Cynthia W. Karlson, PhD
Specialties: Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hematology/Oncology, Psychology
Gender: Female
Biography: Cynthia Karlson, Ph.D. is Director of Inpatient Pediatric Psychology for Children's of Mississippi and a Supervision for the UMMC Department of Psychiatry Clinical Psychology Internship. Dr. Karlson was recently appointed as Vice-Chair of Pediatric Research. Dr. Karlson specializes in pediatric health psychology and psychological aspects of pediatric hematology/oncology. Dr. Karlson received her B.S. in psychology from the University of Florida and completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical health psychology from the University of Kansas. Dr. Karlson completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Karlson's program of research focuses on chronic pain and biopsychosocial factors (e.g., mood, sleep, physical activity) that influence pain in children with cancer and sickle cell disease. Other research projects include neurocognitive screening and longitudinal adjustment in pediatric hematology/oncology. Dr. Karlson has extensive expertise in the treatment of adjustment to pediatric cancer and sickle cell disease, chronic pain, learning disorders, and other health-related concerns (e.g., bereavement, pica). She is committed to providing patients with the highest quality of behavioral healthcare and clinical psychology residents with the highest level of evidence-based training. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys soccer, camping, and spending time with her family.
My Approach to Healthcare
I am a Pediatric Psychologist devoted to integrative healthcare. Integrative healthcare seeks to reduce the burden on patients and maximize patient outcomes by working as a team with all medical providers. My educational background as a pediatric psychologist has taught me to approach from a comprehensive Biopsychosocial and Family Systems perspective. This allows me to treat the entire patient.
Practice Locations
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Children's of Mississippi Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216 View Location |
Accepted Insurance Plans
The University of Mississippi Medical Center accepts all plans, but may not be an in-network provider with your plan. We encourage you to contact your insurer and ask if the plan is in network with UMMC. Always contact your insurance carrier for specific coverage information.
Network Participation - 2026MississippiCAN and CHIP [Managed Care programs promulgated by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid]- Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
- Magnolia Health (Centene)
- TrueCare
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace [Individual plans offered on healthcare.gov]- Ambetter from Magnolia Health (Centene)
- Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
- UHC Marketplace (Madison only)
Medicare Advantage- Devoted Health Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP
- HealthSpring Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
- Humana: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
- United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
- WellCare (Centene) Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
Commercial - Group and Individual- Aetna Plans: PPO, HMO [Includes all facilities except UMMC Madison]
- BCBSMS Plans: BlueCardPPO, State Health Plan (AHS), Federal Employee Plan (FEP)
- Cigna Plans: PPO, HMO
- United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO (Includes plans administered by UMR, UnitedHealth Group's wholly owned third-party administrator (TPA) subsidiary)
- Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
- Magnolia Health (Centene)
- TrueCare
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace [Individual plans offered on healthcare.gov]- Ambetter from Magnolia Health (Centene)
- Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
- UHC Marketplace (Madison only)
Medicare Advantage- Devoted Health Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP
- HealthSpring Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
- Humana: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
- United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
- WellCare (Centene) Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
Commercial - Group and Individual- Aetna Plans: PPO, HMO [Includes all facilities except UMMC Madison]
- BCBSMS Plans: BlueCardPPO, State Health Plan (AHS), Federal Employee Plan (FEP)
- Cigna Plans: PPO, HMO
- United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO (Includes plans administered by UMR, UnitedHealth Group's wholly owned third-party administrator (TPA) subsidiary)
- Devoted Health Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP
- HealthSpring Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
- Humana: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
- United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
- WellCare (Centene) Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
Commercial - Group and Individual- Aetna Plans: PPO, HMO [Includes all facilities except UMMC Madison]
- BCBSMS Plans: BlueCardPPO, State Health Plan (AHS), Federal Employee Plan (FEP)
- Cigna Plans: PPO, HMO
- United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO (Includes plans administered by UMR, UnitedHealth Group's wholly owned third-party administrator (TPA) subsidiary)
Transplant Only Networks- Optum Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, VAD
- Emerging Therapy Solutions (ETS) Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T, VAD
- Interlink Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T
- Celtic Plans: Ambetter, WellCare, Magnolia Health MississippiCAN, Magnolia Health CHIP • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT
- Cigna Lifesource Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T, VAD
Dental- Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
- Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial
Vision- Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
- Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial
Rental Networks (Utilized by self-funded employer group plans and third-party administrators (TPAs))- Mississippi Physicians Care Network (MPCN) [If MPCN is present on a Member/Subscriber ID, all UMMC facilities and providers are in-network regardless of TPA.]
- First Choice Health Plan
- Claritev (formerly Multiplan)
- Zelis
Government Programs- Humana Military Plan: Tricare
- United Healthcare Plan: Veterans Affairs Community Care Networks
Plans and Payors UMMC is not in-network with as of April 1, 2026- Oscar Health Plan: ACA Marketplace [Final negotiations taking place now. Anticipate in-network participation, effective June 1, 2026.]
- Cigna (Connect EPO) Plan: ACA Marketplace
- American Health Advantage Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Patrius Health (BCBSMS) Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
- Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial
Vision- Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
- Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial
Rental Networks (Utilized by self-funded employer group plans and third-party administrators (TPAs))- Mississippi Physicians Care Network (MPCN) [If MPCN is present on a Member/Subscriber ID, all UMMC facilities and providers are in-network regardless of TPA.]
- First Choice Health Plan
- Claritev (formerly Multiplan)
- Zelis
Government Programs- Humana Military Plan: Tricare
- United Healthcare Plan: Veterans Affairs Community Care Networks
Plans and Payors UMMC is not in-network with as of April 1, 2026- Oscar Health Plan: ACA Marketplace [Final negotiations taking place now. Anticipate in-network participation, effective June 1, 2026.]
- Cigna (Connect EPO) Plan: ACA Marketplace
- American Health Advantage Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Patrius Health (BCBSMS) Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Mississippi Physicians Care Network (MPCN) [If MPCN is present on a Member/Subscriber ID, all UMMC facilities and providers are in-network regardless of TPA.]
- First Choice Health Plan
- Claritev (formerly Multiplan)
- Zelis
Government Programs- Humana Military Plan: Tricare
- United Healthcare Plan: Veterans Affairs Community Care Networks
Plans and Payors UMMC is not in-network with as of April 1, 2026- Oscar Health Plan: ACA Marketplace [Final negotiations taking place now. Anticipate in-network participation, effective June 1, 2026.]
- Cigna (Connect EPO) Plan: ACA Marketplace
- American Health Advantage Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Patrius Health (BCBSMS) Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Oscar Health Plan: ACA Marketplace [Final negotiations taking place now. Anticipate in-network participation, effective June 1, 2026.]
- Cigna (Connect EPO) Plan: ACA Marketplace
- American Health Advantage Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Patrius Health (BCBSMS) Plan: Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Plan: Medicare Advantage
Education
| Fellowship: | University of Mississippi Medical Center |
| Internship: | University of Mississippi Medical Center |
Experience
Current Positions
| Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216 | 07/2019 - Present |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Licensure, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) for Mississippi Licensure | 05/2013 - 06/2014 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Research Award 3rd Place (mentee), UMMC, Department of Pediatrics | 2022 |
| Research Snapshot Presentation Award Winner (mentee), Virtual Critical Care Congress | 2022 |
| Research Award 1st Place (mentee), UMMC, Department of Pediatrics | 2021 |
| Leadership Training Awardee, University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of Pediatrics | 2019 |
| Faculty Research Mentor Award, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry | 2018 |
| Mentoring Academy Awardee, Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research | 2017 |
| Eugene Walker Award Honorable Mention, Society for Pediatric Psychology | 2013 |
| Mentored Student Poster, Society of Behavioral Medicine | 2012 |
| CAM Student Research Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine SIG | 2010 |
| Distinguished Service Award, University of Kansas | 2010 |
| Meritorious Student Abstract Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine | 2010 |
| Sandy Dinoff Memorial Health Psychology, Research Award, University of Kansas | 2009 |
| Doris Sheets Scholarship, University of Kansas | 2009 |
| C. R. Snyder Award for Research Achievement, University of Kansas | 2008 |
| Citation Award for Paper Presentation, Society of Behavioral Medicine | 2008 |
| B. Kent Houston Award in Clinical Health Psychology, University of Kansas | 2007 |
| College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Two-Year Scholar, University of Florida | 2003 |
| Society of Phi Beta Kappa, University of Florida | 2003 |