A photo of Sanita Ley.

Sanita Ley, PhD


  • Pediatric Psychologist, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology
  • Training Director, O'Grady Residency in Psychology
  • Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
I was drawn to pediatric psychology because I wanted to help children and adolescents with acute and chronic medical conditions, along with their families, overcome emotional, behavioral and/or thinking barriers that were keeping them from living the life they want to live.
Sanita Ley, PhD

About

Biography

As a pediatric psychologist, I help children and adolescents with a wide variety of medical conditions by tailoring evidence-based treatments to fit their individual and family situations. Some of my areas of specialty include feeding, pediatric obesity and bariatrics. I also counsel patients who have weight-related medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes and non- alcoholic fatty liver disease.

I was drawn to pediatric psychology because I wanted to help children and adolescents with acute and chronic medical conditions, along with their families, overcome emotional, behavioral and/or thinking barriers that were keeping them from living the life they want to live.

In addition to helping patients, I also do research that focuses on improving outcomes for children and adolescents with obesity.

In my free time, I like to read, run, travel, and spend time with family and friends.

PhD: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 2016.

Residency: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2016.

Fellowship: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2018.

Interests

Adjustment and coping with medical illness; pediatric obesity; pediatric feeding concerns; anxiety; depression; adherence concerns

Services and Specialties

Behavioral Medicine, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology

Interests

Pediatric obesity

Research Areas

Clinical Psychology

Insurance Information

Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.

View Insurance Information

Publications

Development and Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Clinic Focused on the Care of Adolescents with Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes. Schaaf, L; Ley, S; Riegler, A; Poetker, A; Xanthakos, S; Sizemore, J; Crimmins, N; Helmrath, M; Tracy, R; Arce-Clachar, AC; et al. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 2023; 16:2799-2807.

Weight change predicts college adjustment and depressive symptoms among first-year college students. Garr, K; Odar Stough, C; Godfrey, LM; Ley, SL. Journal of American college health : J of ACH. 2023; 71:1651-1657.

Trajectories of Psychopathology and Dysregulation 2-4 Years following Adolescent Bariatric Surgery. Bejarano, CM; Gowey, M; Reiter-Purtill, J; Ley, S; Mitchell, JE; Zeller, MH. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2023; 48:479-489.

Nutrition interventions for youth with dyslipidemia: a National Lipid Association clinical perspective. Williams, L; Baker-Smith, CM; Bolick, J; Carter, J; Kirkpatrick, C; Ley, SL; Peterson, AL; Shah, AS; Sikand, G; Ware, AL; et al. Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 2022; 16:776-796.

Mycophenolate mofetil use is associated with reduced incidence of food allergy in liver transplanted children. Ley, SL; Kidwell, KM; Van Dyk, TR; Orkin, S; Odar Stough, C; Howarth, T; Goetz, AR; Xanthakos, SA; Bramlage, K; Mouzaki, M; et al. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2022; 75:138-144.

Insight Into the Adolescent Patient Experience With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Ley, SL; Kidwell, KM; Van Dyk, TR; Orkin, S; Odar Stough, C; Howarth, T; Goetz, AR; Xanthakos, SA; Bramlage, K; Mouzaki, M; et al. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2022; 75:88-96.

Health-Related Social Needs Facing Youth with NonAlcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Orkin, S; Yodoshi, T; Sun, Q; Fei, L; Meryum, S; Ley, S; Arce-Clachar, AC; Bramlage, K; Xanthakos, S; Kahn, R; et al. 2022; 3:e153.

Unhealthy Eating, Psychopathology, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Youth Presenting for Bariatric Surgery. Ley, SL; Zeller, MH; Reiter-Purtill, J; Kleiner, DE; Dixon, J; Xanthakos, S. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2021; 73:670-676.

Change, predictors and correlates of weight- and health-related quality of life in adolescents 2-years following bariatric surgery. Reiter-Purtill, J; Ley, S; Kidwell, KM; Mikhail, C; Austin, H; Chaves, E; Rofey, DL; Jenkins, TM; Inge, TH; Zeller, MH; et al. International Journal of Obesity. 2020; 44:1467-1478.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescents who underwent bariatric surgery. Zeller, MH; Reiter-Purtill, J; Jenkins, TM; Kidwell, KM; Bensman, HE; Mitchell, JE; Courcoulas, AP; Inge, TH; Ley, SL; Gordon, KH; et al. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. 2020; 16:568-580.

Patient Ratings and Comments

All patient satisfaction ratings and comments are submitted by actual patients and verified by a leading independent patient satisfaction company, NRC Health. Patient identities are withheld to ensure confidentiality and privacy. Only those providers whose satisfaction surveys are administered through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are displayed. Click here to learn more about our survey

4.6
Overall Patient Rating