Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital has named Donald J. Bearden, PhD, ABPP-CN, its first chief of Pediatric Psychology and Behavioral Health. 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.