Dr. Danielle Petricone-Westwood

Biography

Supervisor: Dr. Linda E. Carlson

My experience in psychosocial oncology began during my undergrad in 2011. My Honours thesis studied couples with one member undergoing a bone marrow transplant for a hematological cancer. I then worked at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre for two years as a research analyst on a randomized control trial for a novel psychotherapy for advanced cancer patients. I completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa where I specialized clinically in health psychology and in trauma-informed care. My doctoral research studied partners of patients with ovarian cancer, where I found that unmet caregiving needs predicted poorer mental health among these caregivers. My thesis noted that cancer care depends tremendously on informal caregivers, but caregivers are under-supported and underserved by cancer institutions. I hoped to continue to study populations who were underserved by cancer care institutions. In collaboration with a team of patient navigators and educators, we developed Interdisciplinary Rounds for Indigenous Patients affected by Cancer, which is the focus on my current post-doctoral research. By facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration, I hope to improve cancer care for these underserved populations both in my research program and clinical practice.

Outside of work, I love music and attending concerts, hiking and exploring the Rocky Mountains, and traveling as much as possible.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

1. Petricone-Westwood, D., Hales, S., Galica, J., Stragapede, E., & Lebel, S. (2020). What do partners of patients with ovarian cancer need from the healthcare system? An examination of caregiving experiences in the healthcare setting and reported distress. Advanced online publication in Supportive Care in Cancer.
    
2. Lebel, S., Mutsaers, B., Tomei, C., Seguin Leclair, C., Jones, G., Petricone-Westwood, D., Rutkowski, N., Ta, V., Trudel, G., Laflamme, S.Z., Lavigne, A.A., & Dinkel, A. (2020). Health anxiety and illness-related fears across diverse chronic illnesses: A systematic review on conceptualization, measurement, prevalence, course, and correlates. PLoS One 15(7): eo234124
    
3. Petricone-Westwood, D., Jones, G., Mutsaers, B., Seguin Leclair, C., Tomei, C., Trudel, G., Dinkel, A., & Lebel, S. (2019). A systematic review of interventions for health anxiety presentations across diverse chronic illnesses. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 26(1), 3-16. doi:10.1007/s12529-018-9748-6
    
4. Jones, G., Seguin Leclair C., Petricone-Westwood, D., Lefebvre, M., Morash, R., Jolicoeur, L., Liska, C., Larocque, G., Lebel, S. (2017). Predictors of attendance to the Wellness Beyond Cancer Survivorship class for low-risk endometrial and breast cancer survivors in transition to primary care. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 24(3), 268-274. doi:10.5737/23688076273268274
    
5. Beattie, S., Lebel, S., Petricone-Westwood, D., Wilson, K., Harris, C., Devins, G., Huebsch, L. & Tay, J. (2016). Balancing give and take between patients and their spousal caregivers in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Psycho-Oncology, 26(12), 2224-2231. doi: 10.1002/pon.4340
    
6. Petricone-Westwood, D. & Lebel, S. (2016). Being a caregiver to patients with ovarian cancer: A scoping review of the literature. Gynecologic Oncology, 143, 184-192. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2016.07.007
    
7. Mutsaers, B., Jones, G., Rutkowski, N., Tomei, C., Seguin Leclair, C., Petricone-Westwood, D., Simard, S., & Lebel, S. (2016). When fear of cancer recurrence becomes a clinical issue: A qualitative analysis of features associated with clinical fear of cancer recurrence. Supportive Care in Cancer, 24(10), 4207-4218. doi:10.1007/s00520-016-3248-5
    
8. Lo, C., Hales, S., Jung, J., Chiu, A., Panday, T., Rydall, A., Nissim, R., Malfitano, C., Petricone-Westwood, D., Zimmermann, C. & Rodin, G. (2014). Managing Cancer And Living Meaningfully (CALM): Phase 2 trial of a brief individual psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer. Palliative Medicine, 28(3), 234-242.
    

Chapter

1. Lebel, S., Seguin Leclair, C., Jones, G., Petricone-Westwood, D., & Tomei, C. (2015). Traiter les maladies chroniques dans le cadre des soins primaires: Le rôle du psychologue. In J. Gosselin, P. Greenman, & M. Joanisse (Eds.), Le développement professionnel en soins primaires au Canada : Nouveaux défis. Montreal, QC: Les Presses de l’Université du Québec.

Invited Non-Refereed Articles

1. Petricone-Westwood, D. (2017). The decriminalization of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: an essential time for dialogue. Landmark Report from the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology. Oncology Exchange, 16(3), 18-19.
    

PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS

1. Petricone-Westwood, D., Galica, J., Hales, S., & Lebel, S. (in press). Bridging the gap between the medical system and informal caregivers: barriers and recommendations for the development of family reported outcomes in cancer care. Current Oncology.
    
2. Petricone-Westwood, D., Hales, S., Galica, J., & Lebel, S. (2019). Using Attachment Theory to investigate distress among partners of ovarian cancer patients and their relationship with the patients’ healthcare providers. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, 1(1S), e151.
    
3. Petricone-Westwood, D., Jones, G., Mutsaers, B., Séguin-Leclair, C., Tomei, C., Imsirovic, F., Dinkel, A., & Lebel, S. (2018). A systematic review on interventions for health anxiety in the context of chronic illness: an update from 2014 to 2017. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 52(Suppl 1): S757.
    
4. Lebel, S., Rutkowski, N., Mutsaers, B., Tomei, C., Petricone-Westwood, D., Séguin-Leclair, C., & Jones, G. (2017). How is health anxiety defined among individuals with a chronic illness: a systematic review. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51(Suppl 1): S2636.
    
5. Jones, G., Ta, V., Tomei, C., Séguin-Leclair, C., Petricone-Westwood, D., Mutsaers, B., & Lebel, S. (2017). Psychological outcomes of health anxiety in chronic illnesses: a systematic review of the literature. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51(Suppl 1): S2093.
    
6. Beattie, S., Lebel, S., Labelle, L., Petricone-Westwood, D, Harris, C., Wilson, K.G., et al. (2016). Patient self-perceived burden and caregiver burden in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a longitudinal study examining gender differences. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplant, 22(3), S183.
    
7. Petricone-Westwood, D., & Lebel, S. (2016). Caregiving for patients with ovarian cancer: a scoping review of the literature. Psycho-Oncology, 25(Suppl. 2), 100.
    
8. Mutsaers, B., Lebel, S., Rutkowski, N., Jones, G., Petricone-Westwood, D., Tomei, C., Séguin Leclair, C. (2016). Investigating the features of clinical fear of cancer recurrence: A qualitative analysis. Psycho-Oncology, 25(Suppl. 2), 136.

Awards

GRANTS                                              

External grants:

2019                    Canadian Psychological Association, Campus Initiative Grant, Student Section, $500

• Awarded for the student mental health literacy club, the 1 in 5 Initiative

Internal grants:

2018                    Murray Brown Fund, University of Ottawa, $3000

• Awarded for the student mental health literacy club, the 1 in 5 Initiative

AWARDS:

External awards:

2020-2021           TRACTION Program, Canadian Institute of Health Research, $2500

2017-2020           Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Scholarship, $105000

2017-2018           Ontario Graduate Scholarship (declined), $15000

2016-2017           Ontario Graduate Scholarship, $15000

Internal awards:

2018                    Research Bursary—Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, $2500

• Awarded to facilitate completion of doctoral thesis study recruitment across different Canadian cities

2017                    Melody Matte Award—School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, $1000

• Awarded for embodying a balanced lifestyle by engaging in extracurricular activities and promoting wellness within the Clinical Psychology Program

2016                    Interdisciplinary Psychosocial Oncology Research Laboratory and Group—Trainee Award, University of Ottawa, $175

• Awarded to present own psychosocial oncology research at an academic conference

2012    First Prize—Student Poster Competition Winner, University of Ottawa’s Women’s Health Research Day, $500