Jessica Hamilton

Jessica Hamilton, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences under the School of Medicine. She is a licensed psychologist in Kansas and serves as a clinical supervisor in oncology, liver transplantation, and consultation-liaison services.

• Education:
  • BA, Psychology (Park University, 2005)
  • MA, Clinical Psychology (University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2009)
  • PhD, Clinical Health Psychology (University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2013)
  • APA Internship (KUMC, 2013)
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship (University of Kansas Cancer Center, 2014)

Her research focuses on emotion regulation, oncology, and biopsychosocial models, particularly in head and neck cancer patients. She investigates distress, quality of life, and psychological-physical health interrelationships, with recent work on adapting distress screening tools.

Key scientific contributions include studies on:

• Parkinson’s disease and cognitive impairment
• Sleep disturbance in depression
• Multicultural approaches to transplantation
• Social anxiety and stress generation
• Neighborhood crime and adolescent depression

She is a member of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) and American Psychological Association (APA), holding leadership roles in institutional committees. Dr. Hamilton teaches psychological applications in healthcare and supervises students and post-doctoral residents. Her clinical work spans oncology, behavioral medicine, and integrative care.