YACHT
Young adult and Adolescent Competence in Health care and Transitions
Lab
Applicants: Check out our "Day in the Life" page located here!
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Amy C. Lang, Ph.D.
Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (SIUC)
Mission
Mission
The overarching mission of the YACHT Lab is to promote the physical, mental, and emotional well-being and functioning of adolescents and young adults.
The overarching mission of the YACHT Lab is to promote the physical, mental, and emotional well-being and functioning of adolescents and young adults.
Specifically, the YACHT Lab aims to work collaboratively with adolescents, young adults, and their families to understand their lived experiences and co-develop brief psychoeducational interventions aimed to promote their knowledge, skills, and competence in: 1) independently managing their health; and 2) navigating the health care system.
Specifically, the YACHT Lab aims to work collaboratively with adolescents, young adults, and their families to understand their lived experiences and co-develop brief psychoeducational interventions aimed to promote their knowledge, skills, and competence in: 1) independently managing their health; and 2) navigating the health care system.
Amy C. Lang, Ph.D.
Amy C. Lang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor,
School of Psychological & Behavioral Sciences, SIUC
Principal Investigator,
YACHT Lab
The YACHT Lab focuses on pediatric psychology broadly and has applied their research interests and approaches to a range of populations (e.g., college students, pediatric and adult chronic pain, pediatric epilepsy, pediatric sickle cell disease).
The YACHT Lab focuses on pediatric psychology broadly and has applied their research interests and approaches to a range of populations (e.g., college students, pediatric and adult chronic pain, pediatric epilepsy, pediatric sickle cell disease).
Values
Values
The YACHT Lab values...
Scientific Integrity
Open & Honest Communication
Respect for Others
Collegiality
Collaboration
Equity & Inclusion
Diversity of Individuals, Lived Experiences, & Ideas
Cultural Responsiveness
Continual Learning & Growth, both professionally and personally
Research Foci
Research Foci
Pediatric Psychology
Adolescence & Young Adulthood
Health Competence (i.e., health self-efficacy)
Health Care Transition (i.e., the transition from pediatric to adult health care)
Effective & Empowering Communication in the Health Care Setting
Self-Management
Medication & Treatment Adherence
Health-Related Quality of Life
Community-Based Participatory Research Approaches
Recent Lab News
Recent Lab News
February 2026:
Riley McCabe, who is an undergraduate at SIUC pursuing a degree in Physiology on the pre-medicine track, joined the YACHT Lab. Welcome Riley!
January 2026:
Dr. Lang was elected as the doctoral program representative for the Clinical Child and Pediatric Psychology Training Council (CCaPPTC). Congratulations, Dr. Lang!
December 2025:
Dr. Lang and Jessica Hinojosa published a manuscript on health care transfer in the primary care setting in the Health Care Transitions journal. Congratulations, Dr. Lang and Jessica!
November 2025:
November 2025:
Elizabeth Fenelon, Sammy Murad, Hunter Clark, Jessica Hinojosa, Kayla Cooper, and Dr. Lang had their poster abstract accepted for the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference (SPPAC) 2026! Congratulations to the entire team!
October 2025:
October 2025:
Dr. Lang published a commentary in Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology with colleagues from the Society of Pediatric Psychology Chronic Illness Affinity Group, based on the lived experiences of pediatric psychologists and trainees with chronic illness!
The YACHT Lab team members held a social event at Saluki Smash!
Jessica Hinojosa successfully prospected her dissertation. Congratulations, Jessica!
September 2025:
September 2025:
The C-SHE Study officially began data collection with college students at SIUC!
August 2025:
August 2025:
Dr. Lang was part of a panel for a Critical Conversation at the APA Convention in Denver, CO. This panel focused on highlighting the lived experiences of pediatric psychologists and trainees with chronic illness!
Elizabeth Fenelon, MS, started her doctoral training at SIUC in the Clinical Psychology program, which includes a graduate research assistantship in the YACHT Lab. Welcome to SIUC, the Clinical Psychology program, and the YACHT Lab, Elizabeth!
Sammy Murad, BS, started his doctoral training at SIUC in the Clinical Psychology program, which includes a graduate research assistantship in the YACHT Lab. Welcome to SIUC, the Clinical Psychology program, and the YACHT Lab, Sammy!
Michelle Hernandez-Gaytan, who is an undergraduate at SIUC pursuing a degree in Psychology, joined the YACHT Lab. Welcome Michelle!
Elizabeth Fenelon published her first manuscript in the Health Care Transitions journal. Congratulations Elizabeth!
June 2025:
Kayla Cooper, MA, who is a fourth-year SIUC Clinical Psychology doctoral student, joined the YACHT Lab. Welcome Kayla!
The RAY Study officially began recruitment and focus groups with AYAs, caregivers, and health care providers.
May 2025:
Dr. Lang published on the co-development of COVID-19 educational materials for those with sickle cell disease with collaborators at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, through the Journal of Sickle Cell Disease.
Dr. Lang published on recommended language for providers to use when explaining the biopsychosocial mechanisms of headache pain in a non-dismissive manner with collaborators at UW-Milwaukee and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, through the Patient Education & Counseling journal.
April 2025:
Dr. Lang and Jessica Hinojosa presented posters at The Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ!
Jessica Hinojosa presented a poster at SIUC's Annual Creative Activities and Research Presentations!
January 2025:
W Winston Scott, who is an undergraduate at SIUC pursuing a degree in Social Work (BSW), joined the YACHT Lab. Welcome W Winston!
Sophia Suchomski, BS, who is a medical student with the Lincoln Scholars at SIU School of Medicine, joined the YACHT Lab. Welcome Sophia!
November 2024:
Dr. Lang published the findings from her T32 Independent Research Project at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center through the Epilepsy & Behavior journal.
October 2024:
Dr. Lang presented her research at the SIUC College of Health and Human Sciences Research Flash Talks. Her presentation was on Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Competence in Health Care and Transitions.
September 2024:
The YACHT Lab website made its official debut!
Jessica Hinojosa, MS, who is a fourth-year SIUC Clinical Psychology doctoral student, joined the YACHT Lab. Welcome Jessica!
August 2024:
August 2024:
Hunter Clark, MA, started her doctoral training at SIUC in the Clinical Psychology program, which includes a graduate research assistantship in the YACHT Lab. Welcome to SIUC, the Clinical Psychology program, and the YACHT Lab, Hunter!
The YACHT Lab was established!
Dr. Lang started her faculty position at SIUC! https://pvcaa.siu.edu/provost/new-faculty/tenure-faculty-2024.php
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