Kemar V Prussien
Doctoral Candidate
Research Area: Clinical Science
Cognitive Function, Coping, & Communication in Pediatric Populations
I am primarily interested in stress and coping in pediatric sickle cell disease, cancer, and congential heart disease, along with how cognitive function and parent-child communication influence these processes.
I am currently completing my predoctoral internship in pediatric psychology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Representative Publications
Peer-reviewed Publications:
Prussien, K. V., Compas, B. E., Siciliano, R. S., Ciriegio, A. E., Lee, C., Kassim, A., DeBaun, M. R, Donahue, M., & Jordan, L. C. (2021, in press). Cerebral hemodynamics and executive function in sickle cell anemia. Stroke.
Fisher, R. S., Howard Sharp, K. M., Prussien, K. V., Murphy, L. K., Rodriguez, E., Young-Saleme, T. K., Vannatta, K. A., Compas, B. E., & Gerhardt, C. A. (2021, in press). Coping trajectories and the health-related quality of life of childhood cancer survivors. Journal of Pediatric Psychology.
Prussien, K. V., Siciliano, R. S., Ciriegio, A. E., DeBaun, M. R, Jordan, L. C., & Compas, B. E. (2021, in press). Coping, perceived control, and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Siciliano, R. E., Murphy, L. K., Prussien, K. V., Henry, L. M., Patel, N. J., Lee, C. A., Compas, B. E., & Jordan, L. C. (2020, in press). Cognitive and behavioral function in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings.
Murphy, L. K., Heathcote, L. C., Prussien, K. V., Rodriguez, E., Ferrante, A., Fisher, R. S., Gerhardt, C., Vannatta, K., & Compas, B. E. (2020, in press). Mother-child communication about possible cancer recurrence. Psycho-Oncology.
Prussien, K. V., Siciliano, R. E., Ciregio, A. E., Anderson, A. S., Sathanayagam, R., Jordan, L. C., DeBaun, M. R., & Compas, B. E. (2020). Correlates of cognitive function in sickle cell disease: A meta-analysis. Journal of Pediaitric Psycholog., 45(2), 145-155. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsz100
Jordan, L. C., Siciliano, R. S., Cole, C. A., Lee, C. A., Patel, N. J., Murphy, L. K., Markham, L. W., Prussien, K. V., Gindville, M. C., & Compas, B. E. (2020, in press). Cognitive training in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: A pilot randomized trial. Progress in Pediatric Cardiology. doi: 10.1016/j.ppedcard.2019.101185
Prussien, K. V., Patel, D., Wilkerson, K., Armstrong, B., Karnik, L., de la Fuente, J., Kassim, A. (2020). Improvement in processing speed following haploidentical bone marrow transplant with post-transplant cytoxan in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 67, e28001. doi: 10.1002/pbc.28001
Sharp, K. M. H., Fisher, R. S., Clark, O. E., Dunnells, Z. D. O., Murphy, L. K., Prussien, K. V., Vannatta, K., Compas, B. E., & Gerhardt, C. A. (2020). Long-term trajectories of depression symptoms in mothers of children with cancer. Health Psychology, 39(2), 89-98. doi: 10.1037/hea0000826
Jonassaint, C., Kang, C., Prussien, K. V., Yarboi, J., Sanger, M., Wilson, D., ..., & Sankar, U. (2020). Feasibility of implementing mental health treatment in routine adult sickle cell disease care using a mobile technology-based intervention. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 10, 58-67. doi: 10.1093/tbm/iby107
Bettis, A., Henry, L., Prussien, K. V., Vreeland, A., Smith, M., & Compas, B. E. (2019). Laboratory and self-report methods to assess reappraisal and distraction in youth. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 48(6), 855-865. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2018.1466306
Yarboi, J., Prussien, K. V., Bemis, H., Williams, E., Watson, K. H., McNally, C., Henry, L., King, A. A., DeBaun, M. R., & Compas, B. E. (2019). Responsive parenting behaviors and cognitive function in children with sickle cell disease. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 44(10), 1234-1243. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsz065
Prussien, K. V., Jordan, L. C., DeBaun, M. R., & Compas, B. E. (2019). Cognitive function in sickle cell disease across domains, cerebral infarct status, and the lifespan: A meta-analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 44(8), 948-958. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsz031
Siciliano, R. E., Prussien, K. V., Lee, C. L., Patel, N., Murphy, L. K., Compas, B. E., & Jordan, L. C. (2019). Cognitive function in pediatric hypoplastic left heart syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 44(8), 937-947. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsz021
Prussien, K. V., Salihu, A., Abdullahi, S. U., Jabir, B., Sani, B., Kirkham, F. J.,..., & Compas, B. E. (2019). Associations of cerebral blood flow velocity, age, and gender with cognitive function in children with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria. Child Neuropsychology, 25(6), 705-720. doi: 10.1080/09297049.2018.1526272
Fisher, R. S., Rausch, J. R., Ferrante, A. C., Prussien, K. V., Olshefski, R., Vannatta, K. A., Compas, B. E., & Gerhardt, C. A. (2019). Trajectories of health behaviors across early childhood cancer survivorship. Psycho-Oncology, 28, 68-75. doi: 10.1002/pon.4911
Prussien, K. V., Murphy, L., Gerhardt, C., Vannatta, K., Bemis, H., Desjardins, L., ..., & Compas, B. E. (2018). Longitudinal associations among maternal depressive symptoms, child emotional caretaking, and anxious/depressed symptoms in pediatric cancer. Journal of Family Psychology, 32(8), 1087-1096. doi: 10.1037/fam0000463
Murphy, L. K., Preacher, K., Rights, J., Rodriguez, E., Bemis, H., Desjardins, L., Prussien, K. V., Winning, A., Gerhardt, C. A., Vannatta, K., & Compas, B. E. (2018). Maternal communication in childhood cancer: Factor analysis and relation to maternal distress. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 43(10), 1114-1127. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsy054
Prussien, K. V., DeBaun, M., Yarboi, J., Bemis, H., McNally, C., Williams, E., & Compas, B. E. (2018). Cognitive function, coping, and depressive symptoms in children with Sickle Cell Disease. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 43(5), 543-551. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsx141
Whitlock, J., Prussien, K., & Pietrusza, C. (2015). Predictors of NSSI recovery and growth in young adults. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 9(19). doi: 10.1186/s13034-015-0048-5
Manuscripts Under Review and In Preparation:
Prussien, K. V., Murphy, L. K., Ferrante, A., Fisher, R. S., Gerhardt, C., Vannatta, K., & Compas, B. E. (in preparation). Coping and posttraumatic growth in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer.
Conference Symposium Presentations:
Prussien, K. V., Murphy, L. K., Ferrante, A., Gerhardt, C., Vannatta, K., & Compas, B. E. (2018, September). Longitudinal analyses of coping and post-traumatic growth in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer: Coping near diagnosis through 5 years later. Symposium at the European Pediatric Psychology Conference, Ghent, Belgium.
Selected Conference Poster Presentations:
Prussien, K. V., Siciliano, R. E., Ciriegio, A. E., Anderson, A. S., & Compas, B. E. (2020, March) Correlates of cognitive function in sickle cell disease: A meta-analysis and systematic review of risks and consequences. Poster accepted to be presented at the Society for Research on Adolescents Biennial Meeting, San Diego, California. (Conference Canceled).
Prussien, K. V., & Compas, B. E. (2019, April). Cognitive function in sickle cell disease across domains, cerebral infarct status, and the lifespan: A meta-analytic review. Poster to be presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Prussien, K. V., Yarboi, J., Murphy, L., Bemis, H., Dejardins, L., DeBaun, M., Gerhardt, C. A., Vannatta, K., Compas, B. E. (2018, April). Coping and communication in African American caregivers of children with sickle cell disease and cancer. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida.
Prussien, K., Yarboi, J., Bemis, H., McNally, C., Knoll, O., Ko, C., Sathanayagam, R., DeBaun, M., & Compas, B. (2017, November). Stress, education, and depressive symptoms in parents of children with sickle cell disease. Poster presented at the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 51st Annual Convention. San Diego, CA.
Prussien, K., Yarboi, J., Bemis, H., Williams, E., DeBaun, M., & Compas, B. (2016, October). Disease-related stress and depressive symptoms in children with sickle cell disease. Poster presented at the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 50th Annual Convention. New York, New York.
Prussien, K., Yarboi, J., Bemis, H., Williams, E., DeBaun, M., & Compas, B. (2016, April). Coping and cognitive function in children with sickle cell disease. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Convention. Atlanta, GA.
Prussien, K., Saunders, R., & Pilling, S. (2014, April). The Impact of Initial Anxiety on Treatment Response in Depression. Poster presented at the Cornell Undergraduate Research Board Spring Forum. Cornell University. Duffield Hall, Ithaca, NY.
Prussien, K., & Whitlock, J. (2014, March). Parent-child agreement in understanding the what and why of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury. Poster presented at the Society for Research on Adolescence Biannual Meeting. Austin, TX.
Honors
Principal Investigator, NICHD NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research: F31 HD095592. "Oxygen Extraction Fraction and Cognitive and Psychosocial Functioning in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia." Fall 2018 - Spring 2020 ($89,540)
Trainee, NIMH Developmental Psychopathology Training Grant: T32-MH18921. Vanderbilt University, Fall 2017 - Spring 2018.
Most Cited Paper Award, Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2020
Student Travel Award, Society of Pediatric Psychologology Annual Conference 2019
Honorable Mention, Ford Foundation Fellowship 2015