Sarah Westen

Clinical Assistant Professor | Director University of Florida

Gainesville FL

Sarah Westen's patient-oriented clinical research focuses on biopsychosocial factors related to health engagement.

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Biography

Sarah Westen is a licensed psychologist and clinical associate professor in the department of clinical and health psychology. She serves as director of the Diabetes Behavioral Medicine and Psychology Program, assistant director of behavioral research for the UF Diabetes Institute, and assistant director of the Clinical Psychology Internship Program. She is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of mental health disorders in children, adolescents and young adults with co-morbid medical illnesses. Her clinical and research interests include type 1 diabetes, at-risk and early stage type 1 diabetes, behavioral medicine, psychosocial interventions, treatment engagement, integrated behavioral healthcare and patient-centered outcomes research.

Areas of Expertise

Person-Centered Language

Health Engagement

Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Conditions

Anxiety

Depression

Young Adults

Adolescents

Children

Lifespan Psychology

Pediatric Psychology

Psychology

Adjustment

Coping

Resilience

Chronic health conditions

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Media Appearances

Sarah Westen, PhD invited to speak at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2024 Clinical Update Conference

UF Department of Clinical and Health Psychology online

2024-01-08

Congratulations to CHP’s Sarah Westen, Ph.D., on her invitation to speak at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2024 Clinical Update Conference on February 2-4 in Orlando, Florida. Leaders in diabetes care from around the world will attend. Dr. Westen will speak on the implementation of the ADA’s newly released 2024 Standards of Care in Diabetes and showcase a video project (linked below) on strategies to improve patient-centered care in the clinic setting.

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Articles

Language evolves - so can you

Nature Reviews Endocrinology

Westen & Jacobsen

2025-10-21

As healthcare professionals, scientists and educators, our intent is to empower people affected by diabetes mellitus; however, if our language is stigmatizing, our impact might be disempowerment. If we do not choose our words with care, we risk undermining the very autonomy we seek to promote.

Project ECHO Diabetes Trial Improves Outcomes for Medically Underserved People

Diabetes Care

Walker, et al.

2024-12-17

The Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model is used in 180 countries to address chronic disease care through a provider empowerment, tele-education approach. Few studies have rigorously evaluated the impact of the program on patient outcomes using randomized designs.

Objectively Measured Adherence in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes on Multiple Daily Injections and Insulin Pump Therapy

Journal of Pediatric Psychology

Western, et al.

2019-01-01

Type 1 diabetes poses unique challenges to adherence-related behavior because of complex treatment regimens that vary by use of specific technologies. This study used objective data to determine prevalence rates of adherence behaviors in adolescents with T1D and relationships between adherence and glycemic control.