Sara L. Turner, MS, PhD

Sara Turner, MS, PhD completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Pediatric Psychology from the University of Utah, a clinical internship in Pediatric Psychology at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, and a Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at Primary Children’s Hospital. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (clinical track) in the Division of Pediatric Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Primary Children´s Hospital.

Her specific clinical interests include working with children and adolescents with medical conditions and their families to improve coping, adherence to medical regimens, and daily functioning. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and specializes in cognitive behavioral approaches for sleep and feeding concerns (including CBT-i and CBT-AR), chronic illness management, functional improvement, parent training, and habit reversal training (including CBIT for the treatment of tic disorders).

Her research interests include assessment of individual and family factors related to adherence and glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (e.g., sleep quality, parental involvement). Additionally, with her colleagues in Pediatric Endocrinology, she has helped pilot a Diabetes Intensive Management and Education (DIME) program for high risk adolescents with type 1 diabetes and is currently evaluating its clinical impact for diabetes and mental health outcomes.