Leanne M Embry, Ph.D.

Dr. Embry is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience providing clinical services to children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with cancer. Her research interests are two-fold: (1) neurocognitive outcomes for children diagnosed with cancers affecting the central nervous system, and (2) the psychosocial impact of cancer for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). She has published in both areas of investigation and has several ongoing research projects. She has held several leadership positions within the Children's Oncology Group (COG) research consortium, and is Chair of the COG Behavioral Science Committee.  She has been awarded a number of research grants, including NIH R01 funding for a study that will examine neurocognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes in children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She is also a member of the Southeast Asian Pediatric Hematology Oncology (SEAPHO) global outreach program, with a focus on improving patient and parent education, and implementing psychosocial support services across pediatric oncology treatment centers in Vietnam. 

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 2003 - PhD - Clinical Psychology; Child/Adolescent Subspecialty - University of Southern Mississippi
  • 1996 - MA - Clinical Psychology - University of Southern Mississippi
  • 1992 - BA (Magna Cum Laude) - Psychology - Emory University

  Training

  • 2004 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Clinical Psychology - University of Texas Health Science Center, Depts of Pediatrics & Psychiatry

  Appointments

  • 9/2018 - Professor, Clinical - University of Texas Health Science Center, Pediatrics, San Antonio

• Research & Grants

  Impact of cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYA)

  Neurocognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes in children and adolescents with CNS-related disease and/or treatment

  HPV vaccination among childhood cancer survivors

  Population Science and Prevention Program 

   

  Research profile

  Grants

  Funding Agency: NIH                              Role: Multiple PI                 Period: 7/1/17-5/31/22

  Title: Longitudinal, multimodal assessment of neuropsychological functioning in children diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR-ALL): Using early changes to predict later impairment

   

  Funding Agency: CPRIT                          Role: Co-I                           Period: 9/1/18-8/31/21

  Title: HPV Vaccination in a Pediatric Minority-Based Community Oncology Network

   

  Funding Agency: NCI/Children’s Oncology Group       Role: PI          Period: 3/1/2009 - 2/28/2021

  Title: Study Chair support, COG protocol ALTE07C1 (renewable annually)

   

  Funding Agency: NCI/Children’s Oncology Group       Role: PI          Period: 3/1//2016 – 2/28/2021

  Title: Behavioral Science Committee Leadership (renewable annually)

• Service

  Department

  Director of psychosocial services, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology program

  Member of monthly multi-disciplinary pediatric ortho-oncology clinic

  Institutional

  Chair of Bioethics Committee, University Health System

  National Service

  Chair of Behavioral Science Committee, Children’s Oncology Group

  Study Chair of COG research protocol ALTE07C1

  Global

  Southeast Asian Pediatric Hematology Oncology (SEAPHO) global outreach program

• Publications

  Chen J, Zebrack B, Embry L, Freyer DR, Aguilar C, Cole S. Profiles of emotional distress and growth among adolescents and young adults with cancer: A longitudinal study. Health Psychology. 2020 May;39(5):370-380. doi: 10.1037/hea0000843.

  Shay LA, Schmidt S, Dioun SI, Grimes A, Embry L. Receipt of a survivorship care plan and self-reported health behaviors among cancer survivors. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2019 Apr;13(2):180-186. doi:10.1007/s11764-019-00740-6.

  Partap S, Russo S, Esfahani B, Yeom K, Mazewski C, Embry L, Wheeler G, Ullrich NJ, Bowers DC. A review of chronic leukoencephalopathy among survivors of childhood cancer. Pediatric Neurology. 2019 Mar; 101:2-10. doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.03.006. 

  Schmidt S, Shay LA, King HV, Buckley J, Embry L, Parsons HM. A new lease on life: Preliminary needs assessment for the development of a survivorship program for young adult survivors of cancer in South Texas. Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. 2018 Apr;40(3):e154-e158.

  Esbenshade AJ, Pierson CR, Thompson AL, Reed D, Gupta A, Levy A, Kahalley LS, Harker-Murray P, Schore R, Muscal JA, Embry L, Maloney K, Horton T, Zweidler-Mckay P, Dhall G. Long-term evidence that a pediatric oncology mentorship program for young investigators is feasible and beneficial in the cooperative group setting: A report from the Children's Oncology Group. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2018 Mar;65(3).

  Acquati C, Zebrack B, Faul A, Embry L, Aguilar C, Block R, Hayes-Lattin B, Freyer D, Cole S. Sexual functioning among young adult cancer patients: A 2-year longitudinal study. Cancer. 2018 Jan;124(2):398-405.

  Husson O, Zebrack BJ, Block R, Embry L, Aguilar C, Hayes-Lattin B, Cole S. Post-traumatic growth and well-being among adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer: A longitudinal study. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2017 Sep;25(9):2881-2890.

  Hardy KK, Embry L, Kairalla J, Helian S, Devidas M, Armstrong D, Hunger S, Carroll WL, Larsen E, Raetz EA, Loh ML, Yang W, Relling MV, Noll RB, Winick N. Neurocognitive functioning of children treated for high risk B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR B-ALL) randomized to different methotrexate (MTX) and corticosteroid treatment strategies: A report from the Children's Oncology Group (COG). Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2017 Aug;35(23):2700-2707.

  Schulte F, Russell KB, Cullen P, Embry L, Fay-McClymont T, Johnston D, Rosenberg A, Sung L. Systematic review and meta-analysis of health-related quality of life in pediatric CNS tumor survivors. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2017 Aug;64(8).

  Husson O, Zebrack BJ, Block R, Embry L, Aguilar C, Hayes-Lattin B, Cole S. Personality traits and health-related quality of life among adolescent and young adult cancer patients: The role of psychological distress. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. 2017 Jun;6(2):358-362.

  Husson O, Zebrack B, Block R, Embry L, Aguilar C, Hayes-Lattin B, Cole S. Health-related quality of life in adolescent and young adult patients with cancer: A longitudinal study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2017 Feb;35(6):652-659.

  Walsh KS, Noll RB, Annett RD, Patel SK, Patenaude AF, Embry L. Standard of care for neuropsychological monitoring in pediatric neuro-oncology: Lessons from the Children`s Oncology Group (COG). Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2016 Feb;63(2):191-195.

  Whitlow PG, Caparas M, Cullen P, Trask C, Schulte C, Embry L, Nagarajan R, Johnston DL, Sung L. Strategies to improve success of pediatric cancer co-operative group quality of life studies: A report from the Children`s Oncology Group. Quality of Life Research. 2015 Jun;24(6):1297-1301.

  Zebrack B, Kwak M, Salsman J, Cousino M, Meeske K, Aguilar C, Embry L, Block R, Hayes-Lattin B, Cole S. The relationship between posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology. 2015 Feb;24(2):162-168.

  Annett RD, Hile S, Bedrick E, Kunin-Batson AS, Krull K, Embry L, MacLean W, Noll RB. Neuropsychological functioning of children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Impact of whole brain radiation therapy. Psycho-Oncology. 2015 Feb;24(2):181-189.

  Embry L. Psychological distress and unsatisfied need for psychosocial support in AYA cancer patients during the first year following diagnosis. Psycho-Oncology. 2014 Nov;23(11):1267-1275.

  Kwak M, Zebrack B, Meeske K, Embry L, Aguilar C, Block R, Hayes-Lattin B, Li Y, Butler M, Cole S. Prevalence and predictors of post-traumatic stress symptoms in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A 1-year follow-up study. Psycho-Oncology. 2013 Aug;22(8):1798-1806.

  Noll RB, Patel SK, Embry L, Hardy KK, Pelletier W, Annett RD, Patenaude A, Lown A, Sands SA, Barakat L. Children`s Oncology Group`s 2013 blueprint for research: Behavioral science. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2013 Jun;60(6):1048-1054.

  Kwak M, Zebrack BJ, Meeske KA, Embry L, Aguilar C, Block R, Hayes-Lattin B, Li Y, Butler M, Cole S. Trajectories of psychological distress in adolescent and young adult patients with cancer: a 1-year longitudinal study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2013 Jun;31(17):2160-2166.

• Clinical

  Adolescents and young adults with cancer