Courtney S. Walker, PhD
Associate Professor
Department:
SOM-Psychiatry
Email:
cwalker7@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 984-2697
Biography
Courtney Walker, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and serves as the director for the Child Health and Developmental Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Mississippi State University in 2018 following completion of internship at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) where she also trained in the Harris Center for Infant Mental Health. Dr. Walker returned to Mississippi to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in early childhood developmental and behavioral health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and later joined the medical center as faculty in 2019. Dr. Walker’s clinical expertise centers on the assessment and evidence-based treatment of neurodevelopmental, emotional, and behavioral concerns in infants and young children. She is trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and other evidence-based treatments for this population. She serves as the lead psychologist in the Newborn High-Risk Follow-Up Clinic where she completes developmental evaluations for young children with a history of NICU admission. She has served as PI or Co-I on a range of grant-funded projects that center on the dissemination of evidence-based mental health practices for young children in rural communities. Currently, she serves as Co-PI for a SAMHSA Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) grant entitled: MS Behavioral Health for Infants and Preschoolers Program (MS BeHIP). Her research interests include examining the influence of parenting strategies, adverse childhood experiences, and poverty on child neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes as well as how child and family resiliency can moderate these relationships.
Education
| Mississippi State University, PhD, Clinical Psychology | 2018 |
| Mississippi State University, MS, Clinical Psychology | 2014 |
| Mississippi State University, BS, Psychology | 2008 |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Internship, Child/Adult Psychology | |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center, Child Development |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Licensure, Licensed Clinical Psychologist | 10/2019 - Present |
Current Positions
| Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry | 07/2019 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Sponsored Program Funding
| Extramural, Implementation of a Perinatal to Preschool (P2P) Behavioral Health Continuum, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Congressional Directed Spending | 10/2023 - 09/2025 |
| Extramural, CHAMP for Moms: Enhancing Maternal Wellness Through Integrated Psychiatry, Substance Use Support, and Consultation, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) | 09/2023 - 09/2028 |
| Extramural, Child Health and Developmental Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship, MS State Legislature | 07/2023 - 06/2024 |
| Extramural, Early Childhood Evaluation Clinic at the University of Mississippi, Hearin Foundation | 07/2023 - 06/2025 |
| Extramural, Children’s of Mississippi Neonatal Research Group, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): Neonatal Research Network (NRN) | 07/2023 - 06/2029 |
| Extramural, MAGNOLIA: Expanding Child and Family Integrated Behavioral Healthcare in Mississippi, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) | 07/2023 - 06/2027 |
| Extramural, Child Health and Development Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship, MS State Legislature | 07/2022 - 06/2023 |
| Extramural, Child Health and Developmental Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) | 07/2022 - 06/2024 |
| Extramural, Deep South Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Retreat, MS Council on Developmental Disabilities (MSCDD) | 05/2022 - 09/2022 |
| Extramural, Newborn Observation (NBO) System Training, MS Council on Developmental Disabilities | 05/2022 - 09/2022 |
| Extramural, Center for Advancement of Youth (CAY) ECHO: Pilot Project, United Healthcare | 11/2021 - 11/2023 |
| Extramural, The last, lost, least, and left out: Clinical and policy training to increase access to care for underserved and rural children and families in Mississippi, APA Postdoctoral Minority Fellowship Program Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Program (MHSAS); Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) | 10/2021 - 10/2022 |
| Extramural, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSR) Behavioral Telehealth in Schools, Mississippi Department of Education | 04/2021 - 06/2026 |
| Extramural, Rankin County Capacity Enhancing Project: Child-Parent Psychotherapy, Zero to Three Infant/Toddler Court Program | 09/2020 - 09/2021 |
| Extramural, DULCE Planning Grant: Implementation in a Southern, African-American Community, Center for the Study of Social Policy | 07/2020 - 12/2021 |
| Extramural, Parenting, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Resiliency in At-Risk Child Populations, NIH Loan Repayment Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) | 08/2019 - 07/2021 |
| Extramural, Mississippi Behavioral Health for Infants and Preschoolers (MS BeHIP), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) | 09/2018 - 09/2023 |
| Extramural, Child Health and Developmental Promotion in a High-Need State, Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) | 09/2017 - 02/2023 |
| Extramural, MAGNOLIA: Expanding Child and Family Integrated Behavioral Healthcare in Mississippi, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) | 09/2016 - 09/2020 |
Publications
Journal Article | |
| Hare, M.M., Walker, C.S., Sarver, D.E., Lim, C., Brown, D., & Annett, R Assessing Attitudes Towards Pediatric Research Participation Across Diverse Populations: Psychometric Properties of a Novel Tool Contemporary Clinical Trials (Accepted) | 2023 |
| Walker, C.S., Gardner, S., Tyrone, R. S., Withrow, S., Long, B., Sarver, D.E., & Buttross, S. Developmental/Behavioral Training Innovation in a High-Need, Low-Resource State: The Child Health and Development Promotion Fellowship Families, Systems, and Health, 40(4), 596-605. | 2022 |
| Walker, B. H., Brown, D. C., Walker, C. S., Stubbs-Richardson, M., Oliveros, A. D., & Buttross, S. B. Childhood Adversity is Associated with Poorer Health: Evidence from the U.S. National Survey of Children’s Health Child Abuse & Neglect, 134, 105871. | 2022 |
| McKinney, C., Hovanec, S.E., Szkody, E., & Walker, C.S. Parental Discipline during Emerging Adulthood: A Person-Centered Approach Journal of Interpersonal Violence | 2022 |
| Gardner, S.K., Hanna, H., Buttross, S., Walker, C.S., Love, T., Saunders, B., Elliott, L., Long, B., Craft, P., & Jigjidsuren, D. Establishing an Early Childhood Developmental Health Promotion System: The Child Health and Development Project: Mississippi Thrive! Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, 63(2). | 2022 |
| Price, A., Cheatham-Johnson, R., & Walker, C.S. 10 Things to Know about Perinatal Mental Health Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, 60(1), 6-9. | 2022 |
| Walker, C.S., Walker, B.H., Brown, D., Buttross, S., & Sarver, D.E. Defining the role of exposure to ACEs in ADHD diagnosis: Examination in a nationally-representative sample of children Child Abuse and Neglect, 112(1), doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104884 | 2021 |
| Cleveland, M., Hanna, H., Walker, C.S., & Buttross, S. Adverse Childhood Experiences in Mississippi: Recommendations for a Brighter Future. Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, 62. | 2021 |
| Gardner, S.K., Walker, C.S., Love, T., Singel, S., & Buttross, S. Top 10 Facts You Need to Know about ECH-ECHO Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, 62(4), 97-98 | 2021 |
| Moore, M., Poe, L., Walker, C.S., & Craft, T.K. Utilizing community partners to enhance quality intern training Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice, 3(1) | 2020 |
| Walker, C.S. & McKinney, C. Parental discipline in emerging adulthood: The creation and validation of the Domains of Young Adult Discipline Scale (DYADS) Emerging Adulthood, 9(6), 712-724 | 2019 |
| Walker, C.S., Stearns, M., & McKinney, C. Effect of parental corporal punishment on endorsement of its use: Moderated mediation by parent gender and attitudes toward corporal punishment Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(13-14) | 2018 |
| Gardner, S.K., Robertson, A., Tatch, A., & Walker, C.S. Racial differences in college-student drinking Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 19(1), 28-43 | 2018 |
| Robertson, A., McKinney, C., Walker, C.S., & Coleman, A. Peer, social media, and alcohol marketing influences on college student drinking The Journal of American College Health, 66(5), 369-379 | 2018 |
| Robertson, A. & Walker, C.S. Predictors of justice system involvement: Child maltreatment and education Child Abuse and Neglect, 76, 408-415 | 2018 |
| Robertson, A., Morse, D.T., Hood, K., & Walker, C.S. Measuring alcohol marketing engagement: The development and psychometric properties of the alcohol marketing engagement scale Journal of Applied Measurement, 18(1), 87 | 2017 |
| McKinney, C., Walker, C.S., & Kwan, J.W. Mother–father dyad conflict strategy clusters: Implications for emerging adults Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 35(1-2), 319-340. doi: 0886260516683177 | 2016 |
| Robertson, A., Gardner, S., Walker, C.S., & Tatch, A. DUI recidivism by intervention adherence: A multiple risk factor approach The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 42, 1-9 | 2015 |
| Walker, C.S. & McKinney, C. Parental and emerging adult psychopathology: Moderated mediation by gender and affect toward parents Journal of Adolescence, 44, 158-167 | 2015 |
| Robertson, A., Walker, C.S., Stovall, M., & McCluskley, L. Use of evidence-based substance use treatment practices in Mississippi Evaluation and Program Planning, 52, 198-204 | 2015 |
Presentations
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Unfolding Together: Celebrating Successes and Navigating Challenges, Center for the Study of Social Policy: DULCE National Forum, Virtual | 07/2023 |
| Invited Symposia, Child Health and Developmental Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship, Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, Virtual | 04/2023 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Building Strong Foundations: The Importance of Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood, Play, Eat, Learn: A Family Learning Series at the Children’s Museum, Children's Museum | 04/2023 |
| Poster Presentation, Stressful Life Events and Early-life Mental Health in the United States, Population Association of America, New Orleans, LA | 04/2023 |
| Poster Presentation, Implementation of Tele-PCIT in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency in a Largely Rural State, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), New York, NY | 11/2022 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Early Experiences Matter: The Role of Early Childhood Education in Promoting Resilience in Young Children, MS Head Start Association, Virtual | 08/2022 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Unfolding Together: Celebrating Successes and Navigating Challenges, Center for the Study of Social Policy: DULCE National Forum, Virtual | 03/2022 |
| Poster Presentation, Emotional Support as a Moderator between NICU Caregiver Symptoms and Infant Developmental Outcomes, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), Hilton Head SC | 03/2022 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Increasing access to Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Services in Rural Areas: Lessons from Mississippi, SAMHSA: Foundation for All Future Development, Virtual | 03/2022 |
| Invited Symposia, Impact of COVID-19 on NICU Caregiver Psychological Distress, Mississippi Psychological Association, Virtual | 10/2021 |
| Poster Presentation, Examining PCIT Outcomes among Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders, PCIT International Biennial Convention, Virtual | 08/2021 |
| Poster Presentation, Maternal Depression and Attachment: Interactive Effects on Infant Neurodevelopment in a High-Risk Sample, Postpartum Support International (PSI), Virtual | 07/2021 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Lying and Cursing in Toddlerhood, Early Childhood ECHO, Virtual | 03/2021 |
| Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Pediatric Clinical Research Challenges: Response to COVID-19 and Directions for Future Research, Research Integrity Southeast, Virtual | 02/2021 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Trauma in Early Childhood: Part 2, Early Childhood ECHO Series, Virtual | 01/2021 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Autism Evaluations and PCIT, CAY Lunch and Learn, Virtual | 01/2021 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Trauma in Early Childhood: Influences on Neurodevelopment, Early Childhood ECHO series, Virtual | 01/2021 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Optimizing Advances in Tele-medicine to Increase Access to DB Specialists in Rural and Underserved Areas, Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP), Virtual | 10/2020 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Autism in Infancy and Early Childhood, Early Childhood ECHO, Virtual | 10/2020 |
| Invited Symposia, Surveillance and Monitoring of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Mississippi: A Call to Action, Advancing Mississippi Conference, Virtual | 09/2020 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Temper Tantrums, MS Thrive Distance Learning Collaborative, Virtual | 05/2020 |
| Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, National Institute of Health (NIH): Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs), LSU Health Sciences Center Psychology Internship Program, New Orleans, LA | 11/2019 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC: 0-5), MS Thrive Distance Learning Collaborative, Virtual | 10/2019 |
| Invited Symposia, Distance Learning Collaborative (DLC): A Multi-Disciplinary Approach of Professional Telehealth Between Behavioral Health Teams and Pediatricians to Increase Access to Care, Mississippi Psychological Association, Biloxi, MS | 09/2019 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Corporal Punishment, MS Thrive Distance Learning Collaborative, Virtual | 04/2019 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Mississippi Thrive! Overview, MS Thrive Distance Learning Collaborative, Virtual | 02/2019 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), MS Thrive Distance Learning Collaborative, Virtual | 01/2019 |
| Poster Presentation, Defining the Role of Exposure to ACEs in ADHD Diagnosis: Examination in a Nationally Representative Sample of Children, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, DC | 11/2018 |
| Invited Symposia, Early Brain Development, Screening & Assessment, Mississippi Psychological Association, Biloxi, MS | 09/2018 |
| Paper Presentation, Predictors of Justice System Involvement: Maltreatment and Education, American Society of Criminology (ASC), New Orleans, LA | 11/2016 |
| Invited Symposia, Emerging Adulthood: Are Your Parents Still Around?, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), New Orleans, LA | 03/2016 |
| Poster Presentation, Acceptability of Corporal Punishment, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), New Orleans, LA | 03/2016 |
| Poster Presentation, Differential Discipline between Mothers and Fathers: Implications for Emerging Adults, Association for Psychological Science (APS), New York, NY | 05/2015 |
| Poster Presentation, Preferred vs. Perceived Parenting in Emerging Adults, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), Hilton Head, SC | 03/2015 |
| Poster Presentation, Parental and Offspring Psychopathology: The Moderating Role of Perceptions of Parents, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), HIlton Head, SC | 03/2015 |
| Poster Presentation, Drugged Driving: Examining the Use of Prescription Medication Among DUI Offenders, American Public Health Association (APHA), New Orleans, LA | 11/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Discipline during Emerging Adulthood: Parenting and Parental Mental Health, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), Nashville, TN | 03/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Parenting and Emerging Adult Adjustment: The Role of Parental Discipline and Consistency, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), Nashville, TN | 03/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Parental Psychopathology and Parenting: Interactions with Anxiety and Depression, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), Nashville, TN | 03/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Parental Psychopathology and Perceptions of Parents: Interaction Effects on Emerging Adult Psychopathology, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), Nashville, TN | 03/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Adjusted and Maladjusted Emerging Adults: Associations with Parenting Practices, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), Atlanta, GA | 03/2013 |
| Poster Presentation, Parental Psychopathology and Parenting: Interactions with Antisocial Tendencies, Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA), Atlanta, GA | 03/2013 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Faculty/Staff Leadership Development Grant, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2021 |
| Children's Leadership Program, Class of 2021-2022, Children's Hospital of Mississippi, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2021 |
| Loan Repayment Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development | 2019 |
| Mississippi State University Centers and Institutes Graduate Student Research Award, Mississippi State University | 2016 |
| Psychology Graduate Committee Travel Award, Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University | 2015 |
| Marion T. Loftin Graduate Fund, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University | 2015 |
| Nominee, Zero to Three Emerging Leadership Award | |
| Nominee, GWIMS Early Career Faculty Award |
Professional Membership and Service
| MS Association for Infant Mental Health, Founding Member | 2019 - Present |
| Zero to Three, Member | |
| Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (ABCT), Member | |
| American Psychological Association Division 54, Pediatric Psychology, Member | |
| Society for Research in Child Development, Member |
Committee Service
| CHDP Clinical Training Committee, Chair | 2023 - 2024 |
| CHDP Clinical Training Committee, Chair | 2022 - 2023 |
| Pediatrics Interdepartmental Discovery Council, Member | 2018 - 2021 |
Community Service
| Early Intervention Task Force, UMMC Representative | 07/2023 - 06/2024 |
| Mississippi Autism Advisory Council (MAAC), UMMC Representative |
Other Service
| Peer Reviewer for Scientific Reports | |
| Peer Reviewer for Developmental Neuropsychology | |
| Peer Reviewer for Emerging Adulthood | |
| Peer Reviewer for Child Abuse and Neglect | |
| Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Technical Assistance Center Grantee Convening Planning Committee |
Teaching Experience
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, PReCEP Summer Research | Annual |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Neonatology Fellow Lecture Series | Annual |
| Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Lecture Series | Annual |
| Medicine, Lecturer, Child Health and Developmental Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship Didactic Series | Annual |
Directed Student Learning
| Dissertation Committee Member, Adverse Childhood Experiences on Infant, Child, and Adolescent Development Advised: Rachel Tyrone | 2020 - 2022 |
| Clinical Supervisor for Magnolia, Advised: Alice Conner, Faith Richardson, Sarah Butt, Lydia Stanhope | 2020 - Present |
| Research Advisor, Advised: Lara Lamanilao | 2020 - 2020 |
Fellows supervised
| Child Health and Developmental Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship, Fellowship Director, 14 fellows supervised | 07/2022 - Present |
| MS Behavioral Health for Infants and Preschoolers, Post-Doc Advisor, 2 fellows supervised | 09/2020 - Present |
| Child Health and Developmental Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship, Assistant Fellowship Director, 6 fellows supervised | 07/2020 - 06/2021 |
| Child Health and Developmental Promotion (CHDP) Fellowship, Assistant Fellowship Director, 6 fellows supervised | 07/2019 - 06/2020 |
Residency Training
| Psychology Residency Program, Training Faculty | 2023 - 07/2024 |
| Psychology Residency Program, Preceptor | 2023 - 07/2024 |
| Psychology Residency Program, Preceptor | 2022 - 07/2023 |
| Psychology Residency Program, Training Faculty | 2022 - 07/2023 |