Kassandra Perez, MA

Kassandra Perez, MA
PsyD Student

Preferred Pronouns: She/her/ella

Name of Doctoral Project: The Effect of Diabetes Distress on the Relationship between Knowledge and Self-efficacy in Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes 

Date of Defense: March 12, 2024

Kassandra is currently a  Clinical Psychology Doctoral student at Loma Linda University’s School of Behavioral Health. She is originally from Miami, FL she attended Florida International University and graduated with Bachelor's degrees in psychology and Women & Gender Studies, with a minor in Political Science.

She is a bilingual researcher who is involved in Dr. Neece's Lab where she has experience working with young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. She is interested in studying children with disabilities and is excited to center her work around pediatric primary care settings. She plans to do her Doctoral Project on Type 1 Diabetes and Sleep.

Clinical Interests: 

  • Focusing on pediatric and primary care settings
  • Serving Spanish-speaking individuals and underserved communities
  • Providing evidence-based coping strategies for medical conditions in pediatric patients such as chronic pain, diabetes mellitus, sickle cell disease

My Main Research Interests: 

  • Investigating the impact of psychosocial factors on diabetes management, particularly in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
  • Some factors include: distress, self-efficacy, mental health support, and more

List of Clinical Placements (past to current):

Redlands Unified School District

Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic, Loma Linda University Medical Center - Pediatric 

Family Medicine – SAC Health System Clinic 

Pediatrics - SAC Health System Clinic 

Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics Consultation and Liaison Service

List of Publications/Posters: 

Perez, K., De Guzman, A., & Van Dyk, T.R. (2024). Discrimination, Diabetes Severity, and the Role of Mental Health Support in Youth with Diabetes. [Poster Presentation]. American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington, United States. 

Christopherson, E., Logan, J., Perez, K., Birch, A., Meija, R., Betancourt, S., Park, E., Fabro, K., & Morton, K. (2024). Quality Improvement in Primary Care: Suicide Risk Detection and Safety Planning for an Underserved FQHC Patient Population. [Poster Presentation]. Western Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA, United States.  

Perez, K., & Van Dyk, T. R. (2024). The Impact of Diabetes Distress on Diabetes Knowledge and Diabetes Self-Efficacy Among Young Adults Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. [Poster Presentation]. Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.  

De Guzman, A., Perez, K., & Van Dyk, T.R. (2023). Diabetes Distress and Objective Functioning Predict Depression in Young Adults with Diabetes. [Poster Presentation]. Western Psychological Association, Riverside, CA, United States. 

Any awards/Scholarships:

  • EPPP Preparation Scholarship Award for Disadvantaged Students (2023)
  • Health Resources and Services Administration Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students: Primary Care Psychology Pipeline Program T08HP39318-02-00 (January 2020 - May 2024)