A photo of Michelle Ernst.

Michelle M. Ernst, PhD

  • Pediatric Psychologist, Clinical, Behavioral Medicine & Clinical Psychology
  • Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
In my practice, I provide evidence-based cognitive-behavioral interventions. I develop a very collaborative relationship with my patients and their families, and I work to build on their strengths.

About

Biography

As a pediatric psychologist, I treat a range of conditions including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety and depression. I also help children who have medical concerns and work with both children and their parents in coping with pain, physical symptom management and chronic conditions. I’m also the psychologist for the Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) team at Cincinnati Children’s. My patients range in age from young children to young adults.

In my practice, I provide evidence-based cognitive-behavioral interventions. I develop a very collaborative relationship with my patients and their families, and I work to build on their strengths.

In addition to helping patients, I’m involved in research to learn how to increase access to evidence-based behavioral health treatments for all children and families. And I serve on the Cincinnati Children's Ethics Committee.

Outside the hospital, I enjoy gardening, baking, singing and seeing movies – especially with my husband and two children.

PhD: SUNY, Buffalo, NY, 2000.

Residency: O'Grady Residency in Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Interests

Pediatric psychology; pain management; cardiac condition; dermatology conditions; differences of sexual development

Services and Specialties

Behavioral Medicine, Differences of Sex Development

Interests

Quality improvement; clinical effectiveness; pain management; differences of sexual development

Research Areas

Clinical Psychology

Location

Insurance Information

Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.

View Insurance Information

Publications

Psychosocial Aspects of Food Allergy: Resiliency, Challenges and Opportunities. Rubeiz, CJ; Ernst, MM. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2021; 41:177-188.

Disorders of Sex Development/Intersex: Gaps in Psychosocial Care for Children. Ernst, MM; Liao, L; Baratz, AB; Sandberg, DE. Pediatric Collections: LGBTQ+: Support and Care (Part 2: Health Concerns and Disparities). 2021.

Emotional-Behavioral Outcomes, Risk and Resiliency Factors, and Psychosocial Interventions in Children with Heart Disease. Ernst, MM; Piazza-Waggoner, C; Marino, BS; Wray, J. Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery and Intensive Care. 2021.

XY Gonadal Dysgenesis in a Phenotypic Female Identified by Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing. Kim, A; Abell, K; Johnson, J; Cizek, S; Breech, L; Ernst, MM; Hopkin, RJ; Kennedy, K; Stanek, J; Strine, AC; et al. Pediatrics. 2020; 146.

Individualized care for patients with intersex (disorders/differences of sex development): Part 3. Bangalore Krishna, K; Kogan, BA; Ernst, MM; Romao, RL; Mohsin, F; Serrano-Gonzalez, M; Quintos, JB; Phornphutkul, C; Aguiar, L; Lee, PA. Journal of Pediatric Urology. 2020; 16:598-605.

Gender identity: A psychosocial primer for providing care to patients with a disorder/difference of sex development and their families [individualized care for patients with intersex (Disorders/differences of sex development): Part 2]. Ernst, MM; Kogan, BA; Lee, PA. Journal of Pediatric Urology. 2020; 16:606-611.

Pediatric Gender Identity: Consultation on Matters of Identity, Transgender Concerns, and Disorders/Differences of Sex Development. Brady, CE; Ernst, MM. Clinical Handbook of Psychological Consultation in Pediatric Medical Settings. 2020.

Disorders of sex development (DSD) web-based information: quality survey of DSD team websites. Ernst, MM; Chen, D; Kennedy, K; Jewell, T; Sajwani, A; Foley, C; Sandberg, DE; Workgrp, DS D-T R N P. International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology. 2019; 2019.

Psychosocial Screening in Disorders/Differences of Sex Development: Psychometric Evaluation of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool. Ernst, MM; Gardner, M; Mara, CA; Delot, EC; Fechner, PY; Fox, M; Rutter, MM; Speiser, PW; Vilain, E; Weidler, EM; et al. Hormone Research in Paediatrics. 2019; 90:368-380.

Psychosocial functioning of parents of children with heart disease-describing the landscape. Wray, J; Cassedy, A; Ernst, MM; Franklin, RC; Brown, K; Marino, BS. European Journal of Pediatrics. 2018; 177:1811-1821.

Patient Ratings and Comments

All patient satisfaction ratings and comments are submitted by actual patients and verified by a leading independent patient satisfaction company, NRC Health. Patient identities are withheld to ensure confidentiality and privacy. Only those providers whose satisfaction surveys are administered through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are displayed. Click here to learn more about our survey