Lyn Balsamo, PhD
Associate Research Scientist in Pediatrics (Hematology / Oncology)DownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Contact Info
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology
333 Cedar Street/LMP 2073, P.O. Box 208064
New Haven, CT 06520
United States
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileAbout
Copy Link
Titles
Associate Research Scientist in Pediatrics (Hematology / Oncology)
Appointments
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology
Associate Research ScientistPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Pediatric Hematology & Oncology
- Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Program
- Pediatric HEROS Survivorship Program
- Pediatric Neuropsychological Program
- Pediatrics
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Medicine
- Yale New Haven Health System
Education & Training
- Fellow
- Yale University School of Medicine (2009)
- Fellow
- Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital (2004)
- Intern
- Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital (2003)
- PhD
- American University (2003)
Research
Copy Link
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Hematology; Mental Health; Neurocognitive Disorders; Pediatrics; Psycho-Oncology; Psychology, Medical
ORCID
0000-0003-3703-2623
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Lyn Balsamo's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Lyn Balsamo's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Lyn Balsamo is interested in exploring.
Rozalyn Levine Rodwin, MD, MHS
Claudia Auerbach, APRN
Xiaomei Ma, PhD
Farzana Pashankar, MD, MRCP, MBBS
Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH
Mary Jane Hogan, MD, MPH, FAAP
31Publications
2,252Citations
Neurocognitive Disorders
Publications
2026
Diminished Quality of Life Despite Reduced Treatment in Children With B‐Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Children's Oncology Group AALL0932
Balsamo L, Kairalla J, Hibbitts E, Rodwin R, Devidas M, Dreyzin A, Winick N, Carroll W, Hunger S, Raetz E, Schore R, Loh M, Ness K, Angiolillo A, Kadan‐Lottick N. Diminished Quality of Life Despite Reduced Treatment in Children With B‐Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Children's Oncology Group AALL0932. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2026, 73: e70029. PMID: 41486974, DOI: 10.1002/1545-5017.70029.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsQuality of lifePediatric QualityEmotional quality of lifeRandomized participantsDiminished qualityDiminished quality of lifeSchool-based servicesPhysical/occupational therapyServices SurveyBehavior Assessment Scale for Children-2Behavioral healthB-lymphoblastic leukemiaChildren-2Emotional functioningBaseline impairmentParent reportALL therapyB-ALLAssociated with impairmentLongitudinal modelSchool servicesTherapyParticipantsImpairmentTherapy end
2025
An Interactive, Structured Telephone Handoff Between a Survivorship Nurse Coordinator and Community Primary Care Provider (PCP) Clinics Is a Feasible and Acceptable Way to Improve Communication About Shared Patients’ Survivorship Care Needs
Kujawski S, Ross W, Santiago‐Rivera Y, Rotatori J, Balsamo L, Gardner J, Auerbach C, Kadan‐Lottick N, Rodwin R. An Interactive, Structured Telephone Handoff Between a Survivorship Nurse Coordinator and Community Primary Care Provider (PCP) Clinics Is a Feasible and Acceptable Way to Improve Communication About Shared Patients’ Survivorship Care Needs. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2025, 73: e70062-e70062. PMID: 41454785, PMCID: PMC13147299, DOI: 10.1002/1545-5017.70062.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPrimary care providersPrimary care provider clinicsSurvivorship care needsNurse coordinatorSurvivorship careCare needsCare providersCommunity primary care providersChildhood cancer survivorsSurvivorship clinicCancer survivorsYears post-treatmentNursesCareSurvivorshipProvidersClinicAcceptable wayNeedsHandoffTelephonePost-treatmentSurvivorsAcceptanceCommunityCaregivers’ Perspectives on Changes in Family Life During B‐ALL Therapy: A Qualitative Study From the Children's Oncology Group
Dreyzin A, Ware M, Stumbras K, Kairalla J, Hibbitts E, Mossman B, Balsamo L, Rodwin R, Ness K, Conley C, Raetz E, Devidas M, Sung L, Loh M, Hunger S, Schore R, Angiolillo A, Kadan‐Lottick N. Caregivers’ Perspectives on Changes in Family Life During B‐ALL Therapy: A Qualitative Study From the Children's Oncology Group. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2025, 72: e32057-e32057. PMID: 40974099, PMCID: PMC12700121, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.32057.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsCaregiver perspectivesChild's diagnosisPositive changesCaregivers of childrenFamily-centered careInductive content analysisMonths post-diagnosisCare needsFamily lifePost-diagnosisCaregiversFamily supportQualitative studyDescriptive statisticsPatient healthPositive family changeNegative changesCommunity supportChildren's Oncology GroupB-acute lymphoblastic leukemiaFamily membersContent analysisDaily routineCareAncillary studies
2024
Patterns of Physical Therapy Referral and Subsequent Attendance Among Childhood Cancer Survivors with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy at a Regional Childhood Cancer Survivorship Clinic
Kang L, Kadan-Lottick N, Rotatori J, Kujawski S, Messerschmidt E, Auerbach C, Balsamo L, Lustberg M, Ma X, Rodwin R. Patterns of Physical Therapy Referral and Subsequent Attendance Among Childhood Cancer Survivors with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy at a Regional Childhood Cancer Survivorship Clinic. Seminars In Oncology Nursing 2024, 40: 151716. PMID: 39164160, DOI: 10.1016/j.soncn.2024.151716.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsChildhood cancer survivorsChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathyCharacteristics of survivorsPhysical therapyPercentage of adultsPT referralSurvivorship clinicCancer survivorsAttended PTPT attendanceNeighborhood characteristicsChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptomsCancer survivorship clinicPhysical therapy referralsHigh school diplomaSurvivor educationCare coordinationOlder survivorsTherapy referralsImprove attendanceMedian percentageCancer diagnosisSchool diplomaPercentage of householdsAttendance
2022
Sense of mastery and attitude towards illness: Examining longitudinal benefits of a medical specialty camp for youth with sickle cell disease
Gillard A, Gagnon R, Pashankar F, Balsamo L, Grafft N, Miranda J, Boruchov D, Neri C, Sprinz P, Longyear C. Sense of mastery and attitude towards illness: Examining longitudinal benefits of a medical specialty camp for youth with sickle cell disease. Clinical Child Psychology And Psychiatry 2022, 28: 1012-1023. PMID: 36503316, DOI: 10.1177/13591045221145425.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and Concepts
2019
Monitoring neurocognitive functioning in childhood cancer survivors: evaluation of CogState computerized assessment and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)
Balsamo LM, Mitchell HR, Ross W, Metayer C, Hardy KK, Kadan-Lottick NS. Monitoring neurocognitive functioning in childhood cancer survivors: evaluation of CogState computerized assessment and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). BMC Psychology 2019, 7: 26. PMID: 31046815, PMCID: PMC6498488, DOI: 10.1186/s40359-019-0302-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBehavior Rating InventoryFull neuropsychological evaluationRating InventoryNeuropsychological evaluationChildhood cancer survivorsGrade-level performanceComprehensive neuropsychological testingCancer survivorsExecutive functionNeurocognitive functioningPsychosocial functioningAcademic difficultiesNeuropsychological testingComputerized assessmentNeurocognitive impairmentNeed of evaluationFunctioningReadingImproving Care for Sickle Cell Pain Crisis Using a Multidisciplinary Approach
Balsamo L, Shabanova V, Carbonella J, Szondy MV, Kalbfeld K, Thomas DA, Santucci K, Grossman M, Pashankar F. Improving Care for Sickle Cell Pain Crisis Using a Multidisciplinary Approach. 2019, 143: e20182218. PMID: 30944154, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-2218.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVaso-occlusive crisisHospital daysReadmission ratesHospital costsSickle cell disease vaso-occlusive crisisMultidisciplinary quality improvement projectSickle cell pain crisisThirty-day readmission ratesDedicated team effortSCD pediatric patientsPatients ages 0Direct hospital costsLength of stayHigh usersStudy-Act methodologyQuality improvement projectMental health providersHigh-use groupPain planPain crisisFrequent hospitalizationsRisk patientsPediatric patientsPreintervention periodEmergency department
2018
Parental perception of child vulnerability in childhood cancer survivors
Hogan M, Ross WL, Balsamo L, Mitchell H, Kadan‐Lottick N. Parental perception of child vulnerability in childhood cancer survivors. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2018, 65: e27364. PMID: 30024087, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27364.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsChildhood cancer survivorsCancer survivorsLate complicationsCancer historyPercent of parentsCurrent health statusCurrent mean ageChild Vulnerability ScalePatient sociodemographicsClinic visitsCohort studySurvivorship clinicPediatric patientsTherapy completionYears posttherapyMean ageMedical recordsLower riskHealth statusComplicationsChild vulnerabilityCancer treatmentSurvivorsTreatment intensityCancer diagnosisLong‐term psychological and educational outcomes for survivors of neuroblastoma: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
Zheng DJ, Krull KR, Chen Y, Diller L, Yasui Y, Leisenring W, Brouwers P, Howell R, Lai J, Balsamo L, Oeffinger KC, Robison LL, Armstrong GT, Kadan‐Lottick N. Long‐term psychological and educational outcomes for survivors of neuroblastoma: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Cancer 2018, 124: 3220-3230. PMID: 29888538, PMCID: PMC6168938, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.31379.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBehavior Problem IndexPsychological impairmentChronic health conditionsNeuroblastoma survivorsElevated riskAdult educational attainmentMultivariate log-binomial modelsMore chronic health conditionsPrevalence of impairmentPsychological functioningHealth conditionsAttention deficitsChildhood cancer survivorsAntisocial behaviorHigh-risk groupAnxiety/depressionEducational attainmentSocial withdrawalLog-binomial modelsNeurotoxic treatmentMedian agePeripheral neuropathyYear survivorsPulmonary diseaseCancer survivors
2017
Longitudinal analysis of quality‐of‐life outcomes in children during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from the Children's Oncology Group AALL0932 trial
Zheng DJ, Lu X, Schore RJ, Balsamo L, Devidas M, Winick NJ, Raetz EA, Loh ML, Carroll WL, Sung L, Hunger SP, Angiolillo AL, Kadan‐Lottick N. Longitudinal analysis of quality‐of‐life outcomes in children during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from the Children's Oncology Group AALL0932 trial. Cancer 2017, 124: 571-579. PMID: 29112230, PMCID: PMC5808870, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.31085.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAverage-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemiaQuality of lifeEmotional impairmentsLife Inventory (PedsQL) Generic CoreHigh-risk patientsProspective cohort studyTime of diagnosisEnd of therapyAcute lymphoblastic leukemiaFamily-based interventionsCohort studyQoL impairmentMean ageLymphoblastic leukemiaQOL outcomesPediatric QualityProportion of individualsEarly screeningPopulation normsImpaired rangeImpairmentMonthsTime pointsFunctioning impairmentImpairment patterns
Clinical Care
Copy Link
Overview
Lyn Balsamo, PhD, specializes in pediatric hematology and oncology, focusing on the psychological aspects of cancer treatment and survivorship in children and adolescents. Her work addresses neurocognitive disorders and psycho-oncology, and she is part of the Pediatric HEROS Survivorship Program, where she helps young cancer survivors navigate the challenges of life after treatment.
Balsamo emphasizes the importance of mental health and resilience in young adults facing cancer. She advises, "Be kind to yourself. Don't judge or evaluate what you feel. There's no right or only way." Her approach includes teaching adaptive coping strategies to improve resilience, encouraging patients to maintain social connections, and following health care recommendations to support mental wellness.
As an associate research scientist in pediatrics (hematology/oncology) at Yale School of Medicine, Balsamo collaborates with experts in neuropsychology and child and adolescent health to develop evidence-based programs that teach stress management and wellness strategies. She advocates for early intervention, helping patients build skills to manage difficulties before they arise.
Balsamo completed her doctorate at American University. She pursued further training as an intern at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital and as a fellow in neuropsychology at Yale School of Medicine.
Clinical Specialties
Pediatrics; Pediatric Hematology & Oncology; Pediatric Neuropsychology; Psychology
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileGet In Touch
Copy Link
Contacts
Email
Academic Office Number
Appointment Number
Clinic Fax Number
Mailing Address
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology
333 Cedar Street/LMP 2073, P.O. Box 208064
New Haven, CT 06520
United States
Locations
Patient Care Locations
Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.