Keith J. Slifer, PhD

Professional Titles

• Director, Pediatric Psychology Consultation Program

Primary Academic Title

Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Additional Academic Titles

Professor of Pediatrics

Contact for Research Inquiries

707 N. Broadway St.
Room 222R
Baltimore, MD 21205

Phone: (443) 923-2900
Fax: (443) 923-2835
slifer@kennedykrieger.org

Research Interests

analysis and intervention for behavioral distress during neurorehabilitation, Applied behavior analysis, Children distress relating to rehab and chronic health problems, counterconditioning of health care related anxiety, nonpharmacological approaches to pediatric acute procedural pain, Pediatric psychology, Pediatric rehabilitation, treatment of chronic pain-associated disability in children and adolescents

Research Summary

Dr. Slifer is child clinical psychologist with special interest in pediatric psychology, pediatric rehabilitation and applied behavior analysis. His clinical work and research focus on conducting systematic behavioral assessment of children's distress related to medical and rehabilitation procedures and/or chronic health problems. Principles of behavior and learning are used to teach children with or without developmental disabilities and/or chronic medical conditions (as well as their care givers) skills needed to cope with uncomfortable health care procedures, effortful self-care routines, and the behavioral restrictions imposed by medical problems. Current research activities include: behavioral training for pediatric neuroimaging without sedation,  counterconditioning of health care related anxiety,nonpharmacological approaches to pediatric acute procedural pain, analysis and intervention for behavioral distress during neurorehabilitation, and treatment of chronic pain-associated disability in children and adolescents.

Selected Publications

• 1. Koontz KL, Slifer KJ, Cataldo MD, Marcus CL:  Improving pediatric compliance with positive airway pressure therapy: the impact of behavioral intervention. Sleep 2003: 26:1-6.
  2. Slifer KJ, DiverT, Amari A, Cohn JF, Hilley L, Beck M, McDonnell S, Kane A: Assessment of facial emotion encoding and decoding skills in children with and without oral clefts. Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery 2003: 31: 304-315.
  3. Slifer, K.J., Diver,T., Amari, A., Cohn, J.F., Hilley, L., Beck, M., McDonnell, S., & Kane, A. (2003). Assessment of facial emotion encoding and decoding skills in children with and without oral clefts. Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, 31, 304-315.
  4. Slifer KJ, Amari A, Diver T, Hilley L, Beck M, Kane A, McDonnell S: Social interaction patterns of children and adolescents with and without oral clefts during a videotaped analogue social encounter. The Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal 2004: 41:175-184.
  5. Slifer, K.J., Pulbrook, V., Amari, A., Vona-Messersmith, N., Cohn, J., Ambadar, Z., Beck, M., & Piszczor, R. (2006). Social acceptance and facial behavior in children with oral clefts. The Cleft Palate * Craniofacial Journal, 43(2), 226-236.

Additional Training

The Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1987, Clinical Psychology