As a child abuse physician, I understand that recognizing child abuse requires a multidisciplinary collaboration among doctors, nurses, social workers, child protection workers, law enforcement and attorneys. I direct the Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Cincinnati Children’s, which is a best-practice leader in the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of child abuse.

Diagnosing child abuse during my clinical work in the Pediatric Emergency Department raised my curiosity about how we can better protect children and families by increasing our understanding of child maltreatment.

My research is mostly concerned with improving child health and well-being by adding to our understanding of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), toxic stress and resilience. I am the executive director of Joining Forces for Children, a strong community collaboration working to build child and family resilience within the greater Cincinnati area. Some of my other research focuses on more accurately diagnosing child abuse.

I have been honored several times for the work I do. I have received the:

• 2016 Insuring the Children Jerry Clark Humanitarian Award
• 2016 Center for Clinical & Translational Science & Training (CCTST) Practice-Based Research Award
• 2016 CCTST Academic-Community Research Partnership Award
• 2017 Encourage the Heart Award from Child Focus, Inc.
• 2018 Beacon of Light Humanitarian Award from Lighthouse Youth and Family Services