SC Connecticut News

The Yale Child Study Center (YCSC), in partnership with the Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS), is expanding its pediatric psychology services to support medically complex youth. The program aims to integrate behavioral health services across various YNHHS primary care and medical specialties.

Eight pediatric psychologists, who specialize in treating youth with medical conditions, are now embedded within the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital's medical groups and programs. These professionals provide targeted behavioral health care tailored to the needs of young patients.

Laurie Cardona, an Associate Professor at YCSC, and Assistant Professor Maggie Stoeckel have led efforts to expand the program over the past year. They are actively involved in mentoring faculty and recruiting additional pediatric psychology experts to enhance the program's reach.

Maggie Stoeckel stated, “We currently have embedded providers in primary care, sleep medicine, hematology/oncology, gender program, gastroenterology, orthopedic surgery, type 1 diabetes, and neurology—and we plan to expand the program further in the coming years.” She expressed admiration for their dedicated team of pediatric psychologists working alongside medical colleagues to support youth and families.

The initiative promotes psychological resilience and physical health through culturally informed and evidence-based psychological services delivered within a multidisciplinary care model. The search is underway for a pediatric psychologist for the Pediatric Craniofacial Center under this program.

Key figures leading this initiative include Laurie Cardona as Clinical Director of Pediatric Psychology Program at YCSC and Maggie Stoeckel as Associate Clinical Director. Other notable faculty members include Carla Cirilli Andrews focusing on chronic illness-related behavioral concerns; Danielle Garay specializing in sleep-related treatments; Caitlyn A. Loucas offering cancer-related consultations; Christy Olezeski directing transgender youth services; Aarti Patel joining gastroenterology services soon; Cara Tomaso supporting orthopedics patients; Carolyn Turek aiding Type 1 Diabetes management; and Areti Vassilopoulos providing neurology-related behavioral health services.