MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital has named Donald J. Bearden, PhD, ABPP-CN, its first chief of Pediatric Psychology and Behavioral Health. Dr. Bearden will be an associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The newly created position at Le Bonheur will help support families by incorporating psychology and behavioral health into the care of the patient and family.
Bearden comes to Memphis from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where he was a senior neuropsychologist and section director of Psychology. Bearden was an assistant professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at Emory University School of Medicine.
Bearden will oversee the expansion of this new division with new faculty and expanded care. At Le Bonheur, he will play a critical role in addressing the health inequities that affect children and families in the Mid-South region.
Bearden stated, "I’m excited to be at Le Bonheur because I saw an opportunity to make a more direct and lasting impact – a place where I could meaningfully shape the direction of mental health care while expanding access to evidence-based interventions for children who were underserved.”
He received his postgraduate education in clinical psychology, neuropsychology and behavioral neuroscience from Georgia State University. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior for his predoctoral internship before completing his fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
He has his board certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology and the American Board of Neuropsychology. Bearden is a member of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, American Epilepsy Society, American Psychological Association – Division 40, Child Neurology Society, Hispanic Neuropsychological Society and the International Neuropsychological Society.
In his free time Bearden enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
