
Advancing Advocacy and Leadership through Science and Practice in Pediatric Psychology
To help kick off SPPAC 2022, Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, who serves as the Assistant Secretary for Health for the US Department of Health and Human Services to improve the health and well-being of all Americans, spoke to the vital role of pediatric psychologists for mental health advocacy - via video:

MISSION OF THE SOCIETY OF PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGY ANNUAL CONFERENCE (SPPAC)
The SPPAC aims to advance SPP's mission by:
- 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.
- Providing a forum for individuals at all levels, from students to established investigators and clinicians, to facilitate consultation, collaboration and mentorship.
- Promoting the role and value of pediatric psychology in a changing healthcare environment nationally and internationally.
SPPAC CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
- To provide up-to-date information on evidence-based practice in pediatric psychology services for children and families.
- 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.
- To provide opportunities for productive interaction between and among researchers, practitioners, and trainees.
Schedule-at-a-Glance*
Monday, April 4, 2022
View the SIG, RIG, and affinity group virtual meeting schedule.
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
View the SIG, RIG, and affinity group virtual meeting schedule.
Schedule at at Glance - printable PDF
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.
Poster specifications; session & set up times
Assigned Poster #s, Sessions, listed by last name:
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.
To get CE credits and certificate:
- Go to http://spp.cmecertificateonline.com
- Click on the 2022 - LIVE In-Person Annual Conference
- Evaluate the meeting.
- Print, download, or save your certificate for your records.
If you have questions for CE– please email: Certificate@AmedcoEmail.com
View the Sponsor/Exhibitor/Advertiser Guidelines.
For more information, email info@pedpsych.org.
2022 Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Programs on Parade
Thank you to all who participated!
Akron Children's Hospital
Barrow Neurological Institute At Phoenix Children's Hospital
Baylor College Of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital
Brown - Clinical Psychology Training Programs
Children's Hospital Of Colorado
Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia
Children's Mercy Kansas City
Children's Minnesota Hospital
Children's National Hospital, Psychology and Behavioral Health
Children's Specialty Group
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cleveland Clinic Children's
Emory University School Of Medicine
Hurley Medical Center & Michigan State University
Indiana University School of Medicine
Intermountain Healthcare
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Kennedy Krieger Institute/ Johns Hopkins School Of Medicine
Mayo Clinic
Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Nemours
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL
Oregon Health & Science University
Randall Children's Hospital / Legacy
Rush University Medical Center
Scottish Rite For Children
St Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Louis Children's Hospital
Stanford Children's Health
The MetroHealth System
"UCSF BCH Oakland
Braddock Emotional Support Team (BEST) Oakland, CA
University Of Chicago
University Of Louisville School Of Medicine
University Of Louisville School Of Medicine
University Of Michigan
University of Miami
University of Mississippi Medical Center
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
University Of Rochester Medical Center
University of Vermont Medical Center
At this year's SPPAC, we have 3 Service & Outreach Events:
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 - 11 am – 12 pm ET
Virtual Service & Outreach Event with Achieving My Purpose
Learn more about the SPPAC 2022 Service Projects & participate in a Sharing Circle/Women’s Empowerment Outreach Event with Achieving My Purpose (https://achievingmypurpose.org/). This activity is offered in collaboration with the Student/Trainee Antiracism Subgroup, Diversity SIG, & Student Advisory Board)
Contact: Juliana Yanguas, PsyD (jyangua1@jhmi.edu)
Thursday, April 7, 2022 - 3:30-5:30 pm MT
Off-Site Service & Outreach Event at The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Location: 2120 South 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 - Advanced Sign-Up and Masks Required
Join us for an afternoon of service at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (a short walk from the conference hotel). Activities include assisting with meal service for families and providing after-school support for children.
This activity is offered in collaboration with the Student/Trainee Antiracism Subgroup, Diversity SIG, and Student Advisory Board.
Contact: Desireé Williford, PhD, MPH (desiree.williford@cchmc.org) and Rachel Fisher, MS (Rachel.Fisher10@okstate.edu)
On-Site Service & Outreach Activity – All Poster Sessions - Thursday, Friday, Saturday!
Lend a helping hand during the poster sessions by assembling to-go coffee kits for local families served by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Tables will be set up in the poster session area!
Learn more about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul here: https://www.stvincentdepaul.net/.
Contact: Desireé Williford, PhD, MPH (desiree.williford@cchmc.org)
Hyatt Regency Phoenix
122 N 2nd St
Phoenix, AZ 85004
2022 Registration Fees
Member Fees
Early Bird Fees - Available through March 15 |
Conference |
Pre-Conference Workshops |
Member (psychologist, physician, allied professional) |
$450 | $100/one workshop $180/two workshops |
Student Member (undergraduate, graduate, fellow, intern) |
$200 | $75/one workshop $130/two workshops |
Late Fees |
Conference |
Pre-Conference Workshops |
Member (psychologist, physician, allied professional) |
$550 | $125/one workshop $230/two workshops |
Student Member (undergraduate, graduate, fellow, intern) |
$300 | $100/one workshop $180/two workshops |
Non-Members
Early Bird Fees - Available through March 15 |
Conference |
Pre-Conference Workshops |
Non-Member (psychologist, physician, allied professional) |
$550 | $150/one workshop $280/two workshops |
Non-Member Student (undergraduate, graduate, fellow, intern) |
$300 | $100/one workshop $180/two workshops |
Late Fees |
Conference |
Pre-Conference Workshops |
Non-Member (psychologist, physician, allied professional) |
$650 | $175/one workshop $330/two workshops |
Non-Member Student (undergraduate, graduate, fellow, intern) |
$400 | $125/one workshop $230/two workshops |
Refund and Cancellation Policy
A full refund of registration fees, less a $50 administrative fee, will be available if requested in writing and received at least 7 days before the event. No refunds will be made after that date. A $30 fee also will be charged for returned checks. (Please note that if you fail to cancel by the deadline and do not attend, you are still responsible for payment.) SPP reserves the right to cancel the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference and return all fees in the event of insufficient registration.
The liability of SPP is limited to the registration fee. SPP and Degnon Associates are not responsible for any losses incurred by registrants, including but not limited to airline cancellation charges or hotel deposits.
Thank You to Our Sponsors






Contact US
For questions about logistics, registration, or exhibitor/sponsorship opportunities, please email info@pedpsych.org.
For questions about financial support, see our FAQs.
If you have questions about the conference programming, please contact the conference chairs:
Emily Law, PhD
SPPAC 2022 Chair
emily.law@seattlechildrens.org
Soumitri Sil, PhD
SPPAC 2022 Co-chair
soumitri.sil@emory.edu
Updates from the SPP President
March 2022
Video Update! (includes reg info, COVID update - Health Pledge,
meeting app; Community Service & Outreach activities, networking events)
Laura Simons, PhD, SPP President & Emily Law, PhD, SPPAC 2022 Chair