ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS, PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS, AND HONORS
Academic Appointments:
1996 – 2001 NIMH Research Trainee in Pediatric Psychology Trainee, Mentor: Dennis Drotar, PhD
1996 – 2001 Research Associate, Behavioral Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
1999 – 2001 Consultant, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Hospitals of Cleveland
1999 – 2001 Research Associate, Department of Pediatrics, MetroHealth Medical Center
2001 – 2002 NIMH Research Trainee in Child Clinical Psychology, Mentor: Elizabeth McQuaid, PhD
2002 – 2003 Postdoctoral Graduate Research Fellow, Brown University, Department of Psychiatry
2003 – 2005 Postdoctoral Graduate Research Fellow, Developmental Psychobiology Research Group, University of Colorado Denver, Mentor: Frederick Wamboldt, PhD
2004 – 2009 Senior Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO
2005 – 2009 Instructor, Division of Psychosocial Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
2009 – present Assistant Professor, Division of Psychosocial Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
2009 – present Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO
Professional Positions:
1991 – 1992 Child Advocate Intern, Hartford Interval House State Level Advocacy Counselor, Hartford, CT
1992 – 1993 Case Manager, McCam Child Development Centre, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies
1994 – 1996 Research Assistant, Office of Research, American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC
1996 Behavioral Healthcare Analyst, Office of Economic Affairs and Practice Management, American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC
1997 – 1998 Assessment Trainee, Beech Brook Treatment Foster Care, Cleveland, OH
1997 – 2000 Mental Health Intake Worker, The Free Clinic of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
1998 – 1999 Facilitator, Eagle’s Circle for Obesity and Asthma, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH
1998 – 1999 Pediatric Psychology Trainee, Behavioral Pediatrics, Pulmonary, Oncology, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH
1999 – 2000 Pediatric Psychology Trainee, Pediatrics & Child Psychiatry, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
2000 – 2001 Pediatric Psychology Trainee, Pediatrics, Hematology, Collaborative Care, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH
2001 Clinical Psychology Intern, Head Start Programs, Bradley Research Center, Brown University, Providence, RI
2001 – 2002 Pediatric Psychology Intern, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence, RI
2002 Clinical Psychology Intern, Adult Behavioral Medicine, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI
2002 – 2003 Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow, Child and Family Psychiatry, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
Honors:
1990 – 1994 Dean’s List, Psychology Honors, Trinity College, Hartford, CT
1994 Outstanding Student in Psychology Award, Trinity College, Hartford, CT
1996 – 2000 NIMH Appointee Pediatric Psychology Research Training Grant
1999 American Psychological Association Dissertation Award
2000 Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy Dissertation Award
2000 – 2001 American Lung Association Lung Health Dissertation Award Recipient
2001 Brown University Internship Research Grant Award
2003 Development Psychobiology Research Fellowship Grant, University of Colorado Denver
2005 – 2007 American Lung Association Social Behavioral Research Grant Award Recipient
Teaching Activities:
COURSEWORK/TRAINING
2002 – 2003 Trainer. Draw-a-Breath Asthma Education Initiative. Providence School Asthma Project. Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Providence, RI
2000 – 2001 Facilitator. Pain Management Strategies. Team Support Group for Sickle Cell Anemia. American Sickle Cell Anemia Association. Cleveland, OH
2000 Course Instructor. Child Psychology—Psychology 230. Department of Psychology. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
2000 Trainer. Behavioral aspects of asthma management. QualChoice Insurance. Cleveland, OH.
2000 Lecturer. Developmental aspects of childhood chronic illness. Department of Pediatrics. MetroHealth Medical Center. Cleveland, OH.
1999 Case Presentation. Exploring the Unexplained. The treatment of medically unexplained physical symptoms in the pediatric psychology setting. Case Western Reserve University. Cleveland, OH.
1999 – 2000 Trainer. Child Development and Behavioral Screening. Department of Pediatrics. MetroHealth Medical Center. Cleveland, OH.
1999 Course Developer and Instructor. Child Advocacy—Psychology 390. Department of Psychology. Case Western Reserve University. Cleveland, OH.
1997 Teaching Assistant. Child Psychology—Psychology 230. Department of Psychology. Case Western Reserve University. Cleveland, OH.
LECTURES/TRAINING
Walders N. (2005, May). “Picky Eating” Developmental Issues, Diagnostic Frameworks, and Treatment. Seminar presented to psychology interns, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Children’s Hospital of Denver, Denver, CO
Walders, N. (2005, May). Asthma: The role of the pediatric psychologist in assessment and intervention Seminar presented to psychology interns, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Children’s Hospital of Denver, Denver, CO
.
Walders, N. (2005, November). Developmental aspects of chronic illness. Seminar presented to psychology interns, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Children’s Hospital of Denver, Denver, CO.
Walders, N. (2007, May). Pediatric Overweight: Behavioral assessment and intervention. Overweight Lecture Series, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Denver, Denver, CO.
Walders Abramson, N. (2008, May). Consultation Liaison Behavioral Assessment and Intervention Pediatric Overweight. Seminar presented to psychology interns, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Children’s Hospital of Denver, Denver, CO.
Walders Abramson, N. (2008, May) Psychological Aspects of Pediatric Obesity: Risk and Intervention. Professional Education Workshop. National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO.
Clinical Activities:
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7/03-present |
Consulting Pediatric Psychologist – Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Denver.
Serve as consulting psychologist to the Metabolic Syndrome Clinic. Deliver health and behavior assessment and intervention to children and adolescents with medical complications from obesity. |
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7/02-7/03 |
Psychology Fellow – Child and Family Psychiatry Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine.
Provided inpatient and outpatient mental health services with specialized emphasis on consultation-liaison service, partial hospitalization, and interdisciplinary specialty clinics. |
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2/02-6/02 |
Psychology Intern – Adult Behavioral Medicine Providence VA Medical Center, Rhode Island, Brown University School of Medicine.
Conducted behavioral medicine consultation services, provided psychosocial assessment for organ transplant and sexual disorders, facilitated group therapy programs |
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11/01-2/02 |
Psychology Intern – Pediatric Psychology Rotation Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine.
Delivered inpatient and outpatient psychological services to children and families with chronic and acute medical conditions. Primary responsibilities included partial hospitalization team, sleep disorders clinic, consultation/liaison service, biofeedback clinic and sibling support team. |
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6/01-10/01 |
Psychology Intern – Early Childhood Disorders and Head Start/Early Head Start Consultation
Bradley Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine
Consultant to Head Start and Early Head Start programs to address psychosocial and developmental concerns. Collaborated with teachers, nurses, and administrators on psychosocial and developmental issues. Conducted classroom and outpatient behavioral assessment and intervention. |
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8/00-6/01 |
Psychology Trainee –Division of Behavioral Pediatrics and Psychology, Departments of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Pediatric Pulmonology, and the Pediatric Collaborative Care Unit, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
Provided psychological services to patients and families coping with chronic illness, acute medical crisis, or chronic pain. Consultation services for an outpatient interdisciplinary sickle cell disease clinic and psychological interventions (e.g., pain control, adherence promotion) for inpatients. |
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8/99-6/00 |
Psychology Trainee Departments of Pediatrics & Child Psychiatry, MetroHealth Medical Center
Provided outpatient psychological services to children, adolescents, and families. Completed comprehensive psychosocial and developmental evaluations. Inpatient psychological consultations for pediatric patients and trained pediatric residents in child behavior and development. |
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8/98-8/99 |
Psychology Trainee – Division of Behavioral Pediatrics and Psychology, Departments of Pediatric Pulmonology, Pediatric Oncology, Ambulatory Pediatrics, and the Pediatric Collaborative Care Unit, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
Provided outpatient psychological services to children and families referred from pediatric primary care and specialty care clinics. Inpatient consultation and comprehensive psychological services to patients receiving long-term, interdisciplinary inpatient care for complex medical conditions. |
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8/98-8/99 |
Group Therapy Co-Facilitator – Eagle’s Circle Intervention for Asthma and Obesity
Departments of Pediatric Pulmonology, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
Co-facilitated support group for adolescents participating in an wellness program and exercise intervention for asthma and/or obesity. |
| 12/97 - 8/00 |
Mental Health Intake Worker. The Free Clinic of Cleveland
Crisis intervention and assessment for patients seeking mental health, substance abuse, and/or domestic violence intervention services. |
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8/97-6/98 |
Beech Brook Treatment Foster Care, Cleveland, Ohio
Conducted comprehensive, full-battery intellectual and personality assessments for children and adolescents in specialized foster care placements and residential treatment. Responsible for administration, scoring, and interpretation of objective and projective measures. |
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1/93-6/93 |
Case Manager/Visiting Therapist Psychology Internship McCam Child Development Centre, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies
Served children enrolled in a special needs school. Implemented treatment plans for children with diagnoses including autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD, traumatic brain injuries, and communication disorders. Provided parent training in developmental needs and early intervention strategies. |
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8/91-6/94 |
Resident Associate & Health Issues Peer Mentor Office of Residential Life and Student Counseling, Trinity College, Hartford, CT
Provided peer counseling services and campus education programming related to substance abuse, depression, eating disorders, and sexual assault. |
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8/91-6/92 |
Child and Victim Advocate Intern Hartford Interval House, Trinity College, Hartford, CT
Provided play therapy for children who had witnessed domestic violence. Treatment focused on play therapy techniques. |
Scholarship and Publications:
1. Needlman, R., Walders, N., Kelly, S., Higgins, J., Sofranko, K., & Drotar, D. (1999). Impact of screening for maternal depression in a pediatric clinic: An exploratory study. Ambulatory Child Health, 5, 61-71.
2. Walders, N., & Drotar, D. (1999). Integrating health and mental health services in the care of children and adolescents with chronic health conditions: Assumptions, challenges, and opportunities. Children’s Services: Social Policy, Research, and Practice, 2, 117-138.
3. Walders, N., Drotar, D., & Kercsmar, C. (2000). The allocation of family responsibility for asthma management tasks in African-American adolescents. Journal of Asthma, 37, 89-99.
4. Abramson, S., Walders, N., Applegate, C., Gilkeson, R.C., & Robin, M. (2000). Impact in the Emergency Department of Unenchanced CT on diagnostic confidence and therapeutic efficacy in patients with suspected renal colic: A prospective study. American Journal of Radiology, 175, 1689-1695.
5. Drotar, D., Walders, N., Burgess, E., Nobile, C., Dasari, M., Kahana, S., Miller, V., Schwartz, L., Schaefer, E., & Zebracki, K. (2001). Recommendations to enhance comprehensive care for children with chronic health conditions and their families. Children’s Services: Social Policy, Research, and Practice, 4, 251-265.
6. Nasser, E., Walders, N., Jenkins, J. (2002). The experience of schizophrenia: What’s gender got to do with it? A critical review of the current status of research on schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 28, 351-362.
7. Walders, N., Childs, G.E., Comer, D., Kelleher, K.J., & Drotar, D. (2003). Barriers to mental health referral from pediatric primary care settings. The American Journal of Managed Care, 10, 677-683.
8. Zebracki, K., Drotar, D., Kirchner, H.L., Schluchter, M., Redline, S., Kercsmar, C., & Walders, N. (2003) Predicting attrition in a pediatric asthma intervention study. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 28, 519-528.
9. Walders, N., McQuaid, E.L., & Dickstein, S. (2004). Asthma in Head Start and Early Head Start: Staff awareness and training priorities. Journal of School Health, 74, 32-34.
10. Klein, R.B., Walders, N., McQuaid, E.L., Adams, S., Yaros, D., & Fritz, G.K. (2004). The Asthma Risk Grid: Clinical interpretation of symptom perception. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, 25, 1-6.
11. McQuaid, E.L., Walders, N., & Borrelli, B. (2004). Environmental tobacco smoke exposure in pediatric asthma: Overview and implications for pediatric practice. Clinical Pediatrics, 42, 775-787.
12. Walders, N., McQuaid, E., Wamboldt, F., & Borrelli, B. (2004). Reducing Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure (ETS) for children: The role of mental health professionals working with families. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, 20, 1-7.
13. Walders, N., Kopel, S.J., Koinis-Mitchell, D. & McQuaid, E.L. (2005). Patterns of quick-relief and long-term controller medication use in pediatric asthma. Journal of Pediatrics, 146, 177-182.
14. McQuaid, E.L., Walders, N., Kopel, S.J., Fritz, G.K., & Klinnert, M.D. (2005). Pediatric asthma management in the family context: The Family Asthma Management System Scale. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 30, 492-502
15. Walders, N., Kercsmar, C., Schluchter, Md., Redline, S., Kirchner, H.L., & Drotar, D. (2006). An interdisciplinary intervention for under-treated pediatric asthma. Chest, 129, 292-299.
16. Mansell, A.L., Walders, N., Wamboldt, M.Z., Carter, R., Steele, D.W., Devin, J.A., Monica, T.H., Miller, A.L., & Wamboldt, F.S. (2006). Effect of body mass index on response to methacholine bronchial provocation in healthy and asthmatic adolescents. Pediatric Pulmonology, 41, 434-440.
17. McQuaid, E.L., Koinis-Mitchell, D., Walders, N., Nassau, J.H., Kopel, S.J., Klein, R.B., Wamboldt, M.Z., & Fritz, G.K. (2007). Pediatric asthma morbidity: The importance of symptom perception and family response to symptoms. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32, 167-177.
18. Bender, B.G., Fuhlbrigge, A., Walders, N., & Zhang, L. (2007). Overweight, race, and psychological distress in children in the Childhood Asthma Management Program. Pediatrics, 120, 805-813.
19. Walders-Abramson, N., Wamboldt, F.S., Mansell, A.L., Carter, R., Federico, M.J., & Wamboldt, M.Z. (2008). Frequency and correlates of overweight status in adolescent asthma. Journal of Asthma, 45, 135-139.
20. Walders-Abramson, N., Wamboldt, F.S., Everett, D., Zhang, L. (in press). Encouraging physical activity in pediatric asthma: A case-control study of the Wonders of Walking (WOW) program. Pediatric Pulmonology, 44, 909-916.
21. Kopel, S., Walders-Abramson, N., McQuaid, E.L., Seifer, R., Koinis-Mitchell, D., Klein, R.B., Wamboldt, M.Z., & Fritz, G.K. (in press). Asthma symptom perception and obesity in children. Biological Psychology.
Book Chapters
1. Drotar, D., Levi, R., Palermo, T.M., Riekert, K.A., Robinson, J.R., & Walders, N. (1998). Clinical applications of health-related quality of life assessment for children and adolescents. In D. Drotar (Ed.). Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents: Implications for Research and Practice. (pp. 329-340). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
2. Drotar, D., Levi, R., Palermo, T.M., Riekert, K.A., Robinson, J.R., & Walders, N. (1998). Recommendations for research concerning the measurement and application of pediatric health-related quality of life. In D. Drotar (Ed.). Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents: Implications for Research and Practice. (pp. 341-350). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
3. Walders, N., Tanielian, T. & Pincus, H.A. (1999). Getting Funding for Research. In J. Kaye, E. Silberman & L. Pessar (Eds.). Handbook of Psychiatric Education and Faculty Development. (pp. 195-213). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.
4. Walders, N., & Drotar, D. (2000). Understanding cultural and ethnic influences in research with child clinical and pediatric psychology populations. In D. Drotar (Ed.). Handbook of Research in Pediatric and Clinical Child Psychology: Practical Strategies and Methods. (pp. 165 – 188). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
5. Drotar, D., Overholser, J. C., Levi, R., Walders, N., Robinson, J. R., Palermo, T. M., & Riekert, K. A. (2000). Ethical issues in conducting research with children and adolescents in clinical and applied settings: Practical solutions from the field. In D. Drotar (Ed.) Handbook of Research in Pediatric and Clinical Child Psychology: Practical Strategies and Methods. (pp. 305 – 326). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press.
6. Walders, N., Nobile, C., & Drotar, D. (2000). Promoting adherence to medical treatment in childhood chronic illness: Challenges in a managed care environment. In D. Drotar (Ed.). Promoting Adherence to Medical Treatment in Chronic Childhood Illness: Concepts, Methods, & Interventions. (pp. 201 – 236). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
7. Drotar, D., Riekert, K. A., Burgess, E., Levi, R., Nobile, C., Seja, A., & Walders, N. (2000). Adherence to treatment in childhood chronic illness: Issues and recommendations to enhance practice, research, and training. In Drotar, D. (Ed). Promoting Adherence to Medical Treatment in Childhood Chronic Illness. Concepts, Methods, & Interventions. (pp. 455 – 476). Mahwah, N. J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
8. Drotar, D., Timmons-Mitchell, J., Williams, L. L., Palermo, T. M., Levi, R., Robinson, J. R., Riekert, K. A., & Walders, N. (2000). Conducting research with children and adolescents in clinical and applied settings: Practical lessons from the field. In D. Drotar (Ed.) Conducting Research in Pediatric and Clinical Child Psychology. A Handbook of Practical Strategies and Methods. (pp. 261 – 280). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press.
9. McQuaid, E. L., & Walders, N. (2003). Pediatric asthma. In M. Roberts (Ed.). Handbook of Pediatric Psychology, 3rd Edition. (pp. 269 – 285). New York: Guilford Press.
10. Gerhardt, C., Walders, N., Rosenthal, S., & Drotar, D. (2003). Strengths-Based Approaches to Children and Families Coping with Chronic Illness. In Solarz, A., Maton, K., Schellenbach, C., & Leadbeater, B. Investing in Children, Youth, Families, and Communities: Strengths-based research and policy. (pp. 173-189). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
11. McQuaid, E.L., & Walders, N. (2004). Asthma: Behavioral treatment. In N. Anderson (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior. (pp. 75 – 77). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
12. McQuaid, EL., & Walders Abramson, N. (2009). Pediatric asthma. In M. Roberts (Ed.). Handbook of Psychology, 4th Edition. (pp. 254 – 270). New York: Guilford Press.
Published Abstracts
1. Abramson, N., Royal, G., Walders, N. (2001). Personal responses of private patients to out-patient encounters with Fellows in Training. Blood, 98, 412b.
2. Walders, N., McQuaid, E.L., Kopel, S.J., Koinis-Mitchell, D. (2003). Patterns of quick-relief and long-term controller medication use in pediatric asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 111, S338.
3. Walders, N., McQuaid, E.L., Kopel, S.J., Klein, R., Fritz, G. (2003). Family Factors in Adherence to Pediatric Asthma Medications. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 167, A156.
4. Walders, N., Wamboldt, F., Wamboldt, M. (2004). Pediatric asthma and body weight. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 169, A878.
Grants and Contracts:
7/1/2000 – 6/30/2001. Doctoral Candidate. A Problem-Solving Intervention for Difficult to Manage Pediatric Asthma. American Lung Association Lung Health Dissertation Grant. 100% FTE, $20,000
7/1/2005 – 6/30/2008. Principal Investigator. Are Children With Asthma Able to Increase Physical Activity in Response to a Brief Intervention? A Case-Control Study. American Lung Association Social Behavioral Research Grant. 15% FTE, $80,000
4/1/2008 – 3/31/2012. Supervising Psychologist, Project BREATHE. Motivating Adherence to CPAP in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Principal Investigator: Mark Aloia, PhD, 15% FTE
3/30/2002 – 2/28/2010. Supervising Psychologist. STOP-T2D. Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY). Principal Investigator: Phil Zeitler, MD, PhD, 25% FTE