Dr. O’Donnell joined the faculty in 2022. Her research interests include 1) psychological impact of screening for type 1 diabetes (genetic risk and autoantibodies); 2) psychological aspects of living with type 1 diabetes (e.g., fear of hypoglycemia, diabetes distress, burnout); and 3) screening for psychological barriers to adherence and integration into clinical care. She is a member of the Psychosocial Committees for TEDDY and TrialNet, and serves as the consulting psychologist for ASK and ASK the Experts at the Barbara Davis Center. She is the PI of a pilot grant examining the psychological experience of children in ASK (e.g., anxiety about developing T1D) as well as predictors of engagement and retention in the monitoring program. She is co-I for two muti-site R01s testing treatments for psychological barriers to adherence (i.e., fear of hypoglycemia, diabetes burnout). Clinically, she enjoys working with patients of all ages and their families to address psychological aspects of living with type 1 diabetes and improve quality of life. Dr. O’Donnell trained as a pediatric psychologist and completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric type 1 diabetes.
Areas of Expertise
Psychology:
- Mental Health and Behavior
- Stress Management
- Child and Teen Health - Juvenile Diabetes
- Child and Teen Health
Education, Licensure & Certifications
Graduate Schools :
- PhD, University of Colorado Denver (2020)
- MA, University of Colorado Denver (2016)
Undergraduate School:
- BA, Middlebury College (VT) (2012)
Internship:
- Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School Program (2020)
Fellowships:
- University of Colorado, Psychology (2022)
Publications and Presentations
- O'Donnell HK, Bennett Johnson S, Sileo D, Majidi S, Gonder-Frederick L, Driscoll KA. Psychometric Properties of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes and Their Caregivers. J Pediatr Psychol. 2022 Feb 14;47(2):195-205. PubMed PMID: 34718681
- O'Donnell HK, Vigers T, Johnson SB, Pyle L, Gonder-Fredrick L, Hendrieckx C, Driscoll KA. Bring Blood Glucose Down! An intervention to reduce fear of hypoglycemia in caregivers of adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Study design and participant characteristics. Contemp Clin Trials. 2022 Jul;118:106792. PubMed PMID: 35589025
- O'Donnell HK, Vigers T, Johnson SB, Pyle L, Gonder-Fredrick L, Hendrieckx C, Driscoll KA. Bring Blood Glucose Down! An intervention to reduce fear of hypoglycemia in caregivers of adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Study design and participant characteristics. Contemp Clin Trials. 2022 Jul;118:106792. PubMed PMID: 35589025
- O'Donnell HK, Bennett Johnson S, Sileo D, Majidi S, Gonder-Frederick L, Driscoll KA. Psychometric Properties of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes and Their Caregivers. J Pediatr Psychol. 2022 Feb 14;47(2):195-205. PubMed PMID: 34718681
- Trojanowski P, O’Donnell HK, Vigers T, Alonso GT, Majidi S, Pyle L, Snell-Bergeon JK, Wadwa RP, & Driscoll KA. Body Mass Index Moderates the Association between Diabetes Distress and Objective Self-Management Behaviors in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes. 2022 June 01; 71(Supplement_1):571-P
- Mannis H, O’Donnell HK, Alonso GT, Majidi S, Snell-Bergeon JK, Wadwa RP, & Driscoll KA. Relationship between Parental Fear of Hypoglycemia and Diabetes Conflict in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes. 2022 June 01; 71(Supplement_1):1017-P
- Shaffer ER, O’Donnell HK, Alonso GT, Majidi S, Snell-Bergeon JK, Wadwa RP, & Driscoll KA. Diabetes Responsibility Moderates Relationship between Fear of Hypoglycemia and A1C in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes. 2022 June 01; 71(Supplement_1):596-P
- O’Donnell HK, Himelhoch AC, Vigers TB, Alonso GT, Majidi S, Pyle L, Snell-Bergeon JK, Wadwa RP, & Driscoll KA. Self-Management Behaviors Mediate the Relationship between Diabetes Burden in Caregivers and A1C. 2022 June 01; 71(Supplement_1):605-P
- Boranian E, Vigers T., O'Donnell H, Berget C, Messer L, Pyle L, Wadwa P & Forenza G. A novel 3-D model of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Metrics with HbA1c in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes. Poster session presented at: The International Conference on Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes; 2002 Apr 27-30; Barcelona, Spain.
- Shaffer ER, O'Donnell HK, Green M, & Driscoll KA. Examining Fear of Hypoglycemia in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes and their Female Caregivers. Poster session presented at: Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference; 2022 Apr 7-9; Phoenix, Arizona.
- Himelhoch AC, O'Donnell HK, Wetter SE, & Driscoll KA. The Impact of Sex Differences on Family Factors and Quality of Life in High-Risk Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. Poster session presented at: Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference; 2022 Apr 7-9; Phoenix, Arizona.
- Pardon AB, O'Donnell HK, Reynolds CM, Shaffer ER & Driscoll, KA. Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Fear of Hypoglycemia in Mothers of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. Poster session presented at: Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference; 2022 Apr 7-9; Phoenix, Arizona.
- Gissen M, Shaffer ER, Driscoll KA, & O'Donnell HK. Stigma as a Barrier to T1D Management in Adolescents with T1D. Poster session presented at: Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference; 2022 Apr 7-9; Phoenix, Arizona.
- O'Donnell HK, Vigers T, Johnson SB, Pyle L, Wright N, Deeb LC, Driscoll KA. Pump It Up! A randomized clinical trial to optimize insulin pump self-management behaviors in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Contemp Clin Trials. 2021 Mar;102:106279. PubMed PMID: 33440262
- Majidi S, O'Donnell HK, Stanek K, Youngkin E, Gomer T, Driscoll KA. Suicide Risk Assessment in Youth and Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2020 Feb;43(2):343-348. PubMed PMID: 31822488
- O'Donnell HK, Berget C, Wooldridge JS, Driscoll KA. Graduated exposure to treat fear of hypoglycemia in a young adult with type 1 diabetes: A case study. Pediatr Diabetes. 2019 Feb;20(1):113-118. PubMed PMID: 30370639
