Kathleen Van Dyk, Ph.D.
Neuropsychologist
Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Psychology, Department of Supportive Care Medicine
Kathleen Van Dyk, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist at City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte, where she supports the social, emotional and cognitive health of cancer patients and survivors.
Specializing in working with patients whose cancer or treatment regimen impacts memory, cognition or other neurological functions, Dr. Van Dyk is committed to a person-centered philosophy based on understanding her patients’ values and needs. In her current role, she is also leading new research and clinical programs designed to help those with cognitive health issues.
Dr. Van Dyk earned her doctorate in clinical psychology, with an emphasis in neuropsychology, at the City University of New York Graduate Center. She then completed an internship in geropsychology at the University of California, Los Andeles (UCLA), followed by a research fellowship at UCLA’s Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research. During this time, she was awarded a grant from the American Cancer Society and a K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Career Development Award from the National Cancer Institute.
Location
Duarte Cancer Center
Duarte, CA 91010
Education & Experience
Education
- 2003, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, minor in Politics, New York University, The College of Arts and Science, New York, NY
2012, Master of Arts, Behavioral Neuroscience, City University of New York, Queens College, Queens, NY
2014, Doctor of Philosophy, Clinical Psychology with emphasis Neuropsychology, City University of New York, The Graduate Center, New York, NY
Internship
- 2014, Clinical Neuropsychology, Geropsychology Track, University of California, Los Angeles, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA
Post-Doctoral Fellowship
- 2016, Neuropsychology-Geropsychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA
Professional Experience
2025-present, Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Psychology, Department of Supportive Care Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2023-2025, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
- 2019-2025, Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2016-2019, Health Sciences Clinical Instructor, University of California, Los Angeles Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, Los Angeles, CA
Awards & Memberships
2024 – 2026, Licensed Psychologist, California, License #28132
Publications
• Van Dyk, K., Ganz, P.A. (2021). Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment in Patients With a History of Breast Cancer. JAMA, 326(17):1736–1737.
• Janelsins, M. C., Van Dyk, K., Hartman, S. J., Koll, T. T., Cramer, C. K., Lesser, G. J., ... & Dorsey, S. G. (2024). The National Cancer Institute clinical trials planning meeting to address gaps in observational and intervention trials for cancer-related cognitive impairment. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, djae209.
• Mcdeed, A. P., Van Dyk, K., Zhou, X., Zhai, W., Ahles, T. A., Bethea, T. N., ... & Ahn, J. (2024). Prediction of cognitive decline in older breast cancer survivors: the thinking and living with cancer study. JNCI Cancer Spectrum.
• Henneghan, A. M., Van Dyk, K., Ackerman, R. A., Paolillo, E. W., & Moore, R. C. (2023). Assessing cancer-related cognitive function in the context of everyday life using ecological mobile cognitive testing: A protocol for a prospective quantitative study. Digital Health, 9, 20552076231194944.
• Van Dyk, K., Ahn, J., Zhou, X., Zhai, W., Ahles, T.A., Bethea, T.N., Carroll, J.E., Cohen, H.J., Graham, D. Jacobsen, P.B., Jim, H., McDonald, B.C., Nakamura, Z.M., Patel, S.K., Rentscher, K.E., Saykin, Small, B.J., A.J., Mandelblatt, J., Root, J.C. (2022). Associating persistent self-reported cognitive decline with neurocognitive decline in older breast cancer survivors using machine learning: The thinking and living with cancer study. Journal of Geriatric Oncology.
• McDonald, B.C.*, Van Dyk, K., Deardorff, R.L. et al. (2022) Multimodal MRI examination of structural and functional brain changes in older women with breast cancer in the first year of antiestrogen hormonal therapy. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment ,194, 113–126.
• Van Dyk, K., Crespi, C.M., Bower, J.E., Carroll, J.E., Petersen, L., Ganz, P.A. (2021). Association of APOE4 genotype and treatment with cognitive outcomes in breast cancer survivors over time. npj Breast Cancer.
• Van Dyk, K., Crespi, C. M., Bower, J. E., Castellon, S. A., Petersen, L., & Ganz, P. A. (2019). The cognitive effects of endocrine therapy in survivors of breast cancer: A prospective longitudinal study up to 6 years after treatment. Cancer, 125(5), 681-689.
• Van Dyk, K., Crespi, C.M., Petersen, L., Ganz, P.A. (2020) Identifying cancer-related cognitive impairment using the FACT-Cog Perceived Cognitive Impairment. JNCI Cancer Spectrum.
• Van Dyk, K., Siddarth, P., Rossetti, M., Ercoli, L. M., Milillo, M. M., & Lavretsky, H. (2020). Memantine can protect against inflammation-based cognitive decline in geriatric depression. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health, 9, 100167. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100167
• Van Dyk, K., Zhou, X., Small, B. J., Ahn, J., Zhai, W., Ahles, T., ... Carroll, J. E. (2021). Protective Effects of APOE ε2 Genotype on Cognition in Older Breast Cancer Survivors: The Thinking and Living with Cancer Study. JNCI Cancer Spectrum. https://doi.org/10.1093/jncics/pkab013
• Carroll, J.E., Van Dyk, K., Bower, J.E., Scuric, Z., Petersen, L., Schiestl, R., Irwin, M.R., Ganz, P.A. (2018). Cognitive Performance in Breast Cancer Survivors and Markers of Biological Aging. Cancer.
• Van Dyk, K., Bower, J.E., Crespi, C.M., Petersen, L., Ganz, P.A. (2018). Cognitive Function Following Breast Cancer Treatment and Associations with Concurrent Symptoms. npj Breast Cancer.