Mona Robbins, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Dr. Mona Robbins is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and a 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

Lifelong learning: Maintaining competence beyond formal education

Knox-Rice, T. K. ,Wadsworth, H. E., & Robbins, M. A. Independent Practitioner 2021 Summer 41 3 17-20

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

 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
  
• National Association of Black Psychologists Service Award
  
• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
  

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