Mona Robbins, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Dr. Mona Robbins is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Licensed Psychologist for the UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC). Her expertise is based in an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Howard University and a doctoral degree in Clinical/Community Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her additional post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at Children’s Health at Dallas has aided in her developmental understanding of psychological factors that impact medical condition management.

As the Psycho-Oncology Programming Lead, Dr. Robbins is involved in program development and enhancing access of psychological interventions for oncology patients. In her role, she heads the SCCC psycho-oncology efforts for clinical service and trainee development. Health and behavior evaluations, psychotherapy interventions, and treatment planning are provided with a focus on dynamics that influence health promotion such as:

• Adherence to Medical Regimen
• Body Image & Self-Esteem
• Cancer Survivorship
• Cognitive Effects from Chemotherapy
• End-of-Life Care & Spiritual Resolve
• Emotional Impact of Diagnosis & Management
• Financial Burden & Hardship
• Pain & Stress Management
• Quality of Life Enhancement
• Sociocultural Influences

Internship

Medical College of Georgia (2013), Clinical Psychology

Graduate School

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2013), Clinical Psychology

Fellowship

Children's Health Dallas (2014), Pediatric Psychology

Featured Publications

Applying lean six sigma to improve depression screening and follow-up in oncology clinics.

Gerard, B., Robbins, M. A., Putra, J., Mutz, J., Coffie, S. D., Martin-Cook, K. D., Huffman, A. G., Carrington, A., Schaeflein, D. J., Wu, J., Bryant, D., Boukari, M., Ram, M., Myers, L., Bajaj, P., Ibrahim, H., Froehlich, T. W., & Fish, J. S. Journal for Healthcare Quality 2021 43 3 153-162

Cancer, COVID-19 and the Black community

Robbins, M. A., Awosogba, O. O. R., & Knox-Rice, T. K. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology 2021 1-5

Imposter syndrome: The fight to accept your own success

Knox-Rice, T. K., McDonald, W., & Robbins, M. A. Independent Practitioner 2021 Winter 41 1 9-12

Compassion fatigue and burnout: Providing care during a "new normal"

Robbins, M. A., Gazor, A., & Knox-Rice, T. K. Independent Practitioner 2021 Spring 41 2 8-11

When change is the only constant: Managing transitions in times of uncertainty.

Robbins, M. A., Kroll, J., & Knox-Rice, T. K. Independent Practitioner 2020 Fall 40 4 24-27

Staycation: How to vacation during the era of COVID-19.

Knox-Rice, T. K., Zullo, L., & Robbins, M. A. Independent Practitioner 2020 Summer 40 3 17-21

Psychological symptom screening in an adult sickle cell disease clinic and predictors of treatment follow up.

Robbins MA, Carroll CP, North CS, Psychol Health Med 2020 Mar 1-9

Walking the talk: The challenge of practicing what we preach in the profession.

Robbins, M. A., Alvi, T., & Knox-Rice, T. K. Independent Practitioner 2020 Spring 40 2 9-13

Evaluation of the psychosocial impact of a Social Interaction Skills Training (SIST) workshop for patients with vitiligo: A pilot study.

Tan A, Schuster LM, Robbins MA, Holavanahalli R, Pandya AG, J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2019 Nov

Why discussions about cultural competence make us uncomfortable.

Robbins, M. A., Howe-Martin. L. S., & Knox-Rice, T. K. Independent Practitioner 2019 Fall 39 4 19-23

 Featured Books

Beyond the Therapy Dyad: The Importance of Systems and Culture. In Psychotherapy: A Practical Introduction

Robbins, M. A. & Howe-Martin, L. S. (2020). Philadelphia, PA, Wolters Kluwer

• Arnie Miller Memorial Achievement Award for Clinical and Community Practice
  
• Diversifying Faculty Initiative Fellow (DFI), Illinois Board of Higher Education
  
• Gates Millennium Scholar
  
• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
  

• American Psychological Association (APA)
• American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS)
• Dallas Psychological Association (DPA)
• Texas Psychological Association (TPA)