I am a Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center  at Cincinnati Children’s. My team and I have been conducting research in the field of heart disease and mental health for more than 15 years. I received my training at the University of Sydney in Australia, earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a PhD in Medical Psychology. At the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, I developed one of the first psychology programs dedicated to caring for patients and families affected by pediatric and congenital heart disease. My research focuses on understanding how early adversity can alter developmental processes, including brain development, neurodevelopment, emotion regulation and stress reactivity, increasing vulnerability to mental health conditions later in life. In 2018, I came to the United States on a Harkness Fellowship in Health Care Policy and Practice at Harvard Medical School and in 2020, I was thrilled to join Cincinnati Children’s to develop and lead the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center. I love being out in nature and cheering on my favorite sports teams!

I am the Research Program Manager in the Kasparian Lab. I earned my bachelor of science degree in Psychology at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky. I have worked in Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology since 2007 and am experienced in the design, implementation, and conduct of clinical research studies with a specialization in trials testing the feasibility and effectiveness of caregiver-focused behavioral interventions. My research interests include parenting interventions that promote skill-building, mental and physical wellness, and resiliency in caregivers and their children. I have managed single and multi-site trials funded by the NIH, Ohio Dept. of Medicaid, and privately funded studies. In my work for the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center, I work with principal investigators to design study infrastructure, support workforce development, and launch clinical trials. Outside of work, my time is spent enjoying family time- in nature, at the beach when we can, and cheering on the Cincinnati Bengals. Who Dey!

I am a research program management coordinator and work with Dr. Kasparian to support various administrative projects and research processes. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to concerts and doing freelance photography.

I am the Clinical Program Coordinator for the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center. I work closely with our clinical and business team members to support our program. My responsibilities include coordinating and scheduling patient appointments and meetings for our team and collaborative partners. I also assist with event planning, marketing, resource development, and clinic workflows. I earned my Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Cincinnati. I love watching reality TV and am a writer at heart.

As a Clinical Psychologist with the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center, I support individuals with congenital heart disease. I earned my master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky and my doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a child and family emphasis at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. I love random facts, eye-rolling puns, and background stories. I also enjoy gardening and bird watching but am not very good at either.

I am a Pediatric Psychologist with the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center, where I focus on the health and wellbeing of children with cardiac conditions and their families. I earned my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and my Master’s degree and PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Buffalo in New York. I enjoy yoga, baking, tennis, and gardening. My first career was working in theater, film and documentaries in New York City.

I am a Pediatric Psychologist with the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center, specializing in inpatient care. When I’m not helping patients and families in the hospital, I love spending time with my family - going on hikes, eating yummy food and watching sports, especially the Red Sox! I earned my PhD in Clinical Psychology at Suffolk University in Boston.

I am a child life specialist with the Heart and Mind Wellbeing team. My research interests include finding new ways to provide emotional and mental health support for children with congenital heart disease and their families. I’m also interested in how congenital heart disease affects a person’s mental health and neurodevelopment, and how child life interventions can help. I earned my master’s degree in psychology at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, and my master’s degree in child studies at Vanderbilt University (also in Nashville). Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, trying new recipes, and being outdoors.

View Emily Jones, MS, MEd, CCLS's Full Bio

As a social worker at Cincinnati Children's Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center, I support patients and their families dealing with heart disease. I meet families where they are in their lives, collaborate on ways to increase their support and connect them to providers who can support the progress they would like to make.

I support families in identifying their strengths so we can work together to determine how to use them to meet their needs. I use a person-centered approach to allow the family to be the guide on their journey while working collaboratively to develop the best ways to support them.

When I’m not at work, I enjoy reading as many books as possible and spending time with my animals and friends. I love to spend time outside hiking, camping and learning as much as I can about nature.

I am a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Medical Psychology and work with Dr. Kasparian to conduct a tri-national study investigating health professionals’ views on mental health care in congenital cardiology centers. I completed my training as a health psychologist at the Université de Lausanne in Switzerland and Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. I earned my PhD in Health Sciences and a certificate in Public Health from the Universität Luzern in Switzerland. Other research interests include studying the experiences and psychosocial needs of siblings of individuals with congenital heart disease. I recently picked up figure skating as a hobby, and I love biodegradable glitter made from eucalyptus plants!

I am a research officer with a special interest in the role of mother-infant bonding and attachment in the development of healthy, resilient relationships. I also study the needs and experiences of dads and how to best support their mental health and wellbeing after their child is diagnosed with congenital heart disease. I received my master’s degree in clinical psychology at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. I love chocolate and enjoy planning holidays to new destinations.

I am a research officer working on two studies in the Kasparian Lab - cherish and WithCare. I am passionate about exploring the emotional changes that occur for parents of babies with congenital heart disease before and after their baby’s birth and how these changes can shape the developing parent-infant relationship. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, master’s degree in clinical psychology, and PhD in medical psychology at the University of Sydney and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network in Australia. I enjoy taking walks and surfing on the beautiful beaches of Australia and curling up with a good book.

I am a Certified Coder with the Kasparian Lab. My professional interests focus on the caregiver-child attachment relationship and its impact on child wellbeing and family functioning. I earned my master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Western Sydney University and my PhD in Psychology from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. When I’m not working, I enjoy writing - I am a children’s book author.

I am a Certified Coder with the Kasparian Lab and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. My research interests focus on strengthening parent-child relationships. In my work for the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center, I assess infant attachment using the Strange Situation Procedure, which is a structured laboratory procedure that allows us to observe attachment security between children and their caregiver. I earned my PhD in Clinical Child Psychology at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two boys. I also like playing the guitar and singing.

I am a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center. My previous role at Cincinnati Children’s centered around positive parenting programming and interventions to improve health outcomes for mothers with depression and their children. I am thrilled to continue in a role that aligns with my interests in optimizing parental mental health outcomes and supporting families affected by congenital heart disease. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Dayton, Ohio and my master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. I’m originally from Louisville but have been living in Cincinnati since 2016. In my spare time, I love checking out everything the city has to offer, especially the amazing food scene, beautiful parks, sports events, art festivals, and concerts!

I am a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center. I am passionate about creating the best experience possible for people who participate in our research studies. As a research coordinator, I am especially interested in learning more about how major medical diagnoses and chronic illnesses impact the mental health of children as they grow up. Before coming to Cincinnati Children’s, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Outside of work, I like swimming, watching the latest shows and movies, and spending time with my partner, Ben, and our two kitties, Milo and Jasper.

I am a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center and am excited to work on the HeartGPS study. This first-of-its-kind, multi-site study is evaluating a psychological intervention for parents who receive their baby’s diagnosed of congenital heart disease during pregnancy. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Cincinnati. I enjoy reading and being outdoors with my young son, who turns any trip outside into an adventure.

I am a clinical research coordinator with the Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center. I have worked in clinical research since 2015, with a focus on psychology and neuroscience. I graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 2015 and earned a master’s degree in clinical research management from Ohio State University in 2020. I am passionate about contributing to research that improves mental health outcomes for our patients and their caregivers. When not at work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two kids. I am a volunteer leader for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and I love to travel when I get the chance!

I am a Project Manager in the Heart Institute Research Core at Cincinnati Children’s. My professional training centers around exercise physiology. I received my master’s degree in Education from the University of Dayton in Ohio and am a certified clinical research coordinator. Ever since my own pregnancy and postpartum journey, I have developed a passion for understanding more about the connection between physical and mental health. Combining cardiology with mental health is so interesting. Outside work, I love hanging out with my family and exploring new parks and hiking trails. I also have a habit of walking the aisles of Costco and Trader Joe’s a little too much. I love finding new products and recipes!

I’m a Senior Regulatory Specialist for the Heart Institute Research Core at Cincinnati Children’s. My passion for research ethics began while working on my master’s degree in Social Psychology at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. I’m now a certified clinical research professional and a certified institutional review board (IRB) professional with eight years of regulatory experience in clinical research and social behavioral settings. Working with the Kasparian Lab combines my educational background in psychology, my current work at the Heart Institute, and my desire to broaden my regulatory knowledge and experience with international collaborators. I am an avid pool (billiards) player. I play in several leagues and travel to tournaments several times a year. I also coach fifth- and sixth-grade softball!

I am a PhD Scholar at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) in Australia. I am interested in studying the psychological experiences of patients, families and health professionals in paediatric care settings. As part of the Heart and Mind Wellbeing team, I am working on the WithCare Health Professional study which explores mental health outcomes in health professionals working with children with congenital heart disease and their families. I am also a Health and Wellbeing Ambassador at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW and work with my peers to increase mental health literacy and develop resources for emotional support and wellbeing among higher degree research students. Outside work, I enjoy going on adventures with my kids, being creative, drinking lots of coffee and reading books.

I am a PhD Scholar in the final year of my doctoral program at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. I completed a bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane and my master’s degree in Health Studies (Grief and Loss) at the University of Queensland. My research interests include the psychosocial outcomes of families of children with congenital heart disease, from prenatal diagnosis to longer-term. I am also interested in the neurodevelopment and quality of life of children with congenital heart disease, including developing sustainable models of neurodevelopmental care. My favorite way to spend time is with family, friends, and a playful little dog!

I am a Graduate Research Assistant in the Kasparian Lab and a fourth-year Doctoral student at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. I earned my master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Dayton in Ohio. My research focuses on the psychosocial adjustment and resilience of children with heart disease and their caregivers. I’m also interested in identifying more effective ways to deliver cardiac neurodevelopmental care. I love dogs and spend my free time playing with my miniature golden doodle and golden retriever.

I am a Scientia PhD Scholar at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. My research interests include complex congenital heart disease, Fontan circulation, quality of life, psychological well-being, family-centered care and integrated psychological care. I enjoy spending time at the beach with my family, cooking, and gardening - the outdoors is my happy place!

I am a Scientia PhD Scholar at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. My research interests include studying the effects of early life adversity on brain development and emotion regulation. As part of the Heart and Mind Wellbeing team, I am working on a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigating how children and adolescents who underwent the arterial switch procedure as neonates respond emotionally and neurobiologically to affective stimuli. Prior to commencing my PhD, I worked as a Research Assistant at Monash University in Melbourne on a study exploring health outcomes among adults with autism. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Science at the University of Sydney and my master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Technology in Sydney. Outside work, I sing in a choir, write non-fiction, and play Dungeons and Dragons with my friends.

I am a Research Intern in the Kasparian Lab and a student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I’m earning my bachelor’s degree in Public Health, with plans to complete my Doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy in 2025. My professional interests include program development, implementation and evaluation. As an adult with single ventricle congenital heart disease, I am passionate about advocacy and helping people with CHD and their providers form strong relationships. I love singing, playing guitar, painting, reading and working out.