Background

Matthew Hocking, PhD, is a pediatric psychologist in the Cancer Center and the Center for Childhood Cancer Research. Dr. Hocking provides consultation and intervention services to youth and families treated in the Cancer Center with a focus on those receiving care within the Neuro-Oncology Program.

Dr. Hocking’s Research Program bridges the fields of neuropsychology, developmental, pediatric and family psychology and examines risk and resilience factors associated with the neurodevelopmental outcomes of youth diagnosed with brain tumors, solid tumors and neurofibromatosis. Primary neurodevelopmental outcomes of interest include neurocognitive and social functioning. Dr. Hocking also is involved in developing and testing interventions to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes of survivors. The ultimate goal of his research is to enhance the functional outcomes and overall quality of life for survivors and their families.

Dr. Hocking is invested in training future researchers and clinicians in pediatric psychology and neuro-oncology. He is involved in the mentorship and training of graduate students in clinical child and pediatric psychology and physician scientists.

Education and Training

Residency

Predoctoral Internship in Pediatric Psychology - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

 

Fellowship

Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Graduate Degree

PhD in Psychology - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
MA in Clinical Psychology - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Titles and Academic Titles

Psychologist

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology in Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Departments and Services

Publications

Papers

2021

Al Ghriwati, N.; Albee, M.; Brodsky, C.; Hocking, M.C.: Patterns of family relationships in pediatric oncology: implications for children's adjustment upon treatment completion. Supportive Care in Cancer Online ahead of print, 2021.

Al Ghriwati, N.; Stevens, E.; Velazquez-Martin, B.; Hocking, M.C.; Schwartz, L.A.; Barakat, L.P.: Family Factors and Health-related Quality of Life within Six Months of Completion of Childhood Cancer Treatment. Psycho-Oncology 30(3), 2021.

Hocking, M.C., Schultz, R.T., Minturn, J.E., Brodsky, C., Albee, M., Herrington, J.D.: Reduced fusiform gyrus activation during face processing in pediatric brain tumor survivors. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society In press, 2021.

Hocking, M.C.; Albee, M.; Brodsky, C.; Shabason, E.; Wang, L.; Schultz, R.T.; Herrington, J.: Face Processing and Social Functioning in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors. Journal of Pediatric Psychology In Press, 2021.

2020

Hocking, M.C.; Noll, R.B.; Kazak, A.E.; Brodsky, C.; Phillips, P.; Barakat, L.B.: Friendships in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors and Non-Central Nervous System Tumor Survivors. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 45(2): 194-202, 2020.

Hocking, M.C.; Parish-Morris, J.; Schultz, R.T.; Minturn, J.E.; Brodsky, C.; Shabason, E.K.; Herrington, J.D.: Diminished Social Attention in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors: Using Eye Tracking Technology During Naturalistic Social Perception. Neuropsychology 34(3): 350-358, 2020.

2019

Hocking, M.C.; Paltin, I.; Quast, L.F.; Barakat, L.P.: Acceptability and feasibility in a pilot randomized clinical trial of computerized working memory training and parental problem-solving training with pediatric brain tumor survivors. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 44(6): 669-678, 2019.

Schulte, F.; Kunin-Batson, A.S.; Olson-Bullis, B.A.; Banerjee, P.; Hocking, M.C.; Janzen, L.; Kahalley, L.S.; Wroot, H.; Forbes, C.; Krull, K.R.: Social Attainment in Survivors of Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis from the Children's Oncology Group. Journal of Cancer Survivorship 13(6): 921-931, 2019.

Shabason, E.K.; Brodsky, C.; Baran, J.; Isaac, L.; Minturn, J.E.; Ginsberg, J.P.; Hobbie, W.; Fisher, M.; Blum, N.; Hocking, M.C.: Clinical diagnosis of attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder in survivors of pediatric brain tumors. Journal of Neuro-Oncology 143(2): 305-312, 2019 Notes: 10.1007/s11060-019-03165-4.

2018

Hocking, M.C., Hobbie, W., Fisher, M.J.: Development of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Rating of Treatment Intensity. Journal of Neuro-Oncology 136(1): 73-78, Jan 2018 Notes: DOI: 10.1007/s11060-017-2618-2.

Quast, L.F, Phillips, P.C., Li, Y., Kazak, A.E., Barakat, L.P., Hocking, M.C.: A prospective study of family predictors of health-related quality of life in pediatric brain tumor survivors. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 65(6): e26976, June 2018 Notes: doi: 10.1002/pbc.26976Online only.

Devine, K.A., Willard, V.W., Hocking, M.C., Stapleton, J.L., Rotter, D., Bukowski, W.M., Noll, R.B.: PROMIS Peer Relationships Short-Form: How well does self-report correlate with data from peers? Journal of Pediatric Psychology 43(9): 1059-1067, 2018 Notes: doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsy038.

Hocking, M.C., Paltin, I., Belasco, C., Barakat, L.P.: Parent perspectives on the educational barriers and unmet needs of children with cancer. Children's Health Care 47(3): 261-274, 2018 Notes: doi: 10.1080/02739615.2017.1337516.

2017

Pierce, L., Hocking, M.C., Schwartz, L.A., Alderfer, M.A., Kazak, A.E., Barakat, L.P.: Caregiver distress and patient health-related quality of life: Psychosocial screening during pediatric cancer treatment. Psycho-Oncology 26(10): 1555-1561, Oct 2017 Notes: doi: 10.1002/pon.4171.

Hocking, M.C., Quast, L.F., Brodsky, C., Deatrick, J.A.: Caregiver Perspectives on the Social Competence of Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors: A Mixed-Methods Study. Supportive Care in Cancer 25(12): 3749-3757, Dec 2017 Notes: doi: 10.1007/s00520-017-3805-6.

2016

Quast, L.F., Turner, E.M., McCurdy, M.D., Hocking, M.C.: Health-related quality of life in parents of pediatric brain tumor survivors at the end of tumor-directed therapy. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology 34(4): 274-290, Jul-Aug 2016 Notes: doi: 10.1080/07347332.2016.

McCurdy, M.D. Turner, E.M., Barakat, L.P., Hobbie, W.L., Deatrick, J.A., Paltin, I., Fisher, M.J., Hocking, M.C.: Discrepancies among Measures of Executive Functioning in a Subsample of Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumor: Associations with Treatment Intensity. The Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society 22(9): 900-910, Oct 2016.

2015

Hocking, M.C., Hobbie, W.L., Deatrick, J.A., Hardie, T.L., Barakat, L.P.: Family functioning mediates the association between neurocognitive functioning and health-related quality of life in young adult survivors of childhood brain tumors.  Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 4: 18-25, 2015.

2014

Doshi, K., Kazak, A.E., Hocking, M.C., DeRosa, B.W., Schwartz, L.A., Hobbie, W.L., Ginsberg, J.P., Deatrick, J.A.: Why mothers accompany adolescent and young adult childhood cancer survivors to follow-up clinic visits.  Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 31:51-57, 2014.

Hocking, M.C., Kazak, A.E., Schneider, S., Barkman, D., Barakat, L., Deatrick, J.A.: Parent perspectives on family-based psychosocial interventions in pediatric cancer: a mixed-methods approach.  Supportive Care in Cancer, 22:1287-1294, 2014.

2013

Hocking, M.C., Schwartz, L.A., Hobbie, W.L., DeRosa, B.W., Ittenbach, R.F., Mao, J.J., Ginsberg, J.P., Kazak, A.E.:  Prospectively examining physical activity in young adult survivors of childhood cancer and healthy controls.  Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 60:309-315, 2013.

Books

Chapters

2022

Shabason, E.K.; Albee, M.; Hocking, M.C.: Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors: Developmental and Behavioral Considerations. Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, 5th Edition 2022.

2014

Daniel, L.C., Hocking, M.C., Barakat, L.P.:  Cancer.  In Roberts, M.C., Aylward, B.S., Wu, Y.P. (Eds.), Clinical Practice of Pediatric Psychology: Cases and Service Delivery. Guilford Publications, New York, NY, 2014, pp. 257-267.

2012

Barakat, L.P., Hocking, M.C., Kazak, A.E.: Child Health Psychology.  In Nezu, A.M., Nezu, C.M., Geller, P.A. (Eds.), Handbook of Psychology, Volume 9: Health Psychology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 2012, pp. 413-436.

2. Hocking, M.C., Alderfer, M.A.: Neuropsychological Sequelae of Childhood Cancer. In Kreitler, S., Ben Arush, M.W., Martin, A. (Eds.), Pediatric Psycho-Oncology: Psychosocial Aspects and Clinical Interventions, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Chichester, West Sussex, 2012, pp. 177-186.

Posters and Presentations

2022

Hocking, M.C.; Albee, M.; Kim, M.; Berman, J.; Fisher, M.J.; Roberts, T.; Blaskey, L.: Social Impairments, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and ADHD in Youth with Neurofibromatosis Type I. Poster Presentation at the 2022 NF Conference, Children's Tumor Foundation, Philadelphia, PA. 2022.

2020

Al Ghriwati, N; Albee, M.;, Hocking, M.C.: Patterns of Family Relationships in Pediatric Oncology: Implications for Children's Adjustment during the Transition off Treatment. Poster Presentation at the 2020 American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Virtual Conference August 2020.

Patton M.; Schulte, F; Kunin-Batson, A.; Olson-Bullis, B.; Forbes, C.; Russell, K.B.; Neville, A.; Alberts N.; Heathcote, L.; Karlson, C.; Banerjee, P.; Racine, N.; Charnock, C.; Hocking, M.; Noel, M; Krull, K.R.: Pain in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Systematic Review from the Children's Oncology Group  Poster Presentation at the 2021 International Association of the Study of Pain World Congress, Virtual Conference August 2020.

Invited Lectures

2022

Hocking MC. "Delayed Maturity in Auditory Cortical Response Latency and White Matter in Youth with Neurofibromatosis Type 1," Advancing mechanistic understanding of mental health and cognition in NF1 using brain imaging symposium, Children's Tumor Foundation 2022 NF Conference, Philadelphia, PA. June 2022.

2021

Hocking MC. "Identifying Targets for Social Interventions in Pediatric Brain Tumor and Neurofibromatosis Type 1," Behavioral and Community Health Seminar, Children's, Center for Translational Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC. Dec 2021.

Hocking MC. "Reformulating the Social Difficulties of Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors," Pediatrics Grand Rounds, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Jan 2021.

2020

Hocking MC. "Social Competence in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors: A Reformulation", Barbara J. Anderson Lecture in Pediatric Behavioral Health, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Texas. Nov 2020.

Hocking MC. "Social Difficulties in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors". Webinar for the Virtual Childhood Cancer Lecture Series for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. June 2020.

Hocking MC. "Identifying targets for social interventions in NF1," Children's Tumor Foundation Australia Annual Symposium, Sydney, Australia. Mar 2020.

Hocking MC. "Social and cognitive predictors of social dysfunction in NF1,"Murdoch Children's Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Mar 2020.

Hocking MC. "Social Functioning in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors," Pediatrics Grand Rounds, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. - Event cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Mar 2020.

Hocking MC. "Social Competence in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors: A Reformulation", Psychology Grand Rounds, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Texas. -Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Mar 2020.

Hocking MC. "A Career in Behavioral Oncology Research: Addressing the Consequences of Childhood Cancer." Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania. Mar 2020.

Awards and Honors

2011-2015, NIH Pediatric Loan Repayment Program

2008, Society of Pediatric Psychology Student Travel Award

2007, American Psychological Foundation Elizabeth Munsterberg Koppitz Travel Stipend

2007-2008, Graduate Council Research & Creative Activity Fellowship, Graduate School, University of Alabama

2006, American Psychological Foundation/Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology Graduate Research Scholarship

2006, Oliver Lacey-Norman Ellis Research Award, Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama

2006, Rosencrans Graduate Student Research Award, Alabama Psychological Association

2006-2008, Psychology Department Research & Travel Award, University of Alabama

2004, Graduate Student Research & Travel Support Award, Graduate School, University of Alabama

2001, Phi Beta Kappa

2001, University of North Carolina – B.A. Graduate with highest honors

1998, Golden Key National Honor Society

1998, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Editorial and Academic Positions

Editorial Positions

2022-present, Editorial Board Member, Journal of Pediatric Psychology

2017-present, Editorial Board Member - Psychological Services

Ad-hoc reviewer

2017-present, Cancer

2017-present, Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology

2017-present, Rehabilitation Psychology

2016-present, Journal of International Neuropsychological Society

2016-present, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology

2013-present, European Journal of Cancer Care

2013-present, Clinical Psychology Review

2013-present, Anxiety, Stress & Coping

2012-present, Journal of Clinical Oncology

2011-present, Psycho-Oncology

2011-present, Pediatrics

2011-present, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

2011-present, Health Psychology

2010-present, Stress and Health

2010-present, Pediatric Blood & Cancer

2008-present, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

2006-present, Journal of Pediatric Psychology

2006-present, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Academic and Institutional Committees

2021-present, Member and Pillar Leader, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science Center for Family Care workgroup

2018-present, K-Club Steering Committee, Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

2018-present, Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium Quality of Life Working Group

2018-present, Health and Behavior Research Affinity Group Scientific Review Committee

2016-present, Pediatric Protocol Review Committee, Division of Oncology

2016-present, Children's Oncology Group Long Term Follow-Up Guidelines Neurocognitive Task Force

2014-present, Digital Evaluation Committee, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

2014-present, Psychosocial Grants Program, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, co-chair

2013-present, Caregiver Workgroup Committee, Division of Oncology

2013-present, Behavioral Health Research Affinity Group

2012-present, Training Advisory Committee, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Leadership and Memberships

Memberships in Professional Organizations

International

2019-present, Response Evaluation in Neurofibromatosis and Schwannomatosis International Collaboration
2014-present, Children's Oncology Group
 - 2016-present, Long Term Follow Up Guidelines Neurocognitive Task Force
 - 2014-present, Behavioral Science Committee

National

2005-present, Society of Pediatric Psychology
 - 2013-present, Hematology/Oncology Special Interest Group
 - 2013-present, Conference Abstracts & Student Awards, reviewer
 - 2010-present, Mentor for Division 54 Mentoring Program
2004-present, The American Psychological Association
 - 2021-2023, Review Committee for Targeted Research Grant
 - 2013-present, Reviewer, Conference Abstracts & Student Awards
 - 2020-2022, Co-Chair, Hematology/Oncology/BMT Special Interest Group
 - 2013-present, Hematology/Oncology/BMT Special Interest Group
 - 2010-present, Mentor for Division 54 Mentoring Program
 - 2055-present, Society of Pediatric Psychology (Division 54 of APA)