Kim Kopenhaver Doheny, PhD, MSN

Dr. Kim Kopenhaver Doheny serves as director of clinical research for the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. Her research interests include clinical and translational approaches for integrating biomarkers and clinical data on stress regulatory systems.

Dr. Doheny also is director of the Newborn Biobehavioral Laboratory, which employs a staff of research technologists trained in techniques of biological and behavioral stress measures, including salivary hormone and buccal DNA sampling, heart rate variability, skin conductance, stress/pain behaviors, the modified Trier Social Stress Test, narrative interviews and health/psychological inventories. Through this, researchers and clinicians from within Penn State, from collaborating academic centers and from industry work together to focus on the genetic, neurological, immunological, gastrointestinal, developmental and psychological perspectives impacting neonatal outcomes during hospitalization and beyond discharge. Research in this laboratory aims to investigate approaches for determining disease risk and targeting prevention strategies to improve the health of infants, including improving interactions with parents and reducing adverse stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

In conjunction with collaborating investigators, each with their unique perspectives and areas of expertise, research teams evaluate novel interventions to achieve these aims.

In addition to her research interests, Dr. Kim Kopenhaver Doheny is a member of the graduate faculty in neuroscience for Penn State College of Medicine. She also teaches the applied biostatistics seminar series in the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship and co-facilitates the Writing Academy for the Department of Nursing.

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner - Neonatal, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, 1989 to present

Board-certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, National Certification Corp., 1989 to present