Welcome from the Chief
Welcome and thank you for your interest in learning more about our University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Section of Pediatric Psychology programs and providers. Our pediatric psychologists have expertise in providing specialized assessment and interventions for children and adolescent with developmental and medical conditions. We help patients and families understand the relationship between children’s behavioral, cognitive, social and emotional functioning to support their physical health and well-being. We provide services to patients and their families through interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluations, inpatient hospitalizations and outpatient medical subspecialty clinics.
Our Vision
We champion patients by making them better today and healthier tomorrow by striving to be innovators for clinical, educational and research work to promote behavioral and mental health equity of Arkansas’ children and adolescents.
Our Team
Every two years, Arkansas Children’s Hospital awards a physician, clinical service, section or unit that embraces and embodies the spirit of teamwork with the Joanna J. and Robert W. Siebert Award. In 2022 the award was presented to the Section of Pediatric Psychology.
Integrated Behavioral Health Services
Pediatric psychologists and pediatric neuropsychologists are integral to subspecialty teams at Arkansas Children’s in Little Rock and Springdale. Our providers take a patient-family centered care approach and support several patient and family led initiatives. We collaborate with teams to offer a robust inpatient consultation program and are embedded in several outpatient medical clinics across campuses.
Diagnostic and Treatment Services
The UAMS James L Dennis Developmental Center and UAMS Schmieding Developmental Center are outpatient interdisciplinary
evaluation and treatment centers serving a variety of patient populations with a focus on neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental assessments for patients from birth through 18 years of age. Pediatric psychologists specialize in the assessment of developmental, genetic and medical conditions that result in delayed milestones, inability to communicate effectively, inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and poor or atypical social interactions. Evaluation and therapy are also provided for families coping with the stress of chronic developmental disorders or chronic medical illnesses.
Pediatric neuropsychologists evaluations includes the above mentioned psychological evaluation measures as well as other sophisticated tests to help pinpoint more subtle areas of concern in a child’s psychological profile. These measures may include areas of memory, mental processing, fine motor skills and executive functioning. Neuropsychological testing evaluates brain-behavior relationships and how they impact a child’s performance. Neuropsychological testing is conducted with children who are 6 years of age through late teen years.
Research and Innovative Programs
Providers in the Section of Pediatric Psychology are actively involved in IRB supported research, multisite collaborations and innovative programs to promote access to services, patient safety and clinical care. Grant funded collaborations include the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, clinical trails, developmental tracking and surveillance studies and patient safety and prevention.
Faculty are leaders in building community based partnerships to support patients and their families across the state including the Arkansas Home Visiting Network, Centers for Effective Parenting and Community-Based Autism Liaison and Treatment. Pediatric psychologists are part of the continually funded interdisciplinary training grant under the Maternal Child Health Bureau, Leadership in Education for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), to promote advocacy, leadership and effective interprofessional teamwork.
Thank you for your time and interest in our program. Please reach out with questions and if you would like more information.
Warmly,
Brandi N. Whitaker, Ph.D.
Associate Professor | Licensed Psychologist
Section Chief of Pediatric Psychology
Program Director of Postdoctoral Pediatric Psychology Fellowship
Fellowship Information
The Pediatric Psychology Fellowship is under the direction of the Section of Pediatric Psychology and the Schmieding Developmental Center. Psychology providers offer direct clinical care in Arkansas Children’s outpatient clinics and inpatient consultations and see patients in the UAMS James L. Dennis Developmental Center. Psychology providers offer a range of services from formal autism, ADHD, developmental, educational and neuropsychological evaluations; consultation and targeted interventions and therapy addressing behavior management, feeding, adherence with medical treatments and parent-child interactions.
Psychologists have experiences with developmental disabilities, research, medical crisis and loss and various pediatric subspecialty outpatient clinics. Our faculty are involved in community-based programs and the UAMS Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program.