Kristen J. Alston, PhD
Associate Professor
Department:
SOM-Family Medicine
Email:
kalston@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 984-5425
Biography
Kristen J. Alston, Ph.D. is a Clinical Health Psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at UMMC where she works collaboratively with residents, physicians, and other healthcare providers as a part of an integrated care team providing behavioral health clinical services to patients with comorbid behavioral concerns and acute/chronic health conditions. She earned her B.S in psychology from Howard University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology from East Carolina University. She completed internship training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, M.I., and fellowship training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. In addition to her clinical interests, which include primary care health psychology and working as a part of an integrated health care team, Dr. Alston’s teaching interests include physician wellness, assessment and management of behavioral health concerns in a primary care setting, and patient/provider communication skills. Her research interests include examining treatment adherence and the management of behavioral and acute/chronic health conditions in underserved patient populations. Dr. Alston also has interest in mental health advocacy as it relates to eradicating mental health stigma in the African American community. In 2020, Dr. Alston served as the first African American President of the Mississippi Psychological Association.
Education
| University of Mississippi Medical Center, Fellowship, Primary Care Health Psychology | 2016 |
| Henry Ford Health Sciences Center, Detroit, MI, Internship, Clinical Psychology/Specialization Health Psychology | 2015 |
| East Carolina University, PhD, Clinical Psychology w/ Specialization in Health Psychology | 2015 |
| East Carolina University, MA, Clinical Psychology | 2011 |
| Howard University/Washington, DC, BS, Psychology/Sociology | 2009 |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Licensure, Psychology, Mississippi Board of Psychology | 08/2016 - Present |
Current Positions
| Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine | 07/2021 - Present |
| Adjunct Graduate Faculty, Department of Psychology | 12/2019 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments
| Adjunct Professor, Millsaps College | 01/2017 - 05/2017 |
| Assistant Professor, UMMC, School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine | 08/2016 - 06/2021 |
Sponsored Program Funding
| Extramural, CDC Opioid QI Collaborative, Centers for Disease Control | 04/2019 - 06/2020 |
Publications
Journal Article | |
| Valrie, C.R., Alston, K., Fuh, B., Redding-Lallinger, R., &Sisler, I. Sleep Moderating the Relationship between Pain and Health Care Use in Youth with Sickle Cell Disease. Valrie, C.R., Alston, K., Fuh, B., Redding-Lallinger, R., &Sisler, I. Sleep Moderating the Relationship between Pain and Health Care Use in Youth with Sickle Cell Disease. Clin J Pain. 2020; 36:117-123. | 2020 |
| Valrie, C. R., Kilpatrick, R. L., Alston, K., Trout, K., Redding-Lallinger, R., Sisler, I., & Fuh, B Investigating the sleep-pain relationship in youth with sickle cell disease utilizing ecological momentary assessment, Actigraphy, and Overnight Pulse Oximetry Valrie, C. R., Kilpatrick, R. L., Alston, K., Trout, K., Redding-Lallinger, R., Sisler, I., & Fuh, B. Investigating the sleep-pain relationship in youth with sickle cell disease utilizing ecological momentary assessment, Actigraphy, and Overnight Pulse Oximetry. J Pediatr Psychol. 2019 Apr 1;44(3):323-332. | 2019 |
| Valrie, C. R., Trout, K., Bond, K. E., Ladd, R., Huber, N., Alston, K., Sufrinko, A., Everhart, E., & Fuh, B. Sleep problem risk in adolescents with sickle cell disease: Socio-demographic, physical, and disease-related correlates Valrie, C. R., Trout, K., Bond, K. E., Ladd, R., Huber, N., Alston, K., Sufrinko, A., Everhart, E., & Fuh, B. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2018 Mar;40(2):116-121. | 2018 |
| Alston, K.J., Valrie, C.R., Walcott, C.M., Warner, T.D., & Fuh, B. Experiences of pediatric patients with sickle cell disease in rural emergency departments. Alston, K.J., Valrie, C.R., Walcott, C.M., Warner, T.D., & Fuh, B. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2015 Apr;37(3):195-199. | 2015 |
| Alston, K., Rice, A., Melton, S., & Bibb, K. I’m not superwoman…and that is okay: Self-Care and Women in Medicine.(Current Status: In Preparation) | |
| Alston, K., & Bibb, K. Recognizing and Managing PTSD in Primary Care.(Current Status:In Preparation). | |
| Bibb, K., & Alston, K. Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease in Primary Care (Current Status: In Preparation). | |
| Valrie, C.R., Alston, K., Morgan, K., Kilpatrick, R., Sisler, I., and Fuh, B. Pediatric sickle cell pain-sleep relationships: The roles of positive and negative affect. (Current Status: Revise and Resubmit) Valrie, C.R., Alston, K., Morgan, K., Kilpatrick, R., Sisler, I., and Fuh, B.(Revise and Re-submit). Pediatric sickle cell pain-sleep relationships: The roles of positive and negative affect. Health Psychology. | |
| Alston, K.J. Early Career Professionals Corner: Managing Change in Early Career Alston, K.J. (2018). Early Career Professionals Corner: Managing Change in Early Career. The Health Psychologist. Summer, 2018. | 2018 |
Presentations
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Improving Care of Patients with Chronic Pain on Opioids: Findings and Insights from Health Systems’ Quality Improvement Initiatives[Virtual Conference Session]., Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit, Virtual | 04/2021 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Weathering Ethical and Professional Dilemmas with Grace, Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, Virtual | 03/2021 |
| Invited Symposia, Effectively Managing Change and Uncertainty in Early Career, Group on Women in Medicine and Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 11/2020 |
| UMMC Campus Wide Presentation, Coping with COVID-19: Wellness and Stress Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Group for Women in Medicine and Science, UMMC-Virtual | 09/2020 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Management of the difficult patient encounter, Family Medicine Update Conference 2019, Jackson, MS | 03/2019 |
| Poster Presentation, Using simulated patients to assess clinical competency in a primary care health psychology fellowship program, Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, New Orleans, LA | 02/2019 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, From Graduate School to Early Career: Navigating the Career Path, Mississippi Psychological Association, Biloxi, MS | 09/2018 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Postdoctoral/Internship/Graduate School Panel: Matriculating Throughout the Training Years, Mississippi Psychological Association, Biloxi, MS | 09/2018 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Suicide risk assessment and intervention in primary care., Family Medicine Update Conference 2018, Jackson, MS | 03/2018 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Managing Legal and Ethical Pitfalls within Clinical Treatment and Clinical Populations., Mississippi Psychological Association, Biloxi, MS | 09/2017 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Postdoctoral/Internship/Graduate School Panel: Matriculating Throughout the Training Years., Mississippi Psychological Association, Biloxi, MS | 09/2017 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Wellness and Networking., Mississippi Psychological Association, Biloxi, MS | 09/2017 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Microaggressions and Their Effects in a Variety of Settings, Mississippi Psychological Association, Biloxi, MS | 09/2017 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Wellness and Impairment: Preventing Physician Burnout, Mississippi Association for Family Physicians, Jackson, MS | 03/2017 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Calibrating the Ethical Compass: Ethical Quandaries in Integrated Primary Care, Mississippi Psychological Association, Bay St. Louis, MS | 09/2016 |
| Poster Presentation, The Influence of Insomnia Symptoms and Daytime Sleepiness on a Camp-Based Intervention for Obese Adolescents., National Conference on Pediatric Psychology, Philadelphia, PA | 03/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Examining Adherence to Self-Care Behaviors Among Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease., National Conference on Pediatric Psychology, Philadelphia, PA | 03/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Insomnia Symptoms in Youth with Sickle Cell Disease., National Conference on Pediatric Psychology, Philadelphia, PA | 03/2014 |
| Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Culturally Diverse Youth: Underserved and Overwhelmed with Mental Health and Illness-Related Problems., Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, Arlington, VA | 10/2013 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, A Community-University Partnership: Understanding, Preventing and Treating the Unique Mental Health and Illness-Related Problems of Minority Youth., 9th Annual Jean Mills Symposium, Greenville, N.C. | 08/2013 |
| Poster Presentation, Factors related to compliance to an e-diary in youth with sickle cell disease., National Conference on Pediatric Psychology, New Orleans, LA | 08/2013 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Satisfaction with Emergency Department Care in a Pediatric Sickle Cell Cohort., Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Washington, DC | 08/2011 |
| Poster Presentation, Satisfaction with Emergency Care in Pediatric Sickle Cell Patients., American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Baltimore, MD | 06/2011 |
| Oral Presentation, Cognitive reframing and Affective State in Younger Breast Cancer Survivors at Entry Into an Intervention Trial., Howard University 4th Annual Symposium on Undergraduate Research, Washington, DC | 04/2009 |
| Oral Presentation, Exposure to Violence Among African American Youths in Washington, D.C., National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Salsbury University, Salisbury MD | 04/2008 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Journal of Pediatric Psychology Most Cited Paper Award (Co-Author). Awarded for paper titled "Investigating the Sleep–Pain Relationship in Youth with Sickle Cell Using mhealth Technology", published in April 2019, Journal of Pediatric Psychology | 2021 |
| Selected to attended APA's Practice Leadership Conference as a fully-funded Early Career Representative, American Psychological Association | 2018 |
| UNC Campus Scholarship, East Carolina University | 2013 |
| UNC Campus Scholarship Recipient, East Carolina University Clinical Psychology Faculty | 2013 |
| The Miller-Moore Graduate Scholarship in Psycholocy, East Carolina University | 2013 |
| Association Scholarship Recipient, Rocky Mount Engine Recreation Association | 2010 |
| Trustee Tuition Scholarship Recipient, Howard University | 2006 |
Professional Membership and Service
| Mississippi Psychological Association, Officer, Other Officer | 2021 |
| Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, APAHC conference Planning Committee/Early Career bootcamp planning committee- As a part of this committee, I work with other members of the committee to identify speakers for the early career bootcamp and review and rank applications of those individuals who are interested in participating in the early career bootcamp and assist with the selections process of the applicants. | 2020 - Present |
| Mississippi Psychological Association, Officer-President | 2020 |
| Mississippi Psychological Association, Officer, Vice President | 2019 |
| Mississippi Psychological Association, Mississippi Psychological Association- Conference planning committee - As a member of the MPA conference planning committee, I held an active role in the planning and execution of MPA's annual convention. Specifically, I helped to develop conference programming, review conference submissions, and finalize the convention programming. I also helped with many duties at the annual convention including registering attendees, introducing speakers, and setting up equipment for the speakers. | 2019 - Present |
| American Psychological Association - Division 38, Society for Health Psychology, Member | 2018 - Present |
| American Psychological Association, Member | 2018 - Present |
| Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, Member | 2017 - Present |
| Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Member | 2017 - Present |
| Mississippi Psychological Association, Chair of the Early Career Psychologist Committee- As chair of the early career psychologist committee, my duties included developing strategic goals and plan of implementation to increase early career psychologist and student presence with MPA. Specifically, I worked with the executive council to develop an early career/student/ trainee for our annual MPA convention. I developed convention programming tailored toward early career and student development and to further the development of ECPs and students, I developed and presented annual conference sessions to help early career psychologists and students build skills to assist with career development. Additionally, in my role, I helped with the development of a student representative position within MPA to serve as a liaison to the executive council to assist with the continued development of the ECP/student/trainee track. My role also entailed training the student representatives to assist with conferenced duties. | 2017 - 2019 |
| Mississippi Psychological Association, Member | 2015 - Present |
Committee Service
| Cultural Competency Advisory Committee, Member | 2021 - Present |
| UMMC Schwartz Center Rounds Liaison Committee, Member | 2021 - Present |
| MEDICAL CENTER-CONTINUING HEALTH PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LIAISON, Member | 2020 - Present |
| Curriculum Task Force through the Office of Medical Education; Ad Hoc Committee, Co-Chair | 2020 - Present |
| Department of Family Medicine Program Evaluation Committee, Chair | 2020 - Present |
| Department of Family Medicine Health Psychology Fellowship Selections Committee, Member | 2015 - 2019 |
| Department of Family Medicine Controlled Substance Management Committee, Member | 2015 - Present |
| Department of Family Medicine Residency Selections Committee, Member | 2015 - Present |
| Department of Family Medicine Program Evaluation Committee, Member | 2015 - Present |
| Department of Family Medicine Clinical Competency Committee, Member | 2015 - 2021 |
Community Service
| I served as a guest speaker on a podcast to discuss the importance of understanding and overcoming mental health stigma., Guest Speaker | 03/2021 - 03/2021 |
| Departmental Holiday Service Project to raise money to support families in need during the Christmas Holiday, I worked as a member of the planning committee for this service project. I worked with other members of the committee to develop ideas for the service project. I helped to coordinate fundraising efforts and helped to communicate our plan and efforts with the department. | 12/2019 - 12/2019 |
| I have a strong interest in mental health advocacy. Specifically, I have a very strong interest in helping to eradicate stigma in the African American Community; therefore, in October 2019, I planned, organized, and hosted a community mental health event in my hometown in NC. This event consisted of an awareness walk and a community mental health seminar. The purpose of this event was to initiate a community discussion around mental health and its importance, to address and decrease stigma around this topic, and to debunk mental health myths that serve as a barrier to mental health treatment. The event consisted of a panel discussion, an informative session to discuss solutions to these issues, an interactive learning portion, and exhibitors to promote local mental health services. Approximately 50 participants attended the awareness walk and over 100 participants attended the seminar., As organizer and Host, I planned and implemented the community service event. | 10/2019 - Present |
| Department Holiday Service Project to Support the Efforts of a local church as they sponsored a holiday party for foster children, As an active participant in this holiday service project, I helped to raise money for a holiday meal for those in need and helped to set up and decorate for the holiday party. | 12/2018 - 12/2018 |
| Departmental Holiday Community Service Event at a local Nursing Home, As an active participant in this community service event, I donated needed items to residents of a local nursing home facility. I, along with other members of the family medicine department, went to the nursing home to pass out the donated items, interact, and fellowship with the nursing home residents to spread holiday cheer. | 12/2017 - 12/2017 |
| Public Education, Guest Speaker on Mississippi Public Radio- Provided public education related to stress management and effective coping | 01/2016 - 01/2016 |
Teaching Experience
| Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, M3 Family Medicine Clerkship | Annual 2021-2022 |
| Medicine, Lab, Grader, Family Medicine OSCE | Annual 2021-2022 - 2021 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, M3 Family Medicine Clerkship | Spring 2021 |
| CONJ 6711, Medicine, Course, Course Director, Introduction to the Medical Profession III | Annual 2021 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Spring 2020 - 2020 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2020 - 2020 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2020 - 2020 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2020 - 2020 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Spring 2020 - 2020 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine CORE | Spring 2020 - 2020 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, M3 Family Medicine Clerkship | Spring 2020 - 2020 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, M3 Family Medicine Clerkship | Fall 2020 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Department of Psychiatry Didactics | Spring 2020 - 2020 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2020 - 2020 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2019 - 2019 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2019 - 2019 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2019 - 2019 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2019 - 2019 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, M3 Family Medicine Clerkship | Fall 2019 - 2019 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Spring 2019 - 2019 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Spring 2019 - 2019 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Advanced Medical Practice | Spring 2019 - 2019 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Intern Orientation | Summer 2019 - 2019 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Orientation | Fall 2019 - 2019 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Orientation | Fall 2019 - 2019 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Introduction to Medical Profession I | Spring 2018 - 2018 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Introduction to Medical Profession I | Spring 2018 - 2018 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Course, Grader, Introduction to Medical Profession I | Spring 2018 - 2018 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Course, Grader, Introduction to Medical Profession I | Spring 2018 - 2018 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Advanced Medical Practice | Spring 2018 - 2018 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Advanced Medical Practice | Spring 2018 - 2018 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine CORE | Spring 2018 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Summer Orientation | Summer 2018 - 2018 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession 1 | Fall 2018 - 2018 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Introduction to the Medical Profession 1 | Fall 2018 - 2018 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Introduction to the Medical Profession 1 | Fall 2018 - 2018 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Introduction to the Medical Profession 1 | Spring 2017 - 2017 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Spring 2017 - 2017 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Spring 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Advanced Medical Practice | Spring 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Advanced Medical Practice | Spring 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Standardized patient, Objective Structured Clinical Examination | Summer 2017 - 2017 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2017 - 2017 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2017 - 2017 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2017 - 2017 |
| CONJ 612, Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, Introduction to the Medical Profession I | Fall 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Orientation | Fall 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Orientation | Fall 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Orientation | Fall 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Intern Orientation | Summer 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Intern Orientation | Summer 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Intern Orientation | Summer 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Course, Grader, Introduction to Medical Professions | Fall 2017 - 2017 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Orientation | Fall 2016 - 2016 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Guest Presenter, M3 Family Medicine Clerkship | Fall 2016 - 2016 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Orientation | Fall 2016 - 2016 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine CORE Wellness Lectures | Fall 2016 |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Family Medicine Orientation | Fall 2016 - 2016 |
Directed Student Learning
| Dissertation Committee Member, The Impact of Media Messages on African American Students' Self-Perception Advised: | 2019 - Present |
Fellows supervised
| University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of Family Medicine Primary Care Psychology Fellowship, Training Faculty, 1 fellows supervised | 09/2017 - 06/2019 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of Family Medicine Primary Care Psychology Fellowship, Training Faculty, 1 fellows supervised | 09/2016 - 06/2017 |
Residency Training
| Family Medicine Residency Program, Training Faculty | 2016 - Present |