Marilyn Stern

Dr. Marilyn Stern is a Professor in the Department of Child & Family Studies at the University of South Florida (USF), with joint appointments in Psychology, Pediatrics, and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. She holds a primary appointment in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences and leads the I-HOPE Research Lab. Her work focuses on pediatric psychosocial oncology, obesity interventions, and health disparities. Dr. Stern earned her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University at Buffalo and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Dr. Stern's research has been funded by NIH grants totaling over $4 million, including studies on adolescent cancer survivorship, rural Latino health, and mindfulness-based interventions. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and mentored 70+ students. Notable awards include AAAS Fellowship, APA Fellowships, and a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award.

Her research interests span pediatric oncology survivorship, obesity prevention, and culturally adapted interventions. Current projects include NOURISH-T+ (NIH R01) targeting pediatric cancer survivors and ADAPT+ for rural Latino families. Dr. Stern also teaches grant writing and directs the clinical mental health counseling research track at USF.

Key achievements include:

• Over $4M in NIH funding
• 100+ peer-reviewed publications
• Leadership in AYA cancer survivorship care
• Cross-cultural research in Israel, Malaysia, and Latin America
• Development of interventions addressing food insecurity and health disparities

Her work bridges clinical practice with community health, emphasizing family-centered approaches to pediatric health challenges.