Scholars@Duke

• Background
• 

  Education, Training, & Certifications

  • M.A., The University of Maine, Orono 2005
  • Ph.D., The University of Maine, Orono 2005
  • B.A., Middlebury College 2000
• 

  Previous Appointments & Affiliations

  • Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2017 - 2020
  • Assistant Consulting Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Science Departments 2007 - 2010
  • Clinical Associate in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychiatry, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2005 - 2006
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  Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke

  • Licensed Psychologist, Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
• Recognition
• 

  Awards & Honors

  • Vital Few Award for Clinical Excellence. Employer, CRC HealthGroup. June 2012
• Expertise
• 

  Subject Headings

  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Chronic Illness
  • Eating disorders
  • Obesity
• Publications & Artistic Works
• 

  Selected Publications

  • Academic Articles

    • Somers, Tamara J., James A. Blumenthal, Farshid Guilak, Virginia B. Kraus, Daniel O. Schmitt, Michael A. Babyak, Linda W. Craighead, et al. “Pain coping skills training and lifestyle behavioral weight management in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled study.” Pain 153, no. 6 (June 2012): 1199–1209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2012.02.023.
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    • Pells, J. J., A. L. Stout, M. M. Rodriguez-Diaz, C. A. Quigley, and G. J. Musante. “Brief intensive lifestyle intervention leads to rapid diabetes improvements.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine 6, no. 2 (March 1, 2012): 178–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827611405281.
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    • Pells, J. J., A. L. Stout, and G. J. Musante. “Expanding stepped-care for obesity: Overview and evaluation of an intensive treatment program for adults.” Obesity and Weight Management 6, no. 3 (June 1, 2010): 146–51. https://doi.org/10.1089/obe.2010.0311.
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    • Nebel, Mary Beth, Ershela L. Sims, Francis J. Keefe, Virginia B. Kraus, Farshid Guilak, David S. Caldwell, Jennifer J. Pells, Robin Queen, and Daniel Schmitt. “The relationship of self-reported pain and functional impairment to gait mechanics in overweight and obese persons with knee osteoarthritis.” Arch Phys Med Rehabil 90, no. 11 (November 2009): 1874–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2009.07.010.
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    • Somers, Tamara J., Francis J. Keefe, Jennifer J. Pells, Kim E. Dixon, Sandra J. Waters, Paul A. Riordan, James A. Blumenthal, et al. “Pain catastrophizing and pain-related fear in osteoarthritis patients: relationships to pain and disability.” J Pain Symptom Manage 37, no. 5 (May 2009): 863–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.05.009.
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    • Shelby, Rebecca A., Tamara J. Somers, Francis J. Keefe, Jennifer J. Pells, Kim E. Dixon, and James A. Blumenthal. “Domain specific self-efficacy mediates the impact of pain catastrophizing on pain and disability in overweight and obese osteoarthritis patients.” J Pain 9, no. 10 (October 2008): 912–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2008.05.008.
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    • Pells, Jennifer J., Rebecca A. Shelby, Francis J. Keefe, Kim E. Dixon, James A. Blumenthal, Lara LaCaille, Jessica M. Tucker, Daniel Schmitt, David S. Caldwell, and Virginia B. Kraus. “Arthritis self-efficacy and self-efficacy for resisting eating: relationships to pain, disability, and eating behavior in overweight and obese individuals with osteoarthritic knee pain.” Pain 136, no. 3 (June 2008): 340–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2007.07.012.
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    • Presnell, Katherine, Jennifer Pells, Anna Stout, and Gerard Musante. “Sex differences in the relation of weight loss self-efficacy, binge eating, and depressive symptoms to weight loss success in a residential obesity treatment program.” Eat Behav 9, no. 2 (April 2008): 170–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2007.07.005.
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    • Somers, T. J., F. J. Keefe, J. W. Carson, J. J. Pells, and L. Lacaille. “Pain catastrophizing in borderline morbidly obese and morbidly obese individuals with osteoarthritic knee pain.” Pain Res Manag 13, no. 5 (2008): 401–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2008/652453.
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    • Sigmon, Sandra T., Jennifer J. Pells, Teresa M. Edenfield, Barbara A. Hermann, Janell G. Schartel, Stephanie M. Lamattina, and Nina E. Boulard. “Are we there yet? A review of gender comparisons in three behavioral journals through the 20th century.” Behav Ther 38, no. 4 (December 2007): 333–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2006.10.003.
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    • Sigmon, S. T., S. Whitcomb-Smith, N. E. Boulard, J. J. Pells, B. A. Hermann, T. M. Edenfield, S. M. LaMattina, and J. G. Schartel. “Seasonal reactivity: Attentional bias and psychophysiological arousal in seasonal and nonseasonal depression.” Cognitive Therapy and Research 31, no. 5 (October 1, 2007): 619–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-006-9029-6.
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    • Pells, Jennifer, Christopher L. Edwards, Camela S. McDougald, Mary Wood, Crystal Barksdale, Jude Jonassaint, Brittani Leach-Beale, et al. “Fear of movement (kinesiophobia), pain, and psychopathology in patients with sickle cell disease.” Clin J Pain 23, no. 8 (October 2007): 707–13. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e31814da3eb.
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    • Sigmon, Sandra T., Jennifer J. Pells, Janell G. Schartel, Barbara A. Hermann, Teresa M. Edenfield, Stephanie M. LaMattina, Nina E. Boulard, and Stacy R. Whitcomb-Smith. “Stress reactivity and coping in seasonal and nonseasonal depression.” Behav Res Ther 45, no. 5 (May 2007): 965–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2006.07.016.
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    • Pells, Jennifer J., Katherine E. Presnell, Christopher L. Edwards, Mary Wood, Myleme O. Harrison, Laura DeCastro, Stephanie Johnson, et al. “Moderate chronic pain, weight and dietary intake in African-American adult patients with sickle cell disease.” J Natl Med Assoc 97, no. 12 (December 2005): 1622–29.
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    • Sigmon, S. T., J. J. Pells, N. E. Boulard, S. Whitcomb-Smith, T. M. Edenfield, B. A. Hermann, S. M. Lamattina, J. G. Schartel, and E. Kubik. “Gender differences in self-reports of depression: The response bias hypothesis revisited.” Sex Roles 53, no. 5–6 (September 1, 2005): 401–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-6762-3.
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  • Conference Papers

    • Quigley, Chandra, Nancy Freeman, Janice Mills, Jennifer Pells, and Anna Stout. “Changes and Correlations with PreDx (R) Diabetes Risk Score Following Brief Residential Behavioral Weight Loss.” In Diabetes, 60:A225–A225. AMER DIABETES ASSOC, 2011.
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    • Quigley, Chandra, Jennifer Pells, and Gerard Musante. “BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION FOR ALL: IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH BMI >= 50 SEEKING BEHAVIORAL WEIGHT LOSS.” In Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 41:S26–S26. SPRINGER, 2011.
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    • Pells, Jennifer, Anna Stout, Michelle Rodriguez-Diaz, and Gerard Musante. “Rapid Improvements in Hemoglobin A1c and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors During Intensive Lifestyle Intervention among Individuals with Obesity and Type II Diabetes.” In Obesity, 17:S280–S280. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2009.
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    • Pells, Jennifer, Michelle Rodriguez-Diaz, Anna Stout, and Gerard Musante. “Response to Weight Loss Treatment among Severe Binge Eaters who Are Morbidly Obese: Implications for an Integrative, Intensive, Residential Treatment Model.” In Obesity, 17:S279–S279. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2009.
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    • Connell, Alexa, Anna Stout, Jennifer Pells, and Gerard Musante. “The Longitudinal Relationship Between Weight and Depression in a Sample of Treatment Seeking Obese Individuals.” In Obesity, 16:S235–S235. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2008.
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    • Kern, Lee, David DeVito, and Jennifer Pells. “Reflective Self Monitoring: Weight Loss From the Inside/Out.” In Obesity, 16:S157–S157. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2008.
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    • Pells, Jennifer, Leisha Elmore, Anna Stout, and Gerard Musante. “Body Dissatisfaction among Individuals Seeking Obesity Treatment: Improvements and Predictions of Weight Loss.” In Obesity, 16:S235–S235. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2008.
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    • Konrad, Krista, Jennifer Pells, Anna Stout, Alexa Connell, and Gerard Musante. “THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHANGES IN EATING BEHAVIORS AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG PARTICIPANTS OF A RESIDENTIAL OBESITY PROGRAM.” In Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 33:S192–S192. SPRINGER, 2007.
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    • Pells, Jennifer, Alexa Connell, Anna Stout, and Gerard Musante. “TREATMENT-INDUCED CHANGES IN BMI, DEPRESSED MOOD, AND EATING PATTERNS AMONG OBESE INDIVIDUALS WITH TYPE II DIABETES.” In Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 33:S77–S77. SPRINGER, 2007.
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• Teaching & Mentoring
• 

  Teaching Activities

  • 2006-2009 Clinical Supervisor for Duke Predoctoral Internship Program in Clinical Psychology, Adult Health Psychology
• Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
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  Presentations & Appearances

  • Identification and Intervention of Disordered Eating after Bariatric Surgery. Annual Integrated Health Workshop. Bariatric Society of the Carolinas. July 2018  2018
  • Improving the health of women veterans: Effective clinical tools for eating and weight conerns. Veterans Affairs national Women's Mental Health Teleconference Series. Durham VAMC. November 2017  2017
  • Tools for treating binge and emotional overeating. Continuing Education . Origins Behavioral Healthcare. February 2017  2017
  • Clinical Skills for Health Behavior Change Counseling. Regional meeting. North Carolina Dietetic Association. September 2016  2016
  • Can behavioral obesity treatment outcomes be enhanced with a 'booster model'?. International Obesity and Weight Management conference. OMICS Group International. December 2015  2015
  • Binge Eating Disorder Panel Discussion. IAEDP Local Chapter Meeting. International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. July 2015  2015
  • Weighty Matters in Primary Care: Effective Counseling and Interventions. Family Practice Medicine Residency Program. Cone Health Hospital System. January 2013  2013
• 

  Clinical Activities

  • Diagnostic and Psychosocial Assessment for presurgical bariatric patients
    Postoperative behavioral health consultation and psychotherapeutic intervention
    Group therapy and psychoeducation
    
    
    

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