Alyssa Schlenz, PhD

Professional Titles

• Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Research Interests

I'm interested in improving quality of life for children with neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders and chronic health conditions. I have a particular interest in research that improves the lives of children with sickle cell disease.

Publications

• Davidow KA, Miller RE, Phillips SM, Schlenz AM, Mueller M, Hulbert ML, Hsu LL, Bhasin N, Adams RJ, Kanter J. DISPLACE study shows poor quality of transcranial doppler ultrasound for stroke risk screening in sickle cell anemia. Blood Adv. 2024 Jul 9;8(13):3444-3452. PubMed PMID: 38669350
• Galadanci N, Phillips S, Schlenz A, Ivankova N, Kanter J. Current Methods of Newborn Screening Follow-Up for Sickle Cell Disease Are Highly Variable and without Quality Assurance: Results from the ENHANCE Study. Int J Neonatal Screen. 2024 Mar 8;10(1). PubMed PMID: 38535126
• Karlson CW, Barajas KG, Seals SR, Britt AB, Schlenz AM, Jackson EA, Davis DB, Morris MC, Valrie CR. Longitudinal Predictors of Pain in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease. J Pediatr Psychol. 2023 Jul 5;48(6):553-561. PubMed PMID: 37043758
• Phillips S, Schlenz AM, D'Alton S, Johnson M, Kanter J. Patient and Family Opioid Decision-Making for Pain Management in Sickle Cell Disease: A Qualitative Study. J Pain. 2023 Jul;24(7):1240-1250. PubMed PMID: 36863679
• Fraley CE, Neiman JS, Feddersen CR, James C, Jones TG, Mikkelsen M, Nuss R, Schlenz AM, Winters AC, Green AL, Compas BE. Identifying patterns of neurocognitive dysfunction through direct comparison of children with leukemia, central nervous system tumors, and sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023 Jun;70(6):e30299. PubMed PMID: 37036272
• Schlenz AM, Thomas SJ, Gloston G, Lebensburger J, Maxwell SL, Kanter J. Sleep quality and pain in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022 Aug 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 35975556
• Schlenz AM, Phillips SM, Mueller M, Melvin CL, Adams RJ, Kanter J. Barriers and Facilitators to Chronic Red Cell Transfusion Therapy in Pediatric Sickle Cell Anemia. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol Nurs. 2022 Jul-Aug;39(4):209-220. PubMed PMID: 35791853
• Kanter J, Phillips S, Schlenz AM, Mueller M, Dooley M, Sirline L, Nickel R, Brown RC, Hilliard L, Melvin CL, Adams RJ. Transcranial Doppler Screening in a Current Cohort of Children With Sickle Cell Anemia: Results From the DISPLACE Study. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2021 Nov 1;43(8):e1062-e1068. PubMed PMID: 33625093
• Noisette ML, Phillips S, Schlenz AM, Mueller M, Kanter J. Changes in Care Delivery for Children With Sickle Cell Anemia During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2021 Nov 1;43(8):e1231-e1234. PubMed PMID: 33235147
• Phillips SM, Schlenz AM, Mueller M, Melvin CL, Adams RJ, Kanter J. Identified barriers and facilitators to stroke risk screening in children with sickle cell anemia: results from the DISPLACE consortium. Implement Sci Commun. 2021 Aug 10;2(1):87. PubMed PMID: 34376249
• Schlenz AM, Phillips S, Mueller M, Melvin C, Adams RJ, Kanter J. Practice patterns for stroke prevention using transcranial Doppler in sickle cell anemia: DISPLACE Consortium. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020 Apr;67(4):e28172. PubMed PMID: 31925913
• Phillips S, Schlenz AM, Mueller M, Melvin C, Adams RJ, Kanter J. Practice patterns for neuroimaging and transfusion therapy for management of neurologic complications in sickle cell anemia: DISPLACE consortium. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020 Nov;67(11):e28569. PubMed PMID: 32894002
• Maxwell SL, Schlenz AM, Kanter J. Health-related Quality of Life in Children With Sickle Cell Disease Undergoing Chronic Red Cell Transfusion Therapy. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2019 May;41(4):307-312. PubMed PMID: 31026251
• Schlenz AM, Hayes J, Mueller M, Phillips S, Adams RJ, Kanter J. Incomplete implementation of guideline-based stroke prevention therapy in sickle cell disease. Am J Hematol. 2018 Sep;93(9):E222-E224. PubMed PMID: 29905391
• Schatz J, Schlenz AM, Smith KE, Roberts CW. Predictive validity of developmental screening in young children with sickle cell disease: a longitudinal follow-up study. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2018 May;60(5):520-526. PubMed PMID: 29488622
• Schatz J, Schlenz A, Reinman L, Smith K, Roberts CW. Developmental Screening in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: Disease-Related Risk and Screening Outcomes in 4 Year Olds. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2017 Oct;38(8):654-662. PubMed PMID: 28816916
• Schlenz AM, Schatz J, Roberts CW. Examining Biopsychosocial Factors in Relation to Multiple Pain Features in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease. J Pediatr Psychol. 2016 Sep;41(8):930-40. PubMed PMID: 26869665
• Schlenz AM, Boan AD, Lackland DT, Adams RJ, Kanter J. Needs Assessment for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in South Carolina, 2012. Public Health Rep. 2016 Jan-Feb;131(1):108-16. PubMed PMID: 26843676
• Schatz J, Schlenz AM, McClellan CB, Puffer ES, Hardy S, Pfeiffer M, Roberts CW. Changes in coping, pain, and activity after cognitive-behavioral training: a randomized clinical trial for pediatric sickle cell disease using smartphones. Clin J Pain. 2015 Jun;31(6):536-47. PubMed PMID: 25503599
• Smith TP, Schlenz AM, Schatz JC, Maitra R, Sweitzer SM. Modulation of pain in pediatric sickle cell disease: understanding the balance between endothelin mediated vasoconstriction and apelin mediated vasodilation. Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2015 Feb;54(2):155-9. PubMed PMID: 25486928
• Schlenz AM, Carpenter LA, Bradley C, Charles J, Boan A. Age Differences in Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Hospitalizations in Preadolescent and Adolescent Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Aug;45(8):2382-91. PubMed PMID: 25739694
• Schlenz AM, Schatz J, McClellan CB, Sweitzer SM, Roberts CW. Information-seeking coping behaviors during painful procedures in African-American children with sickle cell disease. Pain Manag Nurs. 2013 Sep;14(3):e54-8. PubMed PMID: 23972871
• Schlenz AM, McClellan CB, Mark TR, McKelvy AD, Puffer E, Roberts CW, Sweitzer SM, Schatz JC. Sensitization to acute procedural pain in pediatric sickle cell disease: modulation by painful vaso-occlusive episodes, age, and endothelin-1. J Pain. 2012 Jul;13(7):656-65. PubMed PMID: 22633685
• Schlenz AM, Schatz J, McClellan CB, Roberts CW. Responsiveness of the PedsQL to pain-related changes in health-related quality of life in pediatric sickle cell disease. J Pediatr Psychol. 2012 Aug;37(7):798-807. PubMed PMID: 22467881
• Schlenz, AM, Schatz, J. Implementation of two developmental screening programs in sickle cell disease specialty care. Clin Pract Pediatr Psychol. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpp0000458
• Schlenz, AM, Phillips, S, Mueller, M, Kanter, J. Practice patterns for addressing developmental-behavioral concerns in sickle cell specialty care. Clin Pract Pediatr Psychol. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpp0000461

Professional Memberships

• Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Member
• Society of Pediatric Psychology, Member
• National Alliance for Sickle Cell Centers, Chair, Neurocognitive Workgroup

Practice Locations

Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
13123 East 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-777-1234

Hospital Affiliation

• Children's Hospital Colorado

Specialty Information

Specialties

• Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics