Michelle M. Ernst, PhD

My clinical specialty is pediatric psychology — I focus on the health and well-being of children with medical conditions and their families. I provide services for patients with cardiac conditions (through the Heart & Mind Wellbeing Center), patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (through the MRKH Care Center), and patients with pain or other physical symptoms that interfere with living one’s best life.

My inspiration to become a psychologist arose from life experiences. Both my parents had significant health issues while I was growing up, and I came to see the hospital as a place of care and safety. I initially chose a career in the arts in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I lived in New York City and saw how acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) deeply impacted people I cared about. I was inspired by the resilience required to negotiate a changing physical body. I chose pediatrics as I have always connected deeply with children, respectfully interacting with them as valued humans with valid concerns and interests.

I take a collaborative approach when providing care to my patients, soliciting feedback as we work together to ensure we focus on what is most important. My goal is to nurture within patients and families the wisdom and skills to live a meaningful life. I can sit quietly with patients in their most difficult moments and sincerely believe in the power of resilience and change.

As a full professor in the Department of Pediatrics, I bring my clinical expertise to collaborations in pediatric psychological research. In the cardiac population, I am involved in a grant exploring if providing a psychological intervention to support families impacted by a fetal diagnosis of congenital heart defect can improve outcomes for caregivers and their baby. My research in pediatric migraine explores ways to spread evidence-based pediatric psychological pain treatment to the most children with migraines. I have published peer-reviewed research papers and commentaries in a variety of medical and psychological journals, including, for example, Pediatrics.

My free time is spent with my husband, my adult children and friends. I enjoy gardening, baking, tennis, Mah-jongg, listening to music and doing yoga.