Erica Maria Smit Sibinga, M.D., M.H.S.

Headshot of Erica Maria Smit Sibinga
  • Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Female

Expertise

General Pediatrics, Pediatrics

Research Interests

Complementary/alternative medicine for pediatric patients; Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for urban youth; Pediatric integrative medicine ...read more

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Insurance Information

Main Phone

Outside of Maryland & Washington D.C.

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Locations

Johns Hopkins Pediatrics

Appointment Phone: 443-997-5437
200 N. Wolfe Street
Rubenstein Child Health Building
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-614-3864 | Fax: 410-502-5440
Johns Hopkins Pediatrics - Google Maps

Background

Dr. Erica Sibinga is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is an expert in pediatric clinical research with a focus on developing evidence for the sensible integration of complementary and alternative approaches. Dr. Sibinga also serves as the director of ambulatory pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Dr. Sibinga received her undergraduate degree in biopsychology from Wesleyan University. She earned her M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She completed her residency and fellowship in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins. She also earned an M.H.S in Clinical Investigation from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Her research relates to the use of complementary and alternative approaches for pediatric patients. She has  adapted and rigorously evaluated the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for urban youth in clinic and school-based studies, showing that MBSR leads to benefits in psychological functioning, reductions in post-stress trauma symptoms, improved behavior, and increased self-care behaviors. 

Dr. Sibinga's current research extends this body of research to examine the neural mechanisms of the MBSR program in youth (a collaborative project at the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in Florida), as well as the potential role of mindfulness practices for teachers and mothers of infants in the NICU. 

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Titles

  • Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Departments / Divisions

Centers & Institutes

Education

Degrees

  • MD; Medicine; University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1992)

Residencies

  • Pediatrics; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1995)

Fellowships

  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2000)

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics) (1996)

Research & Publications

Research Summary

Dr. Sibinga’s research interest is related to the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for pediatric patients. Her current research is focused on the adaptation and evaluation of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for urban youth. 

Using quantitative and qualitative methods, MBSR for HIV-infected and at-risk urban youth shows significant beneficial outcomes in psychological and quality of life domains. MBSR participation is associated with improved psychological function and coping, decreased post-trauma stress, improved relationships, and increased self-care, including better HIV medication adherence. 

Dr. Sibinga's is now working to further understand the mechanisms of the beneficial effects of high-quality structured mindfulness instruction for youth.  Also, current studies explore the potential for mindfulness resources to help school teachers and to reduce distress in mothers of infants in the NICU. 

Clinical Trial Keywords

mindfulness, youth, HIV, integrative pediatrics

Clinical Trials

Mindfulness instruction for HIV-infected youth


School-based mindfulness instruction for urban youth


Reducing distress in mothers of infants in the NICU through mindfulness audio programs


Web-based mindfulness resources for school teachers

Selected Publications

Webb L, Perry-Parrish C, Ellen J, Sibinga E. Mindfulness instruction for HIV-infected youth: a randomized controlled trial. AIDS care. 2018 Jun 3;30(6):688-95.

Sibinga EM, Webb L, Ghazarian SR, Ellen JM. School-based mindfulness instruction: An RCT. Pediatrics. 2016 Jan 1;137(1):e20152532

Goyal M, Singh S, Sibinga EM, Gould NF, Rowland-Seymour A, Sharma R, Berger Z, Sleicher D, Maron DD, Shihab HM, Ranasinghe PD. Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA internal medicine. 2014 Mar 1;174(3):357-68

Ortiz R, Sibinga EM. The role of mindfulness in reducing the adverse effects of childhood stress and trauma. Children. 2017 Feb 28;4(3):16

Mendelson T, McAfee C, Damian AJ, Brar A, Donohue P, Sibinga E. A mindfulness intervention to reduce maternal distress in neonatal intensive care: a mixed methods pilot study. Archives of women's mental health. 2018 Jun 5:1-9

Contact for Research Inquiries

5200 Eastern Ave.
Mason F. Lord Building, Center Tower, Suite 4200
Baltimore, MD 21224 map

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • Chair, Section on Integrative Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016
  • Vice-Chair, Section on Integrative Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014 - 2016
  • Co-Chair, Special Interest Group, Ambulatory Pediatric Association, 2010 - 2015
  • Executive Committee, Section on Integrative Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012 - 2016
  • Director, Ambulatory Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 2011
  • Co-Chair, Johns Hopkins Mindfulness and Learning Symposium, 2013 - 2014
  • Associate Director, Center for Community and Child Research at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 2007 - 2012
  • Clinical Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Addiction and Pregnancy Pediatric Clinic, 2009
  • Core Faculty, Center for Mind-Body Research at Johns Hopkins, 2006 - 2016
  • Faculty Travel Award to attend Annual MBSR Research Conference, Integrating Mindfulness-Based Interventions into Medicine, Healthcare, and Society, Center for Mind-Body Research; Worcester, MA, 2006
  • Faculty Travel Award for Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction program participation, Center for Mind-Body Research, 2005
  • CAM Center Training Award, Johns Hopkins University, 2004 - 2005
  • Senior thesis awarded Honors--Karl Lashley: Iconoclast Among Psychologists, Wesleyan University, 1985
  • Sigma Xi Science Honor Society, Wesleyan University, 1984
  • Chapter President, National Honor Society, 1979 - 1980

Professional Activities

  • Designing Clinical Research (DCR) program, Johns Hopkins, 2014 - 2017
  • Leadership Program for Women Faculty, Johns Hopkins, 2011 - 2013
  • Medical Director, Center for Addiction and Pregnancy Pediatric Clinic, 2009
  • Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics, 2011
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