MISSION OF THE SOCIETY OF PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGY ANNUAL CONFERENCE (SPPAC)

The SPPAC aims to advance SPP's mission by:

1. Advancing the science of pediatric psychology and related fields through dissemination of cutting edge research; promotion of research that is culturally, ethically and developmentally sensitive and includes diverse populations; and education on evidence-based assessment, intervention, and emerging areas of research, clinical care and policy.
2. Providing a forum for individuals at all levels, from students to established investigators and clinicians, to facilitate consultation, collaboration and mentorship.
3. Promoting the role and value of pediatric psychology in a changing healthcare environment nationally and internationally.

SPPAC CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

1. To provide up-to-date information on evidence-based practice in pediatric psychology services for children and families.
2. To provide a forum for presentation and discussion of current research in pediatric psychology, and how such research informs clinical practice, service delivery, and policy decisions.
3. To provide opportunities for productive interaction between and among researchers, practitioners, and trainees.

Plenary Speakers

Margarita Alegría

Chief, Disparities Research Unit, Department of Medicine & the Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital
Harry G. Lehnert, Jr. and Lucille F. Cyr Endowed Chair, Mass General Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital
Professor, Departments of Medicine & Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Margarita Alegría, PhD, is the Chief of the Disparities Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Mongan Institute, the Harry G. Lehnert, Jr. and Lucille F. Cyr Lehnert Endowed Chair at the Mass General Research Institute and a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She has spent most of her career working on how to reduce health disparities for populations of color, immigrants and linguistic minorities. Dr. Alegría is the PI of four National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research studies: The Impact of Medicaid Plans on Access to and Quality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment, Building Infrastructure for Community Capacity in Accelerating Integrated Care, Building Community Capacity for Disability Prevention for Minority Elders and Latino Youths Coping with Discrimination: A Multi-Level Investigation in Micro- and Macro- Time. She has published over 300 papers, editorials, intervention training manuals, and several book chapters. In October 2011, she was elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine in acknowledgement of her scientific contributions to her field. Most recently, Dr. Alegria received the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award for Latino Behavioral Health Research by the National Latino Behavioral Health Association. Dr. Alegría obtained her B.A. in Psychology from Georgetown University in 1978 and her Ph.D. from Temple University in 1989.

­­Nancy Spector

Professor of Pediatrics
Executive Director, Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) program
Drexel University College of Medicine (DUCOM)

­­Dr. Nancy Spector, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics and serves in dual roles at the Drexel University College of Medicine (DUCOM): as Executive Director of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) program, a part-time year long, national leadership fellowship program for women in academic medicine, dentistry, public health, and pharmacy, and as Vice Dean for Faculty.

Known for her leadership abilities and her facilitation skills, Dr. Spector is sought after as a speaker and a visiting professor. Her contributions to graduate medical education and academic medicine are in leadership skills development, professional development, gender equity, mentoring and sponsorship, and curriculum development and implementation. She is a member of PROWD (Promoting and Respecting Our Women Doctors). In addition to her roles at DUCOM, she has been the educational leader of the I-PASS Handoff Study Group and serves as the Chair of the I-PASS Executive Council and is a co-founder of the I-PASS Safety Institute.

Amber A. Hewitt

Chief Equity Officer, Government of the District of Columbia

Dr. Amber A. Hewitt is the Chief Equity Officer for the Government of the District of Columbia. In this role, she works in collaboration with District leadership and agencies to apply a racial equity lens across government operations. In 2018, she was appointed by Mayor Bowser to the Commission on Fathers, Men, and Boys. Amber was the Director of Health Equity at Families USA, a national, nonpartisan consumer health advocacy organization. She also previously worked as a health care lobbyist for an integrated, children’s health system. Amber’s background also includes serving as an American Psychological Association/ American Association for the Advancement of Science health policy fellow in the Office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker. She began her career as a tenure-track professor teaching undergraduate and doctorate-level courses in psychology, social justice, multicultural counseling and diversity issues at the University of Akron and Loyola University Chicago. Her research on adolescent identity development and well-being, with a special focus on Black boys and young men, has been published in several top-tier academic journals. A counseling psychologist by training, Amber has provided psychotherapy and psychoeducational testing for children and families. She received her B.S. in biological sciences from the University of Southern California, M.A. in psychology from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Loyola University Chicago. She holds adjunct faculty appointments at Catholic University, American University, and Simmons University.

In preparation for SPPAC 2022, we would like to share answers to some frequently asked questions. Read more.

Coming Soon

The Society of Pediatric Psychology (Division 54 of the American Psychological Association) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Society of Pediatric Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.

The hotel for SPPAC 2022 is the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

The group room rate will be $249 plus taxes and fees and available three days prior to and three days after the conference dates, subject to individual reservation request availability.

The room block will open this winter.

Registration

Registration will open this winter with these early bird fees:

Member Fees

Non-Members