Alfonso Floyd

Bio

Dr. Alfonso Floyd is a postdoctoral fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), working in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Floyd’s research investigates the impact of risk and resilience mechanisms on the mental health of racial/ethnic minority youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). His work aims to understand how chronic exposure to racism, discrimination, social determinants of health, and adverse childhood experiences affect mental health and illness management in these youth. By exploring these unique contextual and sociocultural factors, he seeks to identify those most vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes and develop strategies to address health disparities.

Dr. Floyd’s passion for working with marginalized youth populations began during his undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University. He was particularly moved by the sociocultural challenges experienced by the youth in his hometown of Cincinnati, which inspired him to pursue a career in clinical psychology. He earned his M.S. in General Psychology from DePaul University and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Child clinicals from Virginia Commonwealth University. Throughout his academic journey, Dr. Floyd has been committed to understanding and addressing the mental health needs of marginalized communities. His research is characterized by a strong focus on the sociocultural context and the use of coping strategies such as prayer, church attendance, and youth group involvement to mitigate the negative psychological effects of stressors.

Dr. Floyd is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in science, believing that diverse perspectives enhance the ability to solve complex problems. Outside of his research, he enjoys engaging with the community and mentoring the next generation of scientists.