Kristina I. Suorsa-Johnson
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Kristina I. Suorsa-Johnson, PhD

Languages spoken: English

  • Dr. Kristina Suorsa-Johnson received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University with practicm training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She completed internship at Hennepin Healthcare and her Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at the University of Michigan with a focus on patients with a difference of sex development (DSD). DSD are congenital conditions where the development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomic sex is atypical.

    Dr. Suorsa-Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine and is in the Division of Pediatric Behavioral Health. Her specific clinical interests are in the delivery of psychoeducational and behavioral health services to children and adults with DSD, and their families. Her research interests include understanding and supporting patient and family decision making within DSD.

    Specialties

  • Dr. Kristina Suorsa-Johnson received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University with practicm training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She completed internship at Hennepin Healthcare and her Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at the University of Michigan with a focus on patients with a difference of sex development (DSD). DSD are congenital conditions where the development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomic sex is atypical.

    Dr. Suorsa-Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine and is in the Division of Pediatric Behavioral Health. Her specific clinical interests are in the delivery of psychoeducational and behavioral health services to children and adults with DSD, and their families. Her research interests include understanding and supporting patient and family decision making within DSD.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Pediatrics -Assistant Professor (Clinical)
    Academic Divisions Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine

    Education history

    Undergraduate Psychology & French - University of Rhode Island B.A.
    Graduate Training Clinical Psychology - Oklahoma State University M.S.
    Professional Medical Clinical Psychology - Oklahoma State University Ph.D.
    Fellowship Pediatric Psychology - University of Michigan Medical Center Fellow

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Mullins LL, Cushing CC, Suorsa KI, Tackett AP, Molzon ES, Mayes S, McNall-Knapp R, Mullins AJ, Gamwell KL, Chaney JM (2016). Parent illness appraisals, parent adjustment, and parent-reported child quality of life in pediatric cancer. Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 33(5), 314-326. (Read full publication)
    2. Reed-Knight B, Lobato D, Hagin S, McQuaid EL, Seifer R, Kopel SJ, Boergers J, Nassau JH, Suorsa K, Bancroft B, LeLeiko NS (2014). Stability of Emotional and Behavioral Functioning in Youth with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Child Health Care, 43(2), 151-168. (Read full publication)
    3. Cushing CC, Suorsa KI (2014). Intensive treatments for pediatric obesity: An acceptability analogue study. Child Health Care, 43, 169-85.
    4. Suorsa KI, Cushing CC, Mullins AJ, Meier E, Tackett AP, Junghans AN, Chaney JM, Mullins LL (2016). Adolescents and young adults with asthma and allergies: Physical activity, self-efficacy, social support, and subsequent psychosocial outcomes. Child Health Care, 45(4), 414-27.
    5. Sharkey M, Bakula DM, Tackett AP, Mullins AJ, Gamwell KL, Suorsa KI, Mayes S, McNall-Knapp R, Chaney JM, Mullins LL (2018). Posttraumatic stress symptomology in parents of children with cancer: Implications related to criterion changes in DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5. Child Health Care, 47(4), 357-70.
    6. Mullins AJ, Gamwell KL, Sharkey CM, Bakula DM, Tackett AP, Suorsa KI, Chaney JM, Mullins LL (2017). Illness uncertainty and illness intrusiveness as predictors of depressive and anxious symptomology in college students with chronic illnesses. J Am Coll Health, 65(5), 352-360. (Read full publication)
    7. Junghans-Rutelonis AN, Suorsa KI, Tackett AP, Burkley E, Chaney JM, Mullins LL (2015). Self-esteem, Self-focused Attention, and the Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation in College Students With and Without Asthma. J Am Coll Health, 63(8), 554-62. (Read full publication)
    8. Molzon ES, Bonner MS, Hullmann SE, Ramsey RR, Suorsa KI, Chaney JM, Mullins LL (2013). Differences in sleep quality and health-related quality of life in young adults with allergies and asthma and their healthy peers. J Am Coll Health, 61(8), 484-9. (Read full publication)
    9. Junghans AJ, Suorsa KI, Tackett AP, Mullins LL, Burkley E, Chaney JM (2015). Adolescent and young adults with asthma: Self-identification, adjustment and psychological distress. J Dev Behav Pediatr, 36(2), S5-S5.
    10. Sharkey CM, Bakula DM, Baraldi AN, Perez MN, Suorsa KI, Chaney JM, Mullins LL (2018). Grit, illness-related distress, and psychosocial outcomes in college students with a chronic medical condition: A path analysis. J Pediatr Psychol, 43(5), 552-560. (Read full publication)
    11. Tackett AP, Cushing CC, Suorsa KI, Mullins AJ, Gamwell KL, Mayes S, McNall-Knapp R, Chaney JM, Mullins LL (2016). Illness Uncertainty, Global Psychological Distress, and Posttraumatic Stress in Pediatric Cancer: A Preliminary Examination Using a Path Analysis Approach. J Pediatr Psychol, 41(3), 309-18. (Read full publication)
    12. Cushing CC, Brannon EE, Suorsa KI, Wilson DK (2014). Systematic review and meta-analysis of health promotion interventions for children and adolescents using an ecological framework. J Pediatr Psychol, 39(8), 949-62. (Read full publication)
    13. Suorsa KI, Mullins AJ, Tackett AP, Reyes KJ, Austin P, Baskin L, Bernabé K, Cheng E, Fried A, Frimberger D, Galan D, Gonzalez L, Greenfield S, Kropp B, Meyer S, Meyer T, Nokoff N, Palmer B, Poppas D, Paradis A, Yerkes E, Wisniewski AB, Mullins LL (2015). Characterizing Early Psychosocial Functioning of Parents of Children with Moderate to Severe Genital Ambiguity due to Disorders of Sex Development. J Urol, 194(6), 1737-42. (Read full publication)
    14. Molzon ES, Brannon EE, Fedele DA, Grant DM, Suorsa KI, Mullins LL (2014). Factor structure of the parent perception of uncertainty scale in parents of children with cancer. Psychooncology, 23(12), 1435-8. (Read full publication)
    15. Reed-Knight B, Lobato D, Hagin S, McQuaid EL, Seifer R, Kopel SJ, Boergers J, Nassau JH, Suorsa K, Bancroft B, Shapiro J, Leleiko NS (2014). Depressive symptoms in youth with inflammatory bowel disease compared with a community sample. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 20(4), 614-21. (Read full publication)
    16. LeLeiko NS, Lobato D, Hagin S, Hayes C, McQuaid EL, Seifer R, Kopel SJ, Boergers J, Nassau J, Suorsa K, Shapiro J, Bancroft B (2013). 6-Thioguanine levels in pediatric IBD patients: adherence is more important than dose. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 19(12), 2652-8. (Read full publication)
    17. LeLeiko NS, Lobato D, Hagin S, McQuaid E, Seifer R, Kopel SJ, Boergers J, Nassau J, Suorsa K, Shapiro J, Bancroft B (2013). Rates and predictors of oral medication adherence in pediatric patients with IBD. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 19(4), 832-9. (Read full publication)
    18. Mullins LL, Molzon ES, Suorsa KI, Tackett AP, Pai ALH, Chaney JM (2015). Models of resilience: Developing psychosocial interventions for parents of children with chronic health conditions. Fam Relat, 64, 176-89.
    19. Junghans-Rutelonis AN, Tackett AP, Suorsa KI, Chaney JM, Mullins L (2018). Asthma-specific cognitions, self-focused attention, and fear of negative evaluation in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with childhood-onset asthma. Psychology, health & medicine, 23(1), 69-81. (Read full publication)
    20. Molzon ES, Suorsa KI, Hullmann SE, Ryan JL, Mullins L (2012). The relationship of allergy severity to depressive and anxious symptomatology: The role of attitude toward illness. ISRN allergy, 2011, 765309. (Read full publication)
    21. Molzon ES, Ramsey RR, Suorsa KI, Bonner MS, Grant DM, Chaney JM, Mullins L (2013). Factor structure of the illness intrusiveness ratings scale in young adults with allergies and asthma. 4, 71-6.
    22. Gamwell KL, Mullins AJ, Tackett AP, Suorsa KI, Mullins LL, Chaney J (2016). Caregiver demand and distress in parents of youth with juvenile rheumatic diseases: Examining illness intrusiveness and parenting stress as mediators. 28(6), 889-904.
    23. Suorsa-Johnson KI, Gardner MD, Baskin A, Gruppen LD, Rose A, Rutter MM, Schafer-Kalkhoff T, Stacey D, van Leeuwen KD, Weidler EM, Sandberg D (2022). Defining successful outcomes and preferences for clinical management in differences/disorders of sex development: Protocol overview and a qualitative phenomenological study of stakeholders' perspectives. Journal of pediatric urology, 18(1), 36.e1-36.e17. (Read full publication)
    24. Moyer DN, Suorsa-Johnson KI, Weidler EM, Ernst MM, & the DSD-Translational Research Network Psychosocial Workgroup (2023). Information sharing in Differences of Sex Development: The creation of a caregiver-support resource. Family Systems & Health, 41(2), 256-264.
    25. Weidler EM, Suorsa-Johnson KI, Baskin AS, Fagerlin A, Gardner MD, Rutter MM, Schafer-Kalkhoff T, van Leeuwen K, Sandberg D (2023). "It became easier once I knew": Stakeholder perspectives for educating children and teenagers about their difference of sex development. Patient education and counseling, 113, 107763. (Read full publication)
    26. Suorsa-Johnson KI, Gardner MD, Brinkman W, Carley M, Gruppen L, Liang N, Lightfoot S, Pinkelman K, Speiser PW, VanderBrink B, Wisniewski J, Sandberg DE, Stacey (2023). A survey of healthcare professionals' perceptions of the decisional needs of parents with an infant born with a disorder/difference of sex development. Journal of pediatric urology, 19(1), 39-49. (Read full publication)
    27. Gardner M, Brinkman WB, Carley M, Liang N, Lightfoot S, Pinkelman K, Speiser PW, Schafer-Kalkhoff T, Suorsa-Johnson KI, VanderBrink B, Weidler EM, Wisniewski J, Stacey D, Sandberg D (2023). Decisional support needed when facing tough decisions: Survey of parents with children having differences of sex development. Frontiers in urology, 3, 1-10. (Read full publication)
    28. Weidler EM, Gardner M, Suorsa-Johnson KI, Schafer-Kalkhoff T, Rutter MM, Sandberg DE, van Leeuwen (2023). Surgical decision-making for individuals with differences of sex development: Stakeholders' views. Frontiers in urology, 3, 1-10. (Read full publication)
    29. Lightfoot S, Carley M, Brinkman W, Gardner MD, Gruppen LD, Liang N, Pinkelman K, Speiser PW, Suorsa-Johnson KI, VanderBrink B, Wisniewski J, Sandberg DE, Stacey (2023). Co-creating a suite of patient decision aids for parents of an infant or young child with differences of sex development: A methods roadmap. Frontiers in urology, 2, 1-11. (Read full publication)
    30. Avancen'a ALV, Rose AM, Gardner MD, Rutter MM, Schafer-Kalkhoff T, Suorsa-Johnson KI, van Leeuwen K, Weidler EM, Gebremariam A, Sandberg DE, Prosser L (2024). Preferences in clinical care of individuals with differences of sex development. Pediatrics, 153(6), e2023064207.
    31. Lapham ZK, Gardner M, Sheinker S, Suorsa-Johnson KI, Kogan BA, Lee PA, Sandberg D (2023). Written surgical informed consent elements in pediatric differences of sex development: Pediatric urologist and endocrinologist perspectives. Frontiers in urology, 3, 1-9.
    32. Streich-Tilles T, Morrison A, Schafer-Kalkhoff T, Gardner M, Suorsa-Johnson KI, Baskin A, Weidler EM, van Leeuwen K, Sandberg DE, & Rutter MM (2024). Defining success in the delivery of fertility-related care for patients with differences of sex development. Hormone research in paediatrics, 1-10.
    33. Crerand CE*, Suorsa-Johnson KI*, Ernst MM, Fei F, Hansen-Moore J, Jaffal N, James LN, Jewell T, Johnson J, Lanphier E, Pennesi C, Umbaugh H, Saylor KM, Sandberg DE, the Society of Pediatric Psychology Differences of Sex Development Special Interest Grou Stigma in differences of sex development: A scoping review. Journal of pediatric psychology,

    Book Chapter

    1. Mullins LL, Tackett AP, Suorsa K (2015). Psychotherapeutic Modalities for Children with Cancer. 81-106.
    2. Sandberg, D. E. & Suorsa-Johnson, K. I (2023). Conditions associated with growth failure and short stature. 277-284.
    3. Suorsa-Johnson, K. I. & Sandberg, D. E (2023). Klinefelter syndrome. 293-302.
    4. Suorsa-Johnson, K. I. & Sandberg, D. E (2023). Turner syndrome. 311-318.

    Letter

    1. Suorsa-Johnson KI, Sandberg DE, Stacey (2023). Response to commentary re a survey of healthcare professionals' perceptions of the decisional needs of parents with an infant born with a disorder/difference of sex development. Journal of pediatric urology, 19(1), 51-52. (Read full publication)

    Other

    1. Crerand CE, Suorsa-Johnson KI, Hansen-Moore J, Ernst M, Pennesi C, DeLozier A, Fei F, Johnson J, Jewell T, Lanphier E, Jaffal N, Umbaugh H, James LN, Saylor KM, Sandberg D (2021). Stigma and differences of sex development: A scoping review protocol.
    2. Suorsa-Johnson KI, Poquiz JL, Papadakis J, James LN, Saylor KM, Sandberg D (2021). How is psychosocial adaptation and cognitive function assessed in differences/disorders of sex development? A scoping review protocol.