to facilitate high quality empirical research in topic areas that are central to the mission of the society. Some grants are available to both students and professionals. Others are targeted toward our student members. Please visit the links below for more information and application instructions. Please click this link to see SPP's policy on Salary Support, Travel Support, and Indirect Costs for Grants Here.
Anti-Racism Grant Award
A total of $30,000 in grant monies are available for projects focused broadly on pediatric psychology and anti-racism. These projects may be focused on service, clinical activities, activism, training or research. Proposals may request between $500 - $30,000 to support a one-year project. The variety of projects that can be submitted is broad and can range from an in-service training to a formal research project. This is an innovative mechanism – we want projects that think outside the box and lead to sustainable change within the field. The goal is to fund projects that intersect pediatric psychology and anti-racism.
Please join me in congratulating the winners of the 2024 SPP Anti-Racism Grant Mechanism.
There were 13 amazing applications and submissions that spanned educational trainings, research, advocacy projects, and clinical initiatives! The review committee would like to thank all applicants for such strong submissions. We truly had a difficult task at hand.
A big thank you to the review committee as well.
Karen Weiss- grant review co-lead
Jocelyn Gomez- grant review co-lead
Carmelita foster
R. Emily Gonzalez
Allegra Campagna
Alissa Charvonia
Jennifer Ramasami
Sukhpreet Tamana
Mara Whiteside
Please note that all reviewers announced any potential conflicts of interest at the outset of reviews and recused themselves from reviewing materials or commenting when a conflict did exist.
SPP Diversity Research Grant
Funds are available to conduct pediatric psychology research that features diversity-related variables, such as race/ethnicity, gender, culture, sexual orientation, language differences, socioeconomic status and/or religiosity.
2026 Awardee:
Tanvi Verma, University of Florida
Research Mentor: David M. Janicke, PhD, ABPP
Multilevel Family and Youth Processes Shaping Self-Management in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Drotar-Crawford Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Grant in Pediatric Psychology
This $10,000 grant is given to a postdoctoral fellow to support research in pediatric psychology while they are enrolled in a postdoctoral fellowship. The research project must be conducted under the supervision of a faculty advisor in an area of research specific to pediatric psychology.
2026 Awardees:
Tara Weixel, PhD, Lurie Children’s Hospital
Defining “Successful” Outcomes of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study
Josep Roman-Juan, PhD, University of Calgary
Exploring Sociopolitical Drivers of Chronic Pain in Migrant Youth Through Mixed Methods
Marion and Donald Routh Student Research Grant
This grant is designed to enable a student member of the Society of Pediatric Psychology to pursue research scholarship.
2026 Awardee:
Haley Medeiros, Northeastern University
An Empowering Parent Training Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Preschool-Aged Children with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities
2026 Runner-Up:
Jennifer Newton, M.Ed, Wright State University
Outcomes of a Single Session of Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT) for Pediatric Functional Neurological Disorder
Mary Jo Kupst Trainee Grant for Research in Resilience
This award facilitates trainee research that provides a novel contribution and advance the field of pediatric psychology specifically in the area of resilience.
2026 Awardee:
KellyAnn Bonanno, MA, University of Cincinnati; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Mentor: Shari L. Wade, PhD