Nakisa Asefnia, PhD, is a pediatric clinical psychologist specializing in traumatic stress, resiliency and child and adolescent adjustment to illness and injury. Dr. Asefnia is an active clinical researcher within the Children’s National Research Institute’s Center for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science, where her research focuses on improving adjustment and quality of life among teens and families affected by injury and chronic illness, with a particular emphasis on developing programs that promote adherence and resilience in adolescence. She conducts clinical service in the Rehabilitation and Specialized Care Center at Children's National Bunker Hill. Dr. Asefnia is currently the principal investigator of a 2-year study funded by the American Psychological Association's Society for Pediatric Psychology examining factors related to resiliency, self-efficacy and adherence in adolescents recovering from unintentional injury who were admitted to the hospital.
