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.
About UT Health Science Center: The mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is transforming lives through collaborative and inclusive education, research, scholarship, clinical care, and public service. With six colleges – Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy – at its main campus in Memphis, in addition to educational and clinical campuses at major hospitals in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville, and sites across the state, UT Health Science Center strives to fulfill its vision: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities. For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu. You can find the University of Tennessee Health Science Center on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
About Le Bonheur Children's: Le Bonheur Children’s, based in Memphis, Tenn., provides expert care for children in more than 45 pediatric subspecialties, encompassing robust community programs, a pediatric research institute and regional outpatient centers in Jackson, Tenn., Tupelo, Miss., and Jonesboro, Ark. Le Bonheur also features a 290-bed hospital in Memphis and a 21-bed satellite hospital within Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn. As the primary pediatric teaching affiliate for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur trains more than 350 pediatricians and specialists each year. Nationally recognized, Le Bonheur has been named a U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital for 14 consecutive years and is a Magnet-designated facility, the ultimate credential for high-quality patient care and nursing excellence. For more information, please call (901) 287-6030 or visit lebonheur.org. Connect with us at facebook.com/lebonheurchildrens, x.com/lebonheurchild on Instagram at lebonheurchildrens.
