Spotlight: Graduate student researches pediatric psychology

By Bryce Johnson •

Brooke Greenberg, graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, came to NSU to specifically work with Jessica Valenzuela, professor in the College of Psychology. She said her goal with her research is to improve the lives of kids living with chronic medical conditions, and working with Valenzuela brings her closer to it.

“There are very few mentors who have pediatric psychology labs throughout the country. Having the ability to work with Dr. Valenzuela, as well as the specific opportunities to have clinical experiences in pediatric psychology, was really exciting for me,” Greenberg said.

Previously, Greenberg worked at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, studying disordered eating in children with chronic medical conditions. Through her research, she’s interviewed adolescent participants and studied disordered eating behaviors in pediatric Type 1 diabetes clinics.

Valenzuela appreciates working with Greenberg and watching her grow.

“She has been very interested in the experiences of youth who have a medical condition. She’s especially interested in youth who are experiencing pain and discomfort, their experience, their quality of life,” Valenzuela said. “But she has also developed interest related to things like disordered eating that can pop up as a result of various health concerns.”

Greenberg conducted a study with more than 200 pediatric diabetes providers, where she examined disordered eating behaviors in pediatric type 1 diabetes clinics.

“I really learned that disordered eating behaviors were very prevalent within a pediatric rheumatology clinic, and that further screening and further identification is needed in order to accurately capture that population,” Greenberg said.

Greenberg will continue her research through her dissertation, where she will persist in working with adolescents with functional abdominal pain.

For students interested in conducting research of their own, Greenberg encourages them to go to academic conferences and to find a supportive mentor.

“What has been really helpful is the mentorship and support that I’ve received for research from Dr. Valenzuela over the last four years. As a pediatric psychologist, she’s really inspiring to look up to,” Greenberg said.