Student Profile: Lillian Hamill
Lillian Hamill’s path to a career in psychology was initiated through her curiosity in understanding people whose mental health was complicated by medical diagnoses. Through her bachelor’s education in psychology from Union College in upstate New York, Lillian initiated her clinical experience as an undergraduate intern at Albany Medical Center’s Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit, as well as through research involving development of a social support training seminar for peers of children with a medical diagnosis.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Lillian moved to Dallas and began her doctoral studies at UT Southwestern. During her first year of doctoral coursework, Lillian was awarded the Cultural Diversity Scholarship, in which she conducted research and clinical training at Children’s Medical Center with Celia Heppner, Psy.D., with medically underserved populations.
Lillian conducted retrospective chart reviews for patients in the Fogelson Plastic Surgery and Craniofacial Center and analyzed whether linguistic and ethnic similarity to one’s environment impacted psychosocial variables, such as parent rated stress based on their child’s needs, perceived social support, active problem solving abilities, and parent and patient-rated quality of life.
After her first year of graduate coursework, Lillian spent her summer at Children’s Medical Center continuing her research and gaining clinical experience in conducting interviews, psychological evaluations, behavior modification therapy, and leading group therapy sessions through various clinics, including the craniofacial and gastroenterology clinics, and the inpatient psychiatric unit. Lillian has also participated in research and helped prepare a manuscript detailing the occurrence of bullying in medically fragile children with Drs. Gabriela Reed, Celia Heppner, Crista Wetherington-Donewar, and Melissa Roop.
In this upcoming year, Lillian will complete her second-year placement at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center and will conduct assessments, crisis interventions/screenings, and therapy with incarcerated youth. Additionally, Lillian will begin seeing individual therapy patients at UT Southwestern Department of Psychology’s Southwest Clinic. Lillian will also continue her research at Children’s Medical Center in various projects.
“In my search for the right program for me, I was really looking for a place that I felt comfortable collaborating with colleagues and where I felt supported in pursuing my research and clinical interests. With the support from the program faculty and students, I have been provided with multiple opportunities in a variety of clinical and research areas with medical centers, community organizations, and with UT Southwestern," Lillian said.
In addition to her research and clinical interests, Lillian serves as Social Chair for Clinical Psychology’s FOCUS group, a student-run organization designed to create collaborative events for students and faculty.
