Current Lab Members
Ron Blount, Ph.D.
Dr. Blount is a Mississippi native who received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University. His current research focus includes medical adherence, quality of life and adjustment to illness, medical outcomes, transition from pediatric to adult medical care, and related topics. His primary patient research groups include solid organ transplant recipients and children with cardiac conditions, and their families. Additionally, he also has a variety of pediatric research interests and is currently or has recently conducted research with children with IBD, Tourette syndrome, rehabilitation of children with brain injury, and children undergoing outpatient surgery.
When Dr. Blount is not on campus, he enjoys activities at his church such as Bible study, prayer ministry, and praise and worship. He also enjoys gardening, cooking, and hiking. In addition, he and his wife love exploring beautiful places, such as America's national parks, as well as travel abroad.
When Dr. Blount is not on campus, he enjoys activities at his church such as Bible study, prayer ministry, and praise and worship. He also enjoys gardening, cooking, and hiking. In addition, he and his wife love exploring beautiful places, such as America's national parks, as well as travel abroad.
Graduate Student Lab Members
Grace Cushman (Internship)
Grace is completing her internship 2020-2021 at Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She graduated from Washington and Lee University in Virginia before completing a 3 year research assistantship at Bradley Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. Grace's research interests include psychosocial and emotional adjustment in children with chronic medical conditions. In her free time, Grace enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her friends.
Lauren Quast (5th year)
Lauren is a 5th year graduate student in the Pediatric Psychology Lab. She graduated from the College of William & Mary with degrees in Psychology and Mathematics, prior to working as a research assistant at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Lauren’s research interests include child and family adjustment to pediatric chronic illness and the systems processes associated with resilience, condition management, and health-promoting behaviors. In addition to research, Lauren enjoys being on the water, mentoring, exploring new areas, and volunteering with children.
Kelly Rea (4th year)
Kelly is a 4th year graduate student in the Pediatric Psychology Lab. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience prior to enrolling at UGA for graduate school. Kelly’s research interests center on how to achieve the best medical and psychosocial outcomes for families and children affected by chronic illness through a variety of support systems, including attendance at medical summer camps and supporting patients during the transition to adult healthcare. Outside of research, Kelly enjoys spending time outside (especially on a lake), cross-stitching, and volunteering at camps for children with serious health conditions.
Undergraduate Lab Members
Shannon Casleton
Shannon is a fourth year Health Promotions major and pre-medical student from Columbus, Georgia. She is interested in the long-term functioning of children with chronic medical conditions, and hopes to continue researching it over the years. Outside of the lab, Shannon enjoys going to the beach, spending time with family, and volunteering at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.
Erica Walker
Erica is a fourth year student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Human Development from Gray, Georgia. After graduation, Erica plans to pursue a PhD in children’s clinical psychology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time hiking, working with children, volunteering at local animal shelters, and playing with her foster pets.
Rachael Stevens
Rachael is a third year Psychology major and pre-physician assistant student from Columbus, GA. She is interested in research involving children with chronic medical conditions and their functioning. Outside of research, Rachael enjoys traveling, watching movies, drinking coffee, and working with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
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Recent former lab members and current collaborators
Julia LaMotte (Post-Doctoral Fellow, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
Ana Gutiérrez-Colina (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Cincinnati Children's Hospital)
Cyd Eaton (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine)
Jennifer Lee (Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine)
Kristin Loiselle Rich (Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics)
Bonney Reed-Knight (Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine)
Megan McCormick King (Founding Partner & COO, InSite Solutions, LLC; Asst Prof at Georgetown University Hospital)
Jordan Gilleland Marchak (Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Hematology - Oncology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta)
Katie Devine (Assistant Professor of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Med School, Cancer Institute of New Jersey)
Megan Benoit Ratcliff (Pediatric Clinical Psychologist, Gwinnett Medical Center, Center for Weight Managementl)
Lisa (Seri) Hayutin (Private practice, North Carolina)
Laura Simons (Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and pain medicine (pediatric), Stanford University Medical Center)
Ana Gutiérrez-Colina (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Cincinnati Children's Hospital)
Cyd Eaton (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine)
Jennifer Lee (Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine)
Kristin Loiselle Rich (Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics)
Bonney Reed-Knight (Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine)
Megan McCormick King (Founding Partner & COO, InSite Solutions, LLC; Asst Prof at Georgetown University Hospital)
Jordan Gilleland Marchak (Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Hematology - Oncology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta)
Katie Devine (Assistant Professor of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Med School, Cancer Institute of New Jersey)
Megan Benoit Ratcliff (Pediatric Clinical Psychologist, Gwinnett Medical Center, Center for Weight Managementl)
Lisa (Seri) Hayutin (Private practice, North Carolina)
Laura Simons (Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and pain medicine (pediatric), Stanford University Medical Center)
Lab Mascots
Billy, Chloe, and Molly Blount
Pictured from left to right; Billy, Chloe, and Molly Blount
Markley Rea
Lab Dinner at the Blount's House
2018
Left to Right: Kelly Rea, Lauren Quast, Sandy Blount, Ron Blount, Julia LaMotte, Grace Cushman, Mary Gray Stolz
2017
Back row (left to right): Haley Bearden, Ron Blount, Sandy Blount
Front row (left to right): Julia LaMotte, Grace Cushman, Lauren Arnold, Lauren Quast, Colleen Keeler, Lindsay Rosenthal, Anna Jones, Ana Gutierrez-Colina, Haley Cohen
Front row (left to right): Julia LaMotte, Grace Cushman, Lauren Arnold, Lauren Quast, Colleen Keeler, Lindsay Rosenthal, Anna Jones, Ana Gutierrez-Colina, Haley Cohen