CHILD AND FAMILY
HEALTH PROMOTION LABORATORY
Promoting Healthy Families and Healthy Lungs
A Research Lab at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
MEET THE TEAM
ASHLEY H. CLAWSON, PHD
Dr. Clawson is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Oklahoma State University who specializes in pediatric psychology. Her research investigates factors that impact child and family health, and how to best promote healthy behaviors among families, especially among underserved families. Specifically, Dr. Clawson's research examines environmental tobacco smoke exposure and tobacco use among youth, particularly youth with medical conditions (e.g., asthma, cancer).
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Education and Awards
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NIH Loan Repayment Program Awardee, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2019.
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NIH T32 Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Alpert Medical School at Brown University; Centers for Behavioral & Preventive Medicine; Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, 2014-2016
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PhD: The University of Memphis, 2014
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Clinical Internship: Kennedy Krieger Institute/ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, APA-Accredited Pediatric/ Child-Clinical Track, 2013-2014
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MS: The University of Memphis, 2009
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BA: Christian Brothers University, 2007
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Doctoral Students
Nicole Ruppe
Nicole Ruppe is a third year doctoral student in the Child and Family Health Promotion Lab at Oklahoma State University (OSU), working under the mentorship of Ashley H. Clawson, Ph.D.. Nicole is originally from Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Scranton with a B. S. in Psychology. Nicole became interested in pediatric psychology through research positions at Drexel University and Nemours/A. I. duPont Hospital for Children. As a research coordinator at Nemours, Nicole was involved in an NIH-funded project examining psychosocial risk for youth with sickle cell disease and their caregivers. Broadly, Nicole is interested in research investigating child and family psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness, as well as factors that promote the health and well-being of families, especially among underserved, minority families. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, crafting, and spending time with her puppy, Luna.
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Master's Thesis: Depression and Religious Coping among Youth with Asthma: A longitudinal examination
Cara Nwankwo is a second year doctoral student in the Child and Family Health Promotion Lab at Oklahoma State University, under the mentorship of Ashley H. Clawson, Ph.D. Cara is originally from Cincinnati, OH and completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies at Kent State University. Prior to entering the OSU doctoral program, Cara worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center under the mentorship of Lori E. Crosby, PsyD. During her time there, she coordinated studies that focused on shared-decision making and self-management interventions for adolescents and young adults with Sickle Cell Disease. Cara is interested in research investigating and developing interventions that will improve the health outcomes of minority children and families especially those living with chronic medical conditions. In her free time, Cara enjoys cooking and serving as board member of the Umu Igbo Unite and Nuway Foundation.
Cara Nwankwo
Affiliates of the Child and Family Health Promotion Lab
MEET THE TEAM
ASHLEY H. CLAWSON, PHD
Dr. Clawson, a pediatric psychologist, is now an Assistant Professor at the Center for the Study of Tobacco in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).​ She recently left her position as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Oklahoma State University to start a new adventure in integrating pediatric psychology with public health. She continues to work with her doctoral students and colleagues at Oklahoma State University and across Oklahoma. Her research investigates factors that impact child and family health, especially among underserved families, and how to best promote health equity among all families. One specific area of investigation is youth's environmental and active exposure to nicotine and cannabis , particularly youth from underserved backgrounds and youth with medical conditions (e.g., asthma).
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Education and Awards
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NIH Loan Repayment Program Awardee, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2019 and 2021.
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NIH T32 Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Alpert Medical School at Brown University; Centers for Behavioral & Preventive Medicine; Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, 2014-2016
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PhD: The University of Memphis, Clinical Psychology, emphasis in pediatric health psychology, 2014
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Clinical Internship: Kennedy Krieger Institute/ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, APA-Accredited Pediatric/ Child-Clinical Track, 2013-2014
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MS: The University of Memphis, Psychology, 2009
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BA: Christian Brothers University, Psychology, 2007
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Dr. Clawson's UAMS Team
Dr. Clawson is working to build her lab team at UAMS. She is looking for motivated and responsible individuals who are dedicated to our lab mission.
If you are interested in learning about research training and potential job opportunities in the lab, please email her!
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Also, if you are interested in working with Dr. Clawson and pursuing a Master of Public Health degree or PhD in Health Promotion and Prevention Research, check out these programs: https://publichealth.uams.edu/academics/
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Learn more!
Check out the links below to learn more about UAMS, the College of Public Health, the Center for the Study of Tobacco, and more!:
UAMS:
College of Public Health:
https://publichealth.uams.edu/
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Center for the Study of Tobacco:
https://publichealth.uams.edu/departmentsandunits/centers/center-for-the-study-of-tobacco/
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Center for Research, Health, and Social Justice:
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Pediatric psychology at UAMS:
https://medicine.uams.edu/pediatrics/specialties/divisions/psychology/
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Psychiatric Research Institute:
Dr. Clawson's Oklahoma State University Team
Nicole Ruppe, MS
Dr. Nicole Ruppe is a postdoctoral research fellow at Nemours Children's Health. She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology, with an emphasis on pediatric psychology, at Oklahoma State University (OSU), working under the mentorship of Ashley H. Clawson, Ph.D.. Dr. Ruppe's primary research interest involves examining risk and protective factors that contribute to family adjustment to pediatric chronic medical conditions. She is particularly interested in research investigating child and family psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness, as well as factors that promote the health and well-being of families, especially among underserved families.
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Master's Thesis: Depression and Religious Coping among Youth with Asthma: A longitudinal examination
Doctoral Dissertation: Identifying trajectories and predictors of depressive symptoms among individuals with asthma: an application of latent growth curve modeling
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PhD: Oklahoma State University, 2023
MS: Oklahoma State University, 2020
BS: University of Scranton, 2014
Cara Nwankwo will be graduating from Oklahoma State University (OSU) with her She doctoral degree in clinical psychology, with an emphasis on pediatric psychology, in May 2024. She trained under the mentorship of Ashley H. Clawson, Ph.D.. Cara is interested in research investigating and developing interventions that will improve the health outcomes of minority children and families especially those living with chronic medical conditions.
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Master's Thesis: Do Natural Mentors Disrupt Multilevel Adolescent Risk Factors of Problematic Cannabis Use?
Doctoral Dissertation: Family Functioning in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Families of Color
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PhD: Oklahoma State University, 2024
MS: Oklahoma State University, 2021
BA: Kent State University, 2016
Cara Nwankwo, MS
​Alex Blair is is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Oklahoma State University (OSU), working under the mentorship of Ashley H. Clawson, Ph.D.. and Ashley B. Cole, Ph.D. Alex is interested in research examining health promotion among marginalized populations and research examining the behavioral and psychosocial functioning of youth with asthma and their parents.
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MS: Oklahoma State University, 2022
BS: Oklahoma State University, 2019
Alex Blair, MS
