Patricia M. Flynn, PhD

Associate Professor, Psychology

Contact Information

Email pflynn@llu.edu
Phone 909-558-7738

Department of Psychology
Loma Linda University, Central Building, Apt. 1
11130 Anderson St., Loma Linda, CA 92350

    Faculty Research Lab

    The Culture and Behavior Laboratory

    The mission of the Culture and Behavior Laboratory (CBL) is to advance the study of culture in psychology and its contributions to understanding behavioral and social phenomena relevant to health and well-being.

    Visit Lab Website
    hands surrounding image of brain

    Degrees

    • PhD, Psychology, Loma Linda University - 2005
    • MPH, Health Promotion and Education, Loma Linda University - 2008

    Areas of Specialization

    • Cultural and health psychology
    • Health disparities and inequities
    • Cultural and psychological factors in health behavior and outcome
    • Cultural competence training in graduate medical education
    • Implicit bias in patient-provider clinical interactions

    Current Research Projects

    Professional Memberships

    • American Psychological Association (APA)
      • Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (APA Division 9)
      • Health Psychology (APA Division 38)
      • International Psychology (APA Division 52)
    • Western Psychological Association (WPA)
    • Association for Psychological Science (APS)
    • Interamerican Society of Psychology (SIP)
    • International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP)
    • Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM)

    Recent Publications and Presentations

    Publications

    • Ly, A., Flynn, P.M., & Betancourt, H. (2023). Cultural beliefs about diabetes-related social exclusion and diabetes distress impact self-care behaviors and HbA1c among patients with Type 2 diabetes. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-023-10179-w
    • Gavaza, P., Rawal, B.M., & Flynn, P. M. (2023). An exploratory qualitative study of pharmacy student perspectives of implicit bias in pharmacy practice. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 15, 1, 43-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2023.02.006
    • Salinas-Onate, N., Betancourt, H., Flynn, P. M., Baeza-Rivera, M. J., & Ortiz, M. (2022). Investigating psychological service utilization employing an integrative socio-structural, cultural, and behavioral framework. Professional Psychology Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro000046
    • Nance, C., Betancourt, H., & Flynn, P. M. (2022). The role of cultural beliefs and distress in adherence to recommended physical activity among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-022-00301-w
    • Flynn, P.M., Betancourt, H., Emerson, N., Nunez, E., & Nance, C. (2020). Health professional cultural competence reduces the psychological and behavioral impact of negative healthcare encounters. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 26, 3, 271-279. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000295
    • Betancourt, H. & Flynn, P. (2019). Healthcare mistreatment and cultural beliefs impact HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Acta de Investigacion Psicologica, 9, 2, 5-13. https://doi.org/10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2019.2.258

    Presentations

    • Flynn, P.M. (April, 2023). Implicit bias in healthcare: Medical student perceptions of the IAT, clinical interactions, and bias reduction strategies (Chair). Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association; Riverside, CA.
    • Li, D., Nicolas, D.M., & Flynn, P.M. (April, 2023). Medical students’ prior experiences of implicit bias in healthcare encounters. In P. Flynn (Chair) Implicit bias in healthcare: Medical student perceptions of the IAT, clinical interactions, and bias reduction strategies. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association; Riverside, CA.
    • Hoyt, C. & Flynn, P.M. (April, 2023). Employing bias reduction strategies in healthcare: Medical student perspectives. In P. Flynn (Chair) Implicit bias in healthcare: Medical student perceptions of the IAT, clinical interactions, and bias reduction strategies. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association; Riverside, CA.
    • Peteet, B., Flynn, P.M., Morton, K.R., & Robledo, E. (April, 2023). A pipeline program for training clinical psychology students to address mental health disparities in underserved primary care settings. Distinguished Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association; Riverside, CA.
    • Eshai, K., Flynn, P.M., Morton, K.M. (April, 2023). Childhood experiences and comorbid illness: Mediation by dietary polyphenol intake. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association; Riverside, CA.
    • Franz, D. Brenner, C., Rockwood, N., Flynn, P., & Hartman, R. (April, 2023). Metabolic predictors of inflammation over time in Schizophrenia. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association; Riverside, CA.
    • Kim, Y., Louis, C., McKenzie, K., Flynn, P., & Shannon, K. (March, 2023). Medical trainees' attributions for patient non-adherence to diabetes treatment in a low-income as compared to high income clinic and proposed solutions. Poster presented at the Loma Linda University Annual Postgraduate Convention; Loma Linda, CA.
    • Li, D., Feigin, A., Nicolas, D., & Flynn, P. (December, 2022). Bias in healthcare interactions and strategies to overcome bias. Poster presented at the 80th Annual Convention of the International Congress of Psychologists; Virtual Conference.
    • Ly, A. L., Nance, C. M., Flynn, P. M., & Betancourt, H. M. (May, 2022). Cultural beliefs and diabetes distress impact self-care behaviors and HbA1c among Latino patients with type 2 diabetes. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science; Chicago, IL.
    • Hoyt, C., Ly, A., Nance, C., Borecky, D., Flynn, P.M., & Betancourt, H. (Oct., 2020). A qualitative analysis of medical students’ experiences implementing bias reduction strategies in healthcare. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA. 
    • Ly, A., Nance, C., Flynn, P.M. & Betancourt, H. (June, 2020). Familism alleviates diabetes distress and improves treatment adherence among Latino and Anglo Americans with Type 2 Diabetes. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Virtual Poster Showcase.
    • Ly, A., Nance, C., Truong, S., Flynn, P., & Betancourt, H. (August, 2019). Illness stigma: Implications for treatment distress and medical avoidance in type 2 diabetes. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.
    • Ly, A., Jones, A., Flynn, P., & Betancourt, H. (August, 2019). Healthcare discrimination, stereotypes about providers, and cancer screening distress. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.
    • Hayes, G., Flynn, P., Humann, L., Villegas, C., Ly, A.L., & Wilson, A.E. (May, 2019). Breaking through unconscious bias in healthcare: The long-term impact of employing evidence-based bias reduction strategies. Poster presented at the American College of Preventive Medicine Annual Convention, Pittsburg, PA.
    • Flynn, P.M. (April, 2019). Discrimination, stigma, and sociocultural appearance pressures: Evidence from an integrative model of culture, psychology, and health (Chair). Symposium conducted at the meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Pasadena, CA.
    • Flynn, P.M. (April, 2019). An integrative model and methodological approach for the study of culture, psychological processes, and health behavior. In P. Flynn (Chair), Discrimination, stigma, and sociocultural appearance pressures: Evidence from an integrative model of culture, psychology, and health. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Pasadena, CA.
    • Jones, A., Ly, A. & Flynn, P. M. (April, 2019). The adverse effects of prior healthcare discrimination on cultural beliefs about providers and cancer screening. In P. Flynn (Chair), Discrimination, stigma, and sociocultural appearance pressures: Evidence from an integrative model of culture, psychology, and health. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Pasadena, CA.
    • Bolivar, G. & Flynn, P.M. (April, 2019). Cultural Appearance Pressures and Eating Pathology among Latinas: The role of body appreciation. In P. Flynn (Chair), Discrimination, stigma, and sociocultural appearance pressures: Evidence from an integrative model of culture, psychology, and health. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Pasadena, CA.
    • Sanchez, J.P., Bailey, J., Flynn, P., Shannon, K., & Diaz, D. (April, 2019). The impact of brief androgyny sessions (B.I.A.S.) on implicit bias in two urban academic institutions. Workshop at the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges, Group on Resident Affairs, Portland, OR.
    • El-Bayoummi, J., Flynn, P.M., Giang, D., & Nedorost, S. (April, 2019). Highlighting social determinants of health at orientation with 'See the City you Serve' tour. Workshop at the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges, Group on Resident Affairs, Portland, OR.
    • Villegas, C., Hayes, G., Flynn, P., & Wilson, A. (2019, January). Pilot test of an online bias reduction curriculum for medical students. Paper presented at the Western Medical Research Conference, Carmel, CA.
    • Flynn, P.M., Betancourt, H. & Codorniz, K. (November, 2018). Extending Betancourt’s Integrative Model of Culture, Psychological Factors, and Health Behavior to Biological Outcomes. In H. Betancourt (Chair), Integrating Culture, Psychology, and Behavior:  Research on Treatment Adherence, continuity of care, and willingness to seek psychotherapy in the USA, Mexico, and Chile. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the International Congress of Behavioral Medicine, Santiago, Chile.
    • Flynn, P.M. (June, 2018). San Bernardino County: An Introduction to the Social Determinants of Health. Presented at the Loma Linda University Medical Center Residency Orientation, Loma Linda, CA.
    • Nance, C., Bolivar, G., Lim, D., Herman, S., Codorniz, K., Flynn, P.M., & Betancourt, H. (May, 2018). Cultural Beliefs about the unfair treatment of people with diabetes and distress impact HbA1c. Poster presented at the 30th Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.
    • Ung, S., MacKenzie, K., Votow, C., Lee, J., Codorniz, K., Betancourt, H. & Flynn, P.M. (May, 2018). Cultural beliefs impact HbA1c in patients with diabetes through cognition-emotion processes. Poster presented at the 30th Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.
    • Nance, C., Truong, S., Chia, D., Betancourt, H., Codorniz, K., & Flynn, P.M. (April, 2018). Cultural beliefs and self-efficacy in adherence to treatment among patients with diabetes. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR.
    • Nance, C., Jones, A., Raghani, P., Hoyt, C., Flynn, P.M., Codorniz, K. & Betancourt, H. (April, 2018). Ethnic and socioeconomic differences in cultural beliefs about diabetes. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR.
    • Flynn, P.M. (March, 2018). Bias in Healthcare: "The Dangers of a Single Story." Presented at the Loma Linda University Medical Center Departmental Meeting, Loma Linda, CA.

    Community Engagement

    • Behavioral and Social Scientist Volunteer for SES Related Cancer Disparities, American Psychological Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009-2013)
    • Member, American Cancer Society Inland Empire Leadership Council (2008-2010)
    • Member, American Cancer Society Border Sierra Leadership Council (2008-2010)
    • Research and Community Volunteer, CoachArt (2002-2010)