A photo of Sanita Ley.

Sanita Ley, PhD


  • Pediatric Psychologist, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology
  • Training Director, O'Grady Residency in Psychology
  • Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
I was drawn to pediatric psychology because I wanted to help children and adolescents with acute and chronic medical conditions, along with their families, overcome emotional, behavioral and/or thinking barriers that were keeping them from living the life they want to live.
Sanita Ley, PhD

About

Biography

As a pediatric psychologist, I help children and adolescents with a wide variety of medical conditions by tailoring evidence-based treatments to fit their individual and family situations. Some of my areas of specialty include feeding, pediatric obesity and bariatrics. I also counsel patients who have weight-related medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes and non- alcoholic fatty liver disease.

I was drawn to pediatric psychology because I wanted to help children and adolescents with acute and chronic medical conditions, along with their families, overcome emotional, behavioral and/or thinking barriers that were keeping them from living the life they want to live.

In addition to helping patients, I also do research that focuses on improving outcomes for children and adolescents with obesity.

In my free time, I like to read, run, travel, and spend time with family and friends.

PhD: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 2016.

Residency: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2016.

Fellowship: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2018.

Interests

Adjustment and coping with medical illness; pediatric obesity; pediatric feeding concerns; anxiety; depression; adherence concerns

Services and Specialties

Behavioral Medicine, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology

Interests

Pediatric obesity

Research Areas

Clinical Psychology

Insurance Information

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Publications

Health markers, depressive symptoms, and community deprivation in a type 2 diabetes multidisciplinary care clinic for youth. Bejarano, CM; Ley, S; Krishnan, N; Orkin, S; Crimmins, NA; Schaaf, L; Shah, AS. Clinical Diabetes and Endocrinology. 2024; 10:21.

Development and Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Clinic Focused on the Care of Adolescents with Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes. Schaaf, L; Ley, S; Riegler, A; Poetker, A; Xanthakos, S; Sizemore, J; Crimmins, N; Helmrath, M; Tracy, R; Arce-Clachar, AC; Crail, J; Morwessel, N; Frenck, K; Tariq, F; Shah, AS. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 2023; 16:2799-2807.

Weight change predicts college adjustment and depressive symptoms among first-year college students. Garr, K; Odar Stough, C; Godfrey, LM; Ley, SL. Journal of American college health : J of ACH. 2023; 71:1651-1657.

Trajectories of Psychopathology and Dysregulation 2-4 Years following Adolescent Bariatric Surgery. Bejarano, CM; Gowey, M; Reiter-Purtill, J; Ley, S; Mitchell, JE; Zeller, MH. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2023; 48:479-489.

Nutrition interventions for youth with dyslipidemia: a National Lipid Association clinical perspective. Williams, L; Baker-Smith, CM; Bolick, J; Carter, J; Kirkpatrick, C; Ley, SL; Peterson, AL; Shah, AS; Sikand, G; Ware, AL; Wilson, DP. Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 2022; 16:776-796.

Mycophenolate mofetil use is associated with reduced incidence of food allergy in liver transplanted children. Ley, SL; Kidwell, KM; Van Dyk, TR; Orkin, S; Odar Stough, C; Howarth, T; Goetz, AR; Xanthakos, SA; Bramlage, K; Mouzaki, M; Arce-Clachar, AC; Zeller, MH. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2022; 75:138-144.

Insight Into the Adolescent Patient Experience With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Ley, SL; Kidwell, KM; Van Dyk, TR; Orkin, S; Odar Stough, C; Howarth, T; Goetz, AR; Xanthakos, SA; Bramlage, K; Mouzaki, M; Arce-Clachar, AC; Zeller, MH. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2022; 75:88-96.

Insight Into the Adolescent Patient Experience With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Ley, SL; Kidwell, KM; Van Dyk, TR; Orkin, S; Stough, CO; Howarth, T; Goetz, AR; Xanthakos, SA; Bramlage, K; Mouzaki, M; Arce-Clachar, AC; Zeller, MH. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2022; 75:88-96.

Health-Related Social Needs Facing Youth with NonAlcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Orkin, S; Yodoshi, T; Sun, Q; Fei, L; Meryum, S; Ley, S; Arce-Clachar, AC; Bramlage, K; Xanthakos, S; Kahn, R; Beck, AF; Mouzaki, M. 2022; 3:e153.

Unhealthy Eating, Psychopathology, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Youth Presenting for Bariatric Surgery. Ley, SL; Zeller, MH; Reiter-Purtill, J; Kleiner, DE; Dixon, J; Xanthakos, S. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2021; 73:670-676.

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4.6
Overall Patient Rating