Dr. Ernest R. Katz, PhD

Expert Publications

• The PedsQL in pediatric cancer: reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core Scales, Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and Cancer Module.
• Problem-solving skills training for mothers of children with newly diagnosed cancer: a randomized trial.
• The PedsQL in pediatric cancer pain: a prospective longitudinal analysis of pain and emotional distress.
• Using problem-solving skills training to reduce negative affectivity in mothers of children with newly diagnosed cancer: report of a multisite randomized trial.
• The PedsQL Brain Tumor Module: initial reliability and validity.
• Attention dysfunction and parent reporting in children with brain tumors.
• Trajectories of adjustment in mothers of children with newly diagnosed cancer: a
• Cognitive and problem solving training in children with cancer: a pilot project.
• Quantifying the relationship among hospital design, satisfaction, and psychosocial functioning in a pediatric hematology-oncology inpatient unit.
• Benefit finding in fathers of childhood cancer survivors: a retrospective pilot study.
• Electronic monitoring of medication adherence in early maintenance phase treatment for pediatric leukemia and lymphoma: identifying patterns of nonadherence.

Media Releases

Get to know Psychologist Dr. Ernest R. Katz, who serves patients in Los Angeles and throughout the State of California.

Being an exceptional psychologist, Dr. Katz is a name synonymous with expertise, compassion, and dedication in the field of clinical and pediatric psychology. With a career spanning over four decades, his extensive knowledge and experience have led him to specialize in time-limited treatment of anxiety, depression, traumatic stress, and coping with complex health conditions, offering invaluable support to countless individuals and their families. Informed by cognitive behavioral therapy and science, his unique approach often incorporates hypnosis and mindfulness techniques, and has proven effective in managing complex behavioral and emotional issues, while enhancing peak performance.

Before embarking on his professional journey, the doctor’s educational journey began while studying Psychology ar Bar Ilan University in Israel, and completing his B.A. and M.A. in Psychology at California State University, Northridge. He then went on to receive his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Southern California in 1980, where he completed his clinical training at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, along with the Human Relations Center of USC. 

Remaining up to date in his field, Dr. Katz is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the Society of Pediatric Psychology, the Society of Clinical Psychology, the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, and the Society for Child and Adolescent Psychology. His commitment to continuous learning and staying at the forefront of his field is evident through his active participation in these organizations.

In addition, he serves as an expert consultant to schools, hospitals, and healthcare systems, offering his insights and wisdom on comprehensive behavioral health services. His dedication to improving the lives of those living with cancer and complex health conditions and their families is commendable.

In his professional experience, Dr. Katz holds a faculty position at the esteemed Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and the Keck School of Medicine at USC, within the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Services. He is also a co-founder and former co-director of The HOPE Program at CHLA, where he has played a pivotal role in providing clinical services, training medical and mental health professionals, and conducting vital behavioral science research with children and families impacted by cancer and serious blood diseases.

Alongside his clinical role, he has been an influential figure in academia. He served as a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Psychology at the Keck School of Medicine and the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC). Although he now holds the position of Adjunct Clinical Professor, his legacy in education and research continues to inspire future generations of professionals in the field.

Among his most notable achievements, Dr. Katz’s remarkable contributions have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by the numerous awards and accolades he has received throughout his career. Notable among them are the Clinical Innovation Award in 2015 from Beit Issie Shapiro for Children with Special Needs in Israel and the prestigious Hope Award in 2012 from Jewish Family Services in Los Angeles. He was also recognized with the 2007 Excellence in Innovative Cancer Control Programming Award from the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Katz and his wife raised 5 children, giving him extensive real-life experience that has helped inform his clinical practice.  Whether working with adults or youth, Dr. Katz helps his patients develop real-world solutions to complex challenges of daily life.

Psychology is the science of behavior and mind. It includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, as well as feeling and thought. It is an academic discipline of immense scope. Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat the psychological problems and behavioral dysfunctions resulting from, or related to, physical and mental health. In addition, they play a major role in the promotion of healthy behavior, preventing diseases and improving patients’ quality of life.

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