Julia A. Kearney

Dr. Julia A. Kearney is an Associate Professor and Associate Attending Psychiatrist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York City. She serves as the Clinical Director of the Pediatric Psycho-Oncology Program at MSK, where she specializes in providing psychological support to children with cancer and their families. Dr. Kearney is board certified in Pediatrics, General Psychiatry, and Psychosomatic Medicine.

Dr. Kearney completed her medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, followed by residency training at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, and fellowship training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Kearney's research focuses on the psychological impact of cancer and other serious medical conditions on children and their families. Her work examines childhood medical trauma, the psychiatric aspects of Fanconi anemia, and the development of interventions to manage both physical symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, and pain) and the emotional and cognitive effects of cancer treatment. As part of the Symptom Studies and Pharmacotherapy Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry, she conducts studies aimed at enhancing quality of life and relieving suffering for pediatric cancer patients.

Dr. Kearney has received numerous professional recognitions, including multiple "America's Top Doctor" designations from Castle Connolly (2023-2025) and the "Exceptional Women in Medicine" award (2023-2024). Her clinical expertise spans anxiety, depression, coping difficulties, adjustment disorders, attentional disorders, and other psychological challenges faced by children with cancer and their families.

Dr. Kearney is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, and the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. She has contributed to important clinical guidelines, including the Standards of Psychosocial Care for Parents of Children With Cancer.