Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Department of Medicine

Faculty Profiles
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photo Donna M. Posluszny, PhD

Hematology/Oncology

Associate Professor of Medicine

Associate Director of Training, Biobehavioral Medicine in Oncology Program

Email: poslusznydm@upmc.edu

Phone: 412-623-5966
Contact
Office: 5200 Centre Avenue
Shadyside Medical Bldg., Suite 604
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
 
Phone: 412-623-5966
Fax: 412-623-5980
E-mail: poslusznydm@upmc.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Tiffiany Dotson
Address: 5200 Centre Avenue
Shadyside Medical Bldg., Suite 604
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Email: dotsonta@upmc.edu
Phone: 412-623-5888
Fax: 412-623-5980
Administrative Assistant:
Darren Gilmartin
Address: 5117 Centre Avenue
Suite G.27
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Email: gilmartind@upmc.edu
Phone: 412-623-1213
Fax: 412-623-1212
Education and Training
Education
B.A., Rutgers College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
M.S., Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, PA
Training
Clinical Internship, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA
Clinical Health Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
Clinical Interest
Dr. Posluszny has conducted psychosocial and behavioral research in a variety of cancer populations including breast, gynecologic, head and neck, and hematological malignancies. She recently completed an NIH-funded prospective, longitudinal study examining adherence to the medical regimen for hematological cancer patients who are post allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and their family caregivers. To enhance outcomes and minimize risks associated with HCT, patients and their caregivers must work together as a team to carefully adhere to the multi-component post-HCT medical regimen, consisting of multiple daily medications, frequent clinic visits, strict catheter care, health monitoring, and dietary and lifestyle restrictions. Dr. Posluszny is currently examining psychosocial and behavioral strategies to help HCT patients and family caregivers manage each component of the post-HCT regimen together, and thus improve psychological and health outcomes.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
Posluszny DM, Bovbjerg DH, Agha ME, Hou JZ, Raptis A, Boyiadzis MM, Dunbar-Jacob J, Schulz R, Dew MA. Patient and family caregiver dyadic adherence to the allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation medical regimen. Psychooncology. 2017; Epub.
Belcher SM, Low CA, Posluszny DM, Schear R, Kramer RE, Donovan HS. Psychological Distress, Health Behaviors, and Benefit Finding in Survivors of Multiple Primary Cancers: Results From the 2010 Livestrong Survey. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2017; 44(6): 703-711.
Argiris A, Bauman JE, Ohr J, Gooding WE, Heron DE, Duvvuri U, Kubicek GJ, Posluszny DM, Vassilakopoulou M, Kim S, Grandis JR, Johnson JT, Gibson MK, Clump DA, Flaherty JT, Chiosea SI, Branstetter B, Ferris RL. Phase II randomized trial of radiation therapy, cetuximab, and pemetrexed with or without bevacizumab in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. Annals of Oncology. 2016; 27(8): 1594-1600.
Posluszny DM, Dew MA, Beckjord E, Bovbjerg DH, Schmidt JE, Low CA, Lowery A, Nutt SA, Arvey SR, Rechis R. Existential challenges experienced by lymphoma survivors: results from the 2010 LIVESTRONG Survey. Journal of Health Psychology. 2016; 21(10): 2357-66.
Schmidt JE, Beckjord E, Bovbjerg DH, Low CA, Posluszny DM, Lowery AE, Dew MA, Nutt SA, Arvey SR, Rechis R. Prevalence of perceived cognitive dysfunction in survivors of a wide range of cancers: Results from the 2010 LIVESTRONG Survey. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2015; Aug.
Dew MA, Rosenberger EM, Myaskovsky L, DiMartini A, De Vito Dabbs A, Posluszny DM, Steel J, Switzer G, Shellmer D, Greenhouse JB. Depression and anxiety as risk factors for morbidity and mortality after organ transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transplantation. 2015; 100(5): 988.
Posluszny DM, Dougall AL, Johnson JT, Argiris A, Ferris RL, Baum A, Bovbjerg DH, Dew MA. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients and their partners. Head Neck. 2015; 37(9): 1282-9.
Low CA, Beckjord E, Bovbjerg DH, Dew MA, Posluszny DM, Schmidt JE, Lowery AE, Nutt SA, Arvey SR, Rechis R. Correlates of positive health behaviors in cancer survivors: Results from the 2010 LIVESTRONG Survey. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 2014; 32(6): 678-95.
Fox KR, Posluszny DM, DiMartini AF, DeVito Dabbs AJ, Rosenberger EM, Zomak RA, Bermudez C, Dew MA. Predictors of post-traumatic psychological growth in the late years after lung transplantation. Clinical Transplant. 2014; 28(4): 384-93.
Myaskovsky L, Posluszny D, Schultz R, DiMartini AF, Switzer GE, DeVito Dabbs AJ, McNulty ML, Kormos R, Toyoda Y, Dew MA. Predictors and outcomes of health related quality of life in caregivers of cardiothoracic transplant recipients. American Journal of Transplantation. 2012; 12(12): 3387-97.
Notable Achievements
Member, American Psycho-social Oncology Society, 2015-present
Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), 2014-present
Member, Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2009-present
Member, American Psychological Association, Division of Health Psychology, 2008-present
Member, American Psychological Association, Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, 2003-present
Member, Pennsylvania Psychological Association, 2003-present
Member, American Psychological Association, Division of Clinical Psychology, 2002-present
Member, Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, 1997-2016
Member, American Psychological Association, 1994-present

Division Websites

Cardiology

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

General Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

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Phone:  412-648-9636
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