Cara Fosdick, MD

I’m a medical doctor who practices in the field of psychiatry at Cincinnati Children’s. I currently provide outpatient psychiatric care for children with developmental disabilities within the neurobehavioral continuum. At a separate clinic, I provide staffing and supervision for psychiatry fellows — doctors in their final year of training as psychiatrists — who see outpatient child and adolescent psychiatry patients.

Psychiatry is a fun, meaningful, fulfilling field of medicine. I love that it overlaps with the medical sciences and the humanities, allowing for evaluation and treatment that appreciates subtlety and the impact of the medical, psychological, social and personal aspects of a person’s life. Any two people with the same diagnosis will be two unique individuals with completely different stories and different nuances to treatment.

Children with developmental disabilities and their families are an absolute joy to work with, and it’s evident that the staff of the neurobehavioral continuum feel the same way. This community of professionals strives to do their very best for the amazing kids and families we serve. It’s both encouraging and enjoyable to have the backup of an outstanding team.

It’s an honor for me to have the opportunity to help children and families at difficult or pivotal times in their lives. I am inspired every day by the character and resilience of the children and families I have the privilege to care for as a physician at Cincinnati Children’s. Seeking psychiatric help for oneself or a loved one often takes immense humility and trust and occurs because someone struggles or suffers. There’s great courage in the vulnerability inherent in being willing to consult with a psychiatrist.

The stigma surrounding psychiatry, the fear of being or feeling judged and the limited availability of psychiatrists can be barriers to treatment. Often, the child and family have endured all of this before their first appointment, and I respect them for it. I give patients and families the time they need whenever possible, knowing that much can be lost if there is a rush to interpret a symptom.

For this reason, I prefer appointments on the longer side. Medical decision-making includes a conversation about the child and family's priorities and preferences, several different options, risks and benefits of each, and why and how strongly I would recommend each treatment path for that particular child.

I'm honored to work at Cincinnati Children's. I received the following awards during medical school and my child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, including:

• Communities Healing Adolescent Depression and Suicide (CHADS) Coalition Research Fellowship, in Memory of Dr. Richard D. Todd (2009 – 2010)
• University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Clinical Care (2015)
• University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Clinical Care of Patients and Families (2016)
• University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Scholarly Work and Research (2016)

I’m from Ann Arbor, Michigan and in my spare time, I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, yoga and live music. I play the French horn, guitar and piano, and enjoy dancing, traveling and lots of time with family and friends.
I take advantage of telehealth opportunities to see my patients’ hobbies, meet their pets and introduce them to the Muppet version of myself that I keep in my home office.

As is standard of care in psychiatry, don't be surprised if I share little to nothing about my personal life. Our appointments are about YOU. Professional boundaries help me better understand and focus on what’s important to YOU.