BIOGRAPHY

Sara King received her B.Sc. (Hons.) in Psychology/Neuroscience from Queen's University in 2000 and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Dalhousie University in 2007. Under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Waschbusch, Sara's PhD research investigated the effects of Ritalin on social information processing and aggressive behaviour in school-age children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While completing her predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at Bloorview Kids Rehab in Toronto, Sara became interested in peer relations and social competence in children with chronic illness and special needs. Under the supervision of psychologist Dr. Christine Chambers at the IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie University, Sara's postdoctoral research will use current models of social information processing to examine social competence and peer relationships in children with chronic illnesses. Additionally, Sara will be supervising student projects examining the perceptions of typical children towards children with chronic illness. It is hoped that this line of research will inform the literature about the social skills of children with chronic illness and special needs and aid in developing education programs leading to increased knowledge and integration in schools. In addition to funding from CCHCSP, Sara's research has been funded by grants from the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation and the IWK Health Centre. In addition to her research, Sara also works part-time as a registered psychologist on the Complex Learning Disorders Service at the IWK Health Centre, where she is able to integrate her research and clinical interests.